The first half of 2012 in the Caucasus passed in relative calm, only occasional terrorist attacks disturbed the security forces, and terrorist operations were often prevented during the preparation process. It would seem that the long-awaited peace and tranquility that we have been waiting for for so long, for which our theologians and ordinary believers prayed day and night, has arrived. The apotheosis of the triumph of truth came at the moment when the Shrines of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), which had been kept for centuries in the family of the venerable Sheikh al-Khazraj, were delivered to the Chechen Republic. Thousands of believers from all over Russia, the North Caucasus and even Central Asia flocked in columns to the capital of the Chechen Republic, to the city of Grozny, in order to contemplate the sacred relics of Muslims. These days, which were marked by a number of God's signs, when all Muslims, despite their adherence to various madzhabs, tariqas and virds, gathered in the “Heart of Chechnya”. It seemed that never again would there be explosions and bombs in the Caucasus. It seemed that all Muslim believers who, for one reason or another, are in the mountains, or from outside the country criticize the authorities, will finally realize the groundlessness of their claims and, finally, having laid down their arms, will return to their homes, but our conclusions turned out to be too hasty.
On August 28, after several days of the end of the Holy month of Ramadan, the famous spiritual mentor of Dagestan, the ustaz of the Naqshbandi and Shazili tariqats, the venerable Sheikh Said Afandi, was killed. Said Afandi al-Chirkawi, was born in 1937 in the Dagestan village of Chirkei, Buinaksk region, and at the time of his death was at a respectable age. Sheikh Said Afandi Atsayev was deservedly revered by many Dagestanis as a spiritual mentor and ustaz.
Both ordinary residents of Dagestan and the leaders of the Republic often turned to the Sheikh. They say that the current leader of Dagestan, Magomedsalam Magomedalievich Magomedov, did not take a single important step without first consulting the Sheikh.
The news of the Sheikh's murder literally blew up the Russian public, despite the difference in religions, all government and public figures unequivocally condemned the killers of Said Afandi. A lot of comments and versions of this murder immediately appeared in the media. It should be noted that I, who follows publications on social networks, as it is fashionable today to say “monitoring the media,” have never come across an article or commentary even from opponents of the traditionalists who justified this crime. Everyone was shocked by the senselessness and cruelty of this action, because it is known that Sheikh Said Afandi often spoke out in favor of establishing a dialogue with the “Salafis” and called for reconciliation of the parties. He was not an uncompromising fighter against dissidents, whom terrorists “traditionally” blow up. It was this position of Sheikh Said Afendi that made many doubt that the very forces that are usually blamed for such a crime are behind these murders. Many analysts wondered whether there might be some third force behind these murders that was planning to create a new source of tension in the Caucasus. For them, spiritual authorities like Said Afandi Atsayev and Maksud Sadikov, who was killed earlier in Dagestan, and the recently killed deputy chairman of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Tatarstan, Valiulla Yakupov, can serve as an obstacle to the implementation of their plans.
Here are just some quotes from concerns expressed in the media and published on social networks, I quote:
“The murder of Sheikh Said - Afandi of Cherkeysky is a political provocation that could finally pit the Muslims of Dagestan against each other and lead them to a full-scale civil war in the region. The enemies of Islam and Muslims have purposefully, in recent years, carried out information provocations, physical reprisals and assassinations, bringing the situation in the region to controlled chaos. Due to the fact that Muslims have unlearned deep political thinking, both in Dagestan and throughout the world, we are constantly becoming a used factor in the political games of the powers that be. The scenario is repeated in Russia and Dagestan. An assassination attempt and murder in Tatarstan, an attack on a Shiite mosque in Khasavyurt, an assassination attempt on the head of the Ahli Sunna Wal Jamaat association, and now this is the murder of Said Afandi. “All these are links in one chain,” writes the author under the nickname Abdullah ibn Abdullah on his Facebook page.
(http://www.facebook.com/abdullah.ibnabdullah.98/posts/150385451767493).
“Said Afandi of Chirkey was the most influential and authoritative sheikh of the most widespread Sufi movement of Islam in Dagestan. The sheikh has tens of thousands of followers, among them there are many famous Dagestan politicians, and in the spiritual administration of Muslims the number of the sheikh's supporters is more than 80%. With the approval of Said Apandi of Chirkey, six months ago, the spiritual leaders of two warring movements in Islam - Sufis and Salafis - made peace. Now many fear a breakdown in the peace process and the start of repression against moderate Salafis. They are afraid of the Inquisition and the incitement of domestic hatred among young supporters of different movements.
The President of Dagestan, Magomedsalam Magomedov, announced that in every city, every district, self-defense units “of squads consisting of young people who are ready, under the leadership and together with the internal affairs bodies, to work to ensure security and to punish these bandits and terrorists” will be organized. .
One of the militants' main websites published a statement denying their involvement in the sheikh's murder. “Don't make hasty conclusions. Over the 12 years of jihad, we had many opportunities to kill Said Afandi, but we never made a single attempt,” writes Novaya Gazeta (http://www.novayagazeta.ru/society/54195.html).
.
The Chairman of the Islamic Committee of Russia, Heydar Dzhemal, came up with a radical version, accusing some “deeply hidden” structures of the murder of Sheikh Said Afandi, I quote:
“Dagestan has long been in the regime’s plans to transform the situation there into a civil war format. Said Afandi was doomed as a peacemaker. Said Afandi, whom I, by the way, personally knew, achieved agreements between Sufis and Salafis. Thus, he became a hindrance for the System. The system is now playing for aggravation. It is trying out a confrontational scenario. The liquidation of Said Afandi is a continuation of the Kazan case. It should be noted that before this, the federals drove a large force resource into Dagestan. It is clear that random coincidences are excluded. There can be no trace of real radicals in this action. They had every opportunity to do this at any time for many years. We see that it is the system liberals and the security forces playing against them who are interested in using the North Caucasus in the all-Russian showdown. The position of non-interference in the Russian political struggle on the part of the Caucasus is naive. The Caucasian map once after immediately played out by the center. The forces within Dagestan have not yet realized that they will not be able to sit out of “Moscow affairs.” They mistakenly think, “It’s our business.”
The technology for eliminating unwanted figures “under a false flag” has been masterfully developed. A false “jamaat” is being created, into which the ignorant are drawn in” (http://golosislama.ru/news.php?id=11055).

The secret spiritual mentor of the Caucasus Emirate, hyper-Zionist Abraham Shmulevich, in his analytical article “pumped up” all the versions of the possible organizers of the murder of Said Afandi. As one would expect, he immediately ruled out the participation of representatives of Israeli, American and Georgian intelligence services in this terrorist attack. But he noted that this order could have come from Iran or al-Qaeda, I quote:
“Foreign intelligence services: Israel - USA - England - KSA - Pakistan - Turkey - Georgia, these are the main candidates. I also consider the likelihood of this version to be close to zero. Firstly, because none of them are interested in blowing up the region. Secondly, because they are unlikely to have the operational capabilities to carry out such an operation without the risk that their Russian colleagues will present irrefutable evidence of their participation, with all the ensuing diplomatic and personnel consequences.”
At the end of his analysis, Avraham Shmulevich displays the following figures of probable customers: - “50% - Russian authorities; 40% - forestry (or a purely local initiative, or an order from Al-Qaeda); 10% - Iran" (http://avrom-caucasus.livejournal.com/188330.html).
However, despite all my antipathies towards the hyper-Zionist Shmulevich, one cannot but agree with him that the consequences of this murder for Dagestan and Russia can be very serious, although of course I consider the comparison of Shmulevich with the murder of the Pope, to put it mildly, ridiculous, I quote:

“The significance of this murder for Dagestan and Muslims of the Caucasus in general, both North and South, can be compared with the significance of the murder of the Pope for Christian Europe. Not the modern Pope. And the Popes of the sixteenth century, the era of the Reformation. When the head of the Roman Catholic Church had real political and economic power, and Western Christendom itself was split by confessional war. And for some, the Pontiff was the vicegerent of God on Earth, and for others, a heretic and the vicegerent of Hell” (see ibid.).
In this whole story, one thing is clear - the murder of Said Afandi Atsayev was committed by the enemies of Russia, regardless of which forests they hide in or in which high offices they sit. The consequences of this murder, of course, were calculated by the organizers of the terrorist attack, and it seems to me that Abraham Shmulevich is right when he says that “The Angel of Death came for Dagestan,” and of course the “black angel” does not need sheikhs - peacemakers, like those who were killed before Saida Afandi: Sheikh Murtazali Dagistani, mufti, professor Maksud-haji Sadikov, Sufi sheikh Sirajudin Khuriksky, Mufti Ismail Bostanov (Islamic Institute, Karachay-Cherkessia), imam of the central mosque of Buinaksk Gitinomagomed Abdulgapurov, etc. All of them advocated reconciliation between the “Wahhabis” and the “Sufis.”
There is no doubt that in this list of victims, Said Afandi Chirkeysky is the most significant figure. In the event of a war breaking out in Dagestan according to the scenario of the Chechen conflict of 1999, Said Afandi with his authority could play in Dagestan the same role that was played by the then mufti of the Chechen Republic, and as a consequence the First President of the Chechen Republic, Hero of Russia - Akhmat-Khadzhi Kadyrov. Said Afandi, according to the enemies' plans, could become a hindrance in their plans for the collapse of Russia, could become the second Akhmat-Khadzhi Kadyrov, who with his authority resisted evil and thwarted the plans of Russia's enemies to destabilize the entire Caucasus with its subsequent separation from Russia.
However, as stated in the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW):
“Amazing are the works of the believer. For him, everything is good, and this happens only to a believer. When something good happens to him, he is grateful, and this is good for him. When something bad happens to him, he endures, and this is good for him.”
(Muslim).

“If you get lucky, it upsets them; if misfortune befalls you, it makes them happy. If you are patient and fearful of God, then their intrigues will not harm you in the least. Indeed, Allah knows what they do” (Quran, 3:120).
This means that showing patience is the best way out for Muslims in such cases, for the Almighty said:
“Indeed, Allah is with those who are patient.” (Surah “Prey”, 66).

In addition to all his regalia, the venerable Sheikh Said Afandi of Chirkey also received the degree of martyr (Insha Allah). Now he will certainly become another symbol of the indestructible struggle for the ideals of Islam, a symbol of how one should position oneself in the world when evil surrounds your country on all sides and is trying to force you to resort to your own methods of struggle.
Rizvan Kurbanov, a deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, who previously oversaw the security bloc in the government of Dagestan, testifies that the Sheikh was always against forceful actions when Kurbanov asked Sheikh Said Afandi, I quote:
“How can we respond to the murders of imams, spiritual leaders, public figures, and officials? We must give an answer to the murders.
- They will kill, we will bury. If a killer comes to me and points a gun at me, I will not take the lead. Why should I answer for his blood before the Almighty? Let him be responsible for mine himself.”
In this answer lies the entire philosophy of the Sheikh; he adhered to the same principle of non-resistance to evil through violence, which was first proclaimed in the Caucasus by Ustaz and Ovliya Kunta-Hadji Kishiev. Words of Sheikh Said Afandi:
“If a killer comes to me and points a gun at me, I will not take the lead. Why should I answer for his blood before the Almighty? Let him be responsible for mine,” indicate that the Sheikh had a spiritual relationship with Kunta-Khadzhi Kishiev.
Said Afandi Chirkeysky, like his great predecessor, Sheikh Kunta-Hadzhi Kishiev, left without changing his principles as a peacemaker. Thus, in addition to his holiness, Sheikh Said Afandi also received the degree of martyr - shahid, and (Insha Allah) their reward for their righteous path (tariqa) ​​will be Paradise “Firdovs”, in which the Prophets, Ovliya and Shaheeds live.
To become a holy martyr you don’t need to blow up innocent people; for this it is enough to respond to evil with good!

Said Abdurakhmanovich Atsaev, better known as Said-afandi Chirkeysky (Avar. ChikIasa SagIid afandi; October 21, 1937, Chirkey, Buinaksky district, DASSR, RSFSR, USSR - August 28, 2012, Chirkey, Buinaksky district, Dagestan, Russia) - Sufi sheikh of Naqshbandi and the Shazali tariqat, since the early 1980s, one of the spiritual leaders of the Muslims of Dagestan, Shafiite, Ashari.

On Tuesday, August 28, a woman entered his house under the guise of a pilgrim, who did not arouse suspicion among the guards. She came almost close to the sheikh and detonated the explosive device attached to her.

The suicide bomber's head was torn off by the explosion, but law enforcement agencies quickly established her identity. The terrorist turned out to be the so-called “black widow” Aminat Kurbanova, née Alla Saprykina, born in 1982. She married a Wahhabi Muslim and converted to Islam herself. In 2012, her husband was killed during a special operation.

Kurbanova has been wanted since spring. According to operational data, she was part of a group of five suicide bombers trained to carry out terrorist attacks. Two women were detained on the eve of the May Day holidays in North Ossetia. And on May 3, in the suburbs of Makhachkala, the Aliyev brother and sister, 23 and 19 years old, respectively, blew themselves up at a checkpoint. 12 people were killed, more than a hundred were injured.

After the terrorist attack in Makhachkala, suggestions arose that Kurbanova herself was not a suicide bomber, but was only involved in recruiting terrorists. Suggestions arose that she herself accidentally died during the Aliyevs’ suicide bombing. In addition, in May, field commander Huseyn Mamaev, who was considered the organizer of the terrorist attack and whose group allegedly trained suicide bombers, was killed. Perhaps all this together calmed the intelligence services and the intensity of the search for Kurbanova decreased.

The murder of Said Chirkeysky became the most resonant attempt on the life of a religious figure in Dagestan. Although Muslim clergy in the republic quite often become victims of extremists, attacks on spiritual leaders of such a scale have never happened before. Said of Chirkey was a spiritual leader whose opinion was listened to by believers. Among his murids are many large businessmen and influential officials. Said Afandi did not hold any official positions, but his murid is the mufti of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Dagestan.

The biography of Sheikh Said Afandi al-Chirkawi was quite ordinary up to a certain point. He studied at a Soviet school, worked as a shepherd on a collective farm, served in the army, and was a firefighter at the Chirkey hydroelectric power station. However, at the age of 32, he quit his job and devoted himself entirely to the study of the Koran and the works of spiritual mentors. Having completed only 7 classes, he read a lot of literature and wrote his works on theology in verse, arousing the admiration of those who read them, including Rasul Gamzatov. Over time, the sheikh became the head of two Sufi tariqats, Naqshbandi and Shaziliyya, which form the basis of the traditional movement of Islam in Dagestan. Another tariqa, the Qadiriyya, has become widespread in neighboring Chechnya. Since the sheikh has not officially appointed a successor, the continuity of spiritual power is now interrupted.

Sheikh Said Afandi al-Chirkawi, who died a martyr's death, attempted to establish a dialogue with the leaders of the Salafi communities in order to prevent their further radicalization. He categorically condemned from theological positions those who commit crimes in the name of faith.

In recent years, extremists have attacked traditional Islam on all fronts. In Dagestan, in October 2011, another Sufi sheikh, Sirazhutdin Khuriksky, who enjoyed the greatest influence in the south of Dagestan, was shot dead. In the same row are the murders of the Mufti of Kabardino-Balkaria Anas Pshikhachev, the Deputy Mufti of Stavropol Kurman Ismailov, the rector of the Dagestan Institute of Theology Maksud Sadikov and the assassination attempt on the Mufti of Tatarstan Ildus Fayzov.

The death of Said Chirkeysky caused a real shock in Dagestan. Almost one hundred thousand people from all over the republic came to say goodbye to the sheikh. They are shocked and outraged by the murder of their beloved spiritual mentor. The head of the republic, Magomedsalam Magomedov, convened an emergency meeting of the Security Council, at which he demanded that law enforcement agencies find and destroy the organizers of the terrorist attack. An unprecedented decision was also made to create self-defense units of young people in cities and regions who would fight the Wahhabi underground.

“The murder of Sheikh Said Afandi Chirkeysky is another inhuman and cynical crime against the spiritual authorities of our society, courageous and extraordinary individuals, who today are moral guidelines for all Dagestanis,” says the statement of the leadership of the republic. “It is precisely such people that the ideologists of terrorism are mortally afraid of.” who are trying to replace true spiritual values ​​with the propaganda of false and misanthropic ideas.”

“Sheikh Said Afandi of Chirkey enjoyed unquestioned authority in the republic and beyond its borders,” the statement notes. “For many years, his wise word served the spiritual enlightenment of society, directed the path of peace and harmony, and instructed young people to follow the highest moral values ​​of Islam, Dagestan culture, and the humanistic traditions of our peoples. They believed in him, trusted him, thousands of people followed his advice and teaching.” Sheikh Said Afandi “stood firmly in the positions of mercy, kindness, non-violence, condemned radicalism in his views and actions, and openly opposed extremism and terrorism.”

The authorities of Dagestan emphasized that “all necessary measures will be taken to ensure that the criminals get what they deserve.” “Criminals will not be able to split Dagestan, destroy our unity, sow fear and hatred on Dagestan soil, where for centuries representatives of different peoples, religions, and cultures have coexisted peacefully. The authoritative word of the spiritual leaders of Dagestan will live on in the deeds of their many followers,” the statement says.

This year, 2012, at the very end of summer, on August 28, an attempt was made on Said Afandi al-Chirkawi. The attack took place in the village of Chirkei. Said Afandi al-Chirkawi was the greatest scientist of our time, sheikh of the Shazalian and Naqshbandi tariqas. Said Afandi al-Chirkawi became a martyr and moved to Akhirat as a Muslim, may Allah give him an easy grave!

The venerable sheikh was born in 1937 in the same village of Chirkey in which he was attacked. He was born in the village of Abdurrahman.

The time of his birth was a time of thickening clouds over the entire Muslim world, and Islam in particular. The enemies of religion destroyed hundreds and thousands of scholars of Islam; during that period, Muhammad Yasubi and Hasan Afandi were killed. And it was during this period that, by the command of Allah, Said Afandi al-Chirkawi was born.

From the words of the storytellers, we know that his birth occurred on the night when the fate of a person is determined. On this very great night, the future sheikh of two madhhabs, Said Afandi al-Chirkawi, was born. And, by the will of Allah Almighty, many murids found true happiness from just communicating with him.

On the occasion of the birth of his son, Said’s father read “Ya-sin” three times, after which he turned to Allaz with a request that the boy walk confidently and firmly along the path of Islam, asked Him for Said to become a Scientist and teach the new generation Islam, and did not allow the light of the True Religion to fade in this dark time for it.

And that night Father Said’s prayer was accepted.

The mother of the future sheikh, Aisha later spoke more than once about the strange dreams that visited her while she was carrying her son in the womb. She dreamed that he, along with the cradle, was flying into the sky, and from there he was watching the cities that looked like giant anthills. In addition, after the birth of Said Afandi al-Chirkawi, he said that the birth process itself was completely painless for her.

Said's father, putting his son in the cradle, read Surah Al-Fatihah in his ear. The son listened to him most attentively, looking his father in the eyes. His father noticed his good character, which began to manifest itself from the very first months of his life, and therefore often said that his son would grow up to be a good person.

And indeed, since childhood, Said had wise, special dreams. Said was very peaceful, calm and patient from an early age. Even the most cocky of cocky guys were afraid to quarrel with him. He did not arouse malice or anger in anyone.

One day, on one of the streets of his village, he was met by women returning from the collective farm garden. They offered him a bunch of grapes, but Said Afandi al-Chirkawi unexpectedly refused it. Later, when asked why he did not take a handful of grapes, Said replied that it would have been haram.

And one day, when he returned from Gelbakh, where he had gone to buy wheat, he took off his shoes and saw in them several grains that had gotten there by accident. As soon as he noticed them, he immediately began to prepare for the return journey, despite the fact that it was night outside and the path was very long. His family barely restrained him from this act.

Throughout his life, Said Afandi al-Chirkawi was respectful to his elders, and treated the younger ones with affection and kindness. He did not like arguments that could subsequently lead to conflict, and always gave in to a person even if he himself was right.

Said Afandi al-Chirkawi was always a modest and honorable man. He was a stranger to fame. Also, if he gave his word to someone, he kept it to the last, without breaking his promise under any circumstances.

His father had a great desire to give his son an education in the field of Islam, however, by the will of Allah Almighty, he suddenly died, becoming mortally ill. This happened when Said Afandi al-Chirkawi was only seven years old. This happened on the very day and hour when Said, while reading the Koran, reached “Ya-sin” - the very sura that his father read three times in honor of his birth.

The boy was left an orphan, but he still read the Koran to the very end - mainly thanks to the persistence and support of his mother, Aisha. When he graduated from seven classes, he tended flocks of rural sheep in order to somehow be able to provide for his family. Later, four years later, he was drafted into the army, where he was appointed as an operator in the air defense forces. He served for three long years, but throughout all the years he did not miss a single prayer, and kept all the required fasts for the month of Ramadan. When Said finished his military service, he returned to his native village, where he worked as a shepherd and took flocks of sheep to the mountains. But even there, no matter what the weather was, he took Taharat, read the azan, and performed prayer.

There were many amazing things in his life. But the most amazing thing was his faith - strong, like January ice and indestructible, like a rock. He was very consistent in following the True Path, which was destined for him by Allah.

Remembering his father’s desire to see him as an enlightened person, he suffered greatly, realizing that he had not lived up to his hopes. Whenever his soul was seized by a thirst for knowledge, he wept bitterly, standing in front of his flock. He asked, he prayed to Allah to grant him the opportunity to study religious knowledge, but the need to support his family and a severe lack of funds forced him to continue working as a shepherd and herding sheep. However, closer to thirty, he still managed to leave this job forever and continue his studies. And during this same period, something happened that played a decisive role in his fate - he entered the Shazili tariqa.

The scholars of Islam, despite the dangerous times for Islam, taught him religious sciences. At this time, Said Afandi al-Chirkawi was a mature man, and therefore, competently overcoming all the difficulties that arose, he successfully moved forward, comprehending the religious sciences one after another. From Allah he was granted such qualities as: a high level of receptivity, a shrewd and sharp mind, and excellent memory. Every book he studied, he subsequently knew as well as if he had written it himself.

Many murshids had already seen his fate. Abdul-Hamid-Afandi, a Tariqat sheikh, once asked murid Muhammad Haji, the son of Shamkhal: “On the outskirts of your village there is a house, a blessed orphan lives in it. Is he healthy, how is he doing?” He asked many Chirkey people about this. And so it was - the house of Said Afandi al-Chirkawi standing on the very outskirts of the village. Muhammad Arif-afandi often informed the murids who were near him: “The hair of the prophet is kept in Chirkei, my children. One day the day will come when this will become clear to everyone.”

The good nature of Said Afandi al-Chirkawi was one of his best qualities. He never refused his help to anyone. He was a meek and patient man. It happened more than once that even while building his own house, he left in order to solve someone else’s problem, leaving the already diluted solution to dry.

Together with his fellow villager Abdurrahman, he once came to Nechaevka to the mouth of Muhammad Afandi. And the teacher said to him: “My son, Said! My strength is leaving me. I spent a lot of time thinking about who I should make my successor. Your knowledge and deeds have reached perfection, I know this. And now you are my successor, I transfer my affairs to you.” Sweat appeared on Said Afandi al-Chirkawi's forehead and his eyes filled with tears. He began to ask his ustaz not to entrust this responsible task to him. But he didn’t even want to hear about anything like that, and remained adamant. He told Said that mentoring is not given at personal request, nor is it taken back if a person does not want to mentor. This is where it all ended. Said was given the seal of mentorship, along with it a robe, which was passed from ustaz to ustaz.

There were many amazing things in the life of Said Afandi al-Chirkawi! But still, it is his constancy in following the True Path that is his greatest and greatest miracle. A huge number of murids came to him for advice. He solved a huge number of different problems, but no one ever saw Said Afandi al-Chirkawi say a word that would contradict the tariqa and sharia.

His deep knowledge is evidenced by the books that he wrote in a very short time. The fact that he completed only seven classes and spent most of his life in the pasture did not prevent him from writing four books in which he gives Sharia conclusions in poetic form and describes the history of the prophets and religion. To be more precise, he wrote three books in poetic form, the fourth was written by him in ordinary form. He also wrote a fifth book, which is currently just being prepared for publication.

This number of works testifies to the extent of his religious Knowledge.

Said-Afandi of Chirkey is probably the most famous of the modern Dagestan preachers and theologians, who was an adherent of Sufism, one of the mystical directions of Islam. Died as a result of a terrorist attack carried out by an underground terrorist organization.

This article will tell about the biography and activities of this Muslim and Sufi, who is respected by many residents of Dagestan.

Biography of Said-Afandi Chirkeysky

The future spiritual teacher was born in October 1937 in Dagestan, in the village of Chirkei, Buinaksk region. He is an Avar by origin (one of the indigenous ones). His father died when the boy was seven years old. Despite difficulties, at the request of his mother, Said still completes his study of the Koran and constantly reads prayer.

At the age of fourteen he began working as a shepherd to provide financial assistance to his family. He served in the Soviet Army for three years. After that he again worked as a shepherd. When the earthquake occurred in the Buynaksky region (in 1971), he was working on the construction of the Chirkey hydroelectric power station. There he served in fire departments and military guards. At thirty-two he retired from

He decided to become a Sufi and studied Islamic sciences, the works of Islamic scholars and Sufi sheikhs, and conducted theological activities. The sheikh considered Abdulhamid-Afandiz from the Inkho settlement to be his first spiritual teacher. Said Afandi was married and has 4 children.

Sufism

Sufism is a trend in Islam that preaches asceticism and a high level of spirituality, one of the main trends of classical Islamic philosophy. Followers of Sufism are called Sufis. This is the most esoteric and mystical Islamic movement.

According to the accepted view, the term Sufism is derived from the Arabic word for "wool". Islamic scholars divide the history of this mystical trend into several periods: the period of asceticism, the period of Sufism and the period of Sufi orders (tarikat). Due to the spread of the ideas of Sufism among various layers of Islamic society in the 12th and 13th centuries, the speculative mystical part of this religious movement developed, which is of interest mainly to educated adherents of Islam. At the moment, this Islamic movement plays an important political and social role in the development of Muslim states. Sufism is practiced by a large number of Muslim populations in various countries.

Students

Afandi is a spiritual sheikh who has the right to spread the tariqas of Sufism “Naqshbandiya” and “Shizalia”, and can also transmit them to his followers.

According to various estimates, the followers of this man were from ten thousand to twenty-five thousand people living in various regions of the Republic of Dagestan, as well as in other Russian regions - in Siberia, the Moscow region and the Volga region. The murids (in Sufism these are “faithful disciples”) of Said-afandi were representatives of many Dagestan peoples. In collective prayers, Sheikh Said of Chirkey gathered, along with the Shizolians, Naqshbandis and Qadiris. According to this Sufi, there is no significant difference between these branches of Islam, because they all lead to Allah. He was active in his theological activities until his death.

Tarikat

Tariqa is a way of spiritual growth and mystical knowledge of Islamic truth. This word meaning “path” is used in the Muslim scriptures. In fact, tariqas are numerous branches of Sufism that greatly influence the social life of the Islamic world. Adherents of Islamic asceticism, who initially followed the path of spiritual elevation and suppression of their passions, united around spiritual mentors in tariqas in the 11th century. Numerous Muslim houses of worship became their centers. It is traditionally believed that during the 12-13 centuries, twelve basic brotherhoods, or orders, as they are also called, emerged in Sufism.

Nasheed Said Afandi

Nasheed is an Islamic chant, in the classical version it should be performed by a male voice solo or in a choir without playing musical instruments. The use of musical instruments is prohibited according to many Islamic scholars and spiritual teachers, including the founders of four of the major legal schools of Islam. Many theologians dedicated nasheeds to Said Afandi after his death, honoring him. In Dagestan, nasheeds are sung mainly in the Avar language.

Works of Sheikh Afandi

Afandi wrote a large number of theological works that deal with the interpretation of the Koran. In the book “The History of the Prophets”, accessible and interesting, based on such respected sources as the interpretation of the Koran, hadith and books of influential scientists, the author talks about the difficult and sometimes tragic fate of the prophets of Islam from Adam to the main Islamic prophet Muhammad. The book is intended for a wide range of readers - from students of Muslim history to ordinary people.

The books of Said Afandi are very popular and respected among theologians and ordinary Avars. His works provide a broad interpretation of some chapters of the Muslim holy book, especially important for today. Muslims can be convinced that literal translations of the holy book cannot convey the true meaning and depth of the Quran. "The History of the Prophets" was published in two parts, in Russian and Avar.

Family life

Said Afandi al Chirqawi was married to his wife Uzalifat for more than forty years. He believed that in our time there are not many families that can boast of a strong marriage, good relationships and complete harmony. More and more problems arise in families, more and more divorces, more and more often family ties are destroyed. And the consequences of this phenomenon are all the other difficulties: high crime rates, prostitution, lack of moral values, many crippled lives.

Said Afandi believed that the best role models for Muslim women of all generations were the wives of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

Uzaliwat-haji, the wife of a respected Sufi, also believes that the most important thing for a woman is respect for her husband from the very first minute of marriage, a respectful attitude towards him and the strict fulfillment of all her duties - both wife and mother. A woman should not argue with her husband; every word he says should be treated with respect and understanding. Said-afandi's wife said in her interview that she never asked unnecessary questions, did not bother her husband over trifles, simply cooked food and raised children. And well-educated and grateful children are the fruit of harmonious family relationships.

Terrorist attack in the village of Chirkei

In August 2012, the media reported the death of Said Afandi. At about five o'clock in the evening, an explosion occurred in his house, as a result of which seven people died, including a sheikh and a kamikaze terrorist. The murder of Said Afandi was organized by a large underground. According to operational services, the terrorist is Aminat Kurbanova (Russian Muslim Alla Saprykina), who was the wife of one of the participants in the terrorist organization.

Identity of the suicide bomber

According to the official representative of the Russian investigative authorities, during the investigation it was established that the suicide bomber was prepared by a well-known figure in the terrorist underground - Abdul Malik. Responsibility for the terrorist attack in the house of a religious leader who lived in the settlement of Chirkei was claimed by the Riyadh al-Salihein group of kamikaze suicide bombers. Saprykina was a real religious fanatic and called on her like-minded people to jihad, a holy war. After her death, her child is raised by her mother-in-law, the mother of Kurbanov’s first husband.

Thirty-year-old Aminat Kurbanova converted to Islam after she married Murat Kurbanov, who became illegal and was liquidated by the special services. Her second husband was an accomplice of terrorists and took part in the arson of markets that sold alcohol. He was arrested when he was about to go into hiding forever. During a search, extremist brochures and weapons were found on him.

Sheikh's funeral

Tens of thousands of people attended the funeral of the Sufi sheikh. August 29 was declared a day of mourning in the Republic of Dagestan on the occasion of the death of Sheikh Said al-Afandi. The President of the Republic also instructed all city and district officials to assemble self-defense units, groups of young men who, under the control and together with law enforcement agencies, will work to ensure security and bring bandits and terrorists to justice.

The well-known ustaz of the Naqshbandi and Shazili tariqas, the venerable Sheikh Said Afandi, was born in 1937 in the Dagestan village of Chirkey, Buinaksky district, into the family of ‘Abdurrahman. It was a time when clouds gathered over Islam and Muslims: the enemies of Islam destroyed thousands of Islamic scholars (may Allah be pleased with them!), including such famous people as Hassan-afandi and Muhammad Ya'subi. During this difficult period, by the Grace of Allah, a boy was born in the village of Chirkey.

They say that this happened on the night when a person's fate is determined. It was on this great night that Said Afandi (may Allah exalt him!) was born. By the will of Allah, through communication with him, thousands of murids subsequently found true happiness. On such an important occasion, Said’s father, having read Surah “Ya-sin” three times, turned to the Almighty with a request that his son would firmly follow the path of Islam and never deviate from it and that he would become a scientist who would teach the faith to a new generation, for at that time tendencies hostile to Islam were gaining strength every day.

Truly, on that night of Laylat al-Bara'a, the middle of the month of Sha'ban, which is called the month of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when the grace and mercy of the Almighty are sent down, Allah heeded the prayer of Father Said Afandi.

Said Afandi’s mother, ‘Aisha (may Allah have mercy on her), talked about the unusual dreams that she saw while she was waiting for her son to be born. She dreamed of how she, together with the baby's cradle, flies into the sky and from there looks at the cities lying below, like anthills. And she also said that the birth of her son was easy and completely painless for her.

Often the father, putting Said in the cradle, read Surah Al-Fatiha in his ear, and the son listened carefully, peering at his father. Noticing his good character, which was evident from the first months of his life, his father said that he would grow into a special person. From childhood, Said was an amazingly calm, patient and intelligent boy. The most cocky guys were careful not to quarrel with him or enter into conflicts. He never provoked anger or malice, even from children. Even as a child, he had special, wise dreams.

One day, women, returning from work from the collective farm garden, met him on one of the streets and offered him a bunch of grapes. But he refused. When this story reached his loved ones, they asked why he didn’t take it? Said replied that it was unlawful (haram).

Once, returning from the village of Gelbakh, where he had gone to buy wheat, Said discovered several grains that had accidentally fallen into his shoes. Seeing this, he began to get ready to go back, claiming that he needed to return to the village, and his family barely restrained him, because it was already night outside.

Said always treated his elders with great respect, and was kind and affectionate towards the younger ones. He never entered into arguments with anyone that led to conflicts, and even when someone was wrong, he always gave in.

Said Afandi (may Allah be pleased with him!) is a respectable and modest person, alien to the desire for glory and never breaking his promise.

Said Afandi's father had a great desire to give his son an Islamic education. But he died of a sudden illness (may Allah rest his soul in Paradise!) when Said was seven years old. This happened on the day and hour when the boy, reading the Koran, reached the sura “Ya-sin”.

Left an orphan, thanks to the support and persistence of his mother, the boy completed reading the Koran, despite all the difficulties. After completing seven classes, he had to graze rural flocks of sheep to provide for his family. Four years later he was drafted into the Armed Forces, where he served as an operator in the air defense forces. For three years in the army, overcoming all the hardships of that time, he did not miss prayers or fasts and did not eat illicit meat. After finishing his military service and returning to his native village, Said was again forced to work as a shepherd, leading flocks of sheep to the mountains. But even there, in the mountains, in any weather - blizzard, snow, rain or wind - every time, after performing ablution, he himself pronounced the azan (call to prayer) and performed namaz.

There are many surprising things in the life of Said Afandi. However, his greatest miracle (karama) is istiqama - his constancy in following the True Path ordained by Allah.

During all these years, he suffered greatly, remembering his father’s desire to see him as an educated person in Islam. Every time love and a thirst for knowledge suddenly overwhelmed him, he cried bitterly, standing in front of the flock, and asked Allah for help to grant him religious knowledge. However, the lack of material resources and the need to support his family forced him to remain a shepherd. When he was approaching thirty, he left this job and continued his studies. During this period, an event occurred that became decisive in his fate - he took the path of the Shazil tariqa.

Fortunately, despite the difficult and dangerous times, the Islamic scholars Haji, son of Yaqub, and Haji, son of Patal, taught him the religious sciences. At that time, Said was already a mature man, and, overcoming all difficulties, relying on the great abilities received from the Almighty, he successfully walked towards his intended goal, quickly and confidently moving forward in the comprehension of religious sciences. Thanks to his sharp and insightful mind, receptivity, and excellent memory, which were granted to him by Allah, he knew any book he studied, as if he himself were its author.

Many murshids foresaw his future fate. Thus, Tariqat Sheikh Abdul-Hamid-Afandi from the village of Inkho asked his murid from Chirkey, Muhammad Haji, son of Shamkhal: “On the edge of your village there is a house in which a blessed orphan lives. How is he doing?. They say that he asked many Chirkeyans about this. In fact, this was the case: Said Afandi’s house was located on the rural outskirts. Muhammad Arif-afandi often said to his murids: “In Chirkei, my children, the hair of the Prophet is kept; the day will come and it will become clear to everyone".

One of the best qualities of Said Afandi is his good disposition. He never refused to help anyone. He is a patient and meek person. It happened more than once that, having begun the construction of his house, he left to solve human problems, postponing the work and leaving the solution to dry.

One day, together with fellow villager ‘Abdurrahman, the son of ‘Ali, he came to the village of Nechaevka to his ustaz Muhammad Afandi. The teacher told him: “Said, my son, my strength is leaving me. I thought a lot about who to leave behind me and, absorbed in thoughts, began to ask Allah to reveal to me the name of the one who would become my successor. I know that your knowledge and deeds have reached perfection. Now I give permission to you, from now on you will have to conduct this business.". Said-afandi’s eyes filled with tears, sweat appeared on his face, and he began to ask his ustaz not to entrust such a responsible task to him. However, the ustaz did not even want to hear such speeches, saying that permission to mentor (ijaza) is not given according to someone’s personal desire and is not taken away if someone does not want to mentor people. But it didn’t end there either. Qutb from Batlukh Muhammad, the son of Sa'adu-haji, sent ustaz Muhammad-afandi to Chirkei along with Hasmuhammad to convey the command (amr) for mentoring Said-afandi. Along with the command, they brought him the seal of mentorship and a robe (khirka), passed from ustaz to ustaz along a chain (silsila).

There are many surprising things in the life of Said Afandi. However, his greatest miracle (karama) is istiqama - his constancy in following the True Path ordained by Allah. Despite the huge number of murids who come to him for advice, and the fact that he has to solve various kinds of problems, no one has ever heard or seen him say a word or commit any act contrary to Sharia and Tariqa .

The books he wrote in a short time testify to the abilities and deep knowledge of Said Afandi. A man who completed only seven classes, whose life was spent on mountain pastures, gives Sharia conclusions in poetic form (nazm), describes the history of religion and the prophets. He has written four books (three of them in verse), a fifth book is being prepared for publication. These works testify to the high level of his religious knowledge. Many prominent scholars of Islam confirm that the history of Dagestan theologians (‘alim) has never seen anything like this.

When the sheikh from the village of Batlukh Muhammad-haji first read his works, he said that after ‘Ali-haji from the village of Inkho Said took second place. But when Said Afandi’s first book was published, the sheikh said that now he is in first place.

In one of Said Afandi’s books there are the following lines:

On the path where I have chosen love for You as my goal,

You know, Lord, I am always a student.

Mystery and reality, like butter and honey,

Make it a delight, Al-Qadir, in my heart...

Addressing readers, he writes:

We could talk about a lot of things,

If only it weren’t for the fear that it would be in vain.

But a hint is enough for a smart person,

And those who seek will find a lot here.

May Allah Almighty increase the strength of the venerable Sheikh Said Afandi and bestow happiness in both worlds on his family, loved ones and all those whom he loves and who love him! Amen!