ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at how members of Kyrgyz Tablighi Jamaat negotiate the boundaries between din (religion) and duniya (worldly matters). I describe the role of mosques and bazaars in the life of Muslim community in Kyrgyzstan to discuss the connection between these “best” and “worst” places. Negotiating between these can involve remaining in the duniya, but being sympathetic to the religious cause and joining religious Tablighi activities once in a while. The second scenario involves passing over to the religious side and withdrawing from duniya, refusing to work and earn money, as is the case of Yakyn Inkar—a unique group branching off from Tablighi Jamaat in Kyrgyzstan. The third and the most difficult scenario implies living equally in both worlds and continuously going back and forth. This chapter explores various strategies used by Kyrgyz Tablighi to successfully maintain the balance between their spiritual and worldly lives.
