Kunta-Hajji

In 19th century, Imam Shamil from Daghestan united nations of the North Caucasus (mainly, Daghestan and Chechnya) into one Muslim state - imamat - in order to resist Russian occupation of the North Caucasus. He was religious, political, and military leader in the North Caucasus. The war was long and Russian army had military superiority. Many people were killed. Eventually, Shamil was captured by Russians.

Shamil was welcomed by Russian king and was allowed to go to Mecca and Medina where he lived until his death.

In the end of the war, in Chechnya, Kunta-Hajji, another religious leader preached another version of Sufism and called Chechens to peace. Shamil persecuted Kunta-Hajji for his anti-war ideas. People who were tired of the war willingly accepted his teaching. He became popular.

However, Russian authorities were not satisfied with that. Kunta-Hajji was arrested and imprisoned for the rest of his life. Many of his followers were killed by Russian army. His teaching was forbidden and many of his followers were arrested and imprisoned.

This was absolutely unfair and illogical. Shamil who was the leader in the war against Russia was welcomed by Russian authorities. Kunta-Hajji who preached peace was imprisoned.

Chechens remember Kunta-Hajji and consider him as a saint (euliya).

More about him and his teaching:
1. Kunta-Khadzhi Kishiev
2. Kunta-Khadzhi Kishiev – the Chechen Mahatma Gandhi
3. The Diversity of the Chechen Culture by Lecha Ilyasov, pp. 66, 67.