Appraisals
Having a colorful and interesting socio-cultural structure in northeastern Caucasia where hundreds of languages are spoken, Daghestan is a rich country in characteristics which draws th attention of researchers. Meeting Islam in the first years of its foundation, Daghestans history goes in parallel with Turk-Islam history. Living together more than five hundred years with Ottomans, Daghestan was demolished by Bolsheviks though having once an independent republic. Daghestan has a rich natural sources and hydro-electrical capacity. Most of its population earn their lives from livestocks and agriculture. Raising seeps has an important place in livestocks. Gardening and vinery are also important fields. Daghestan economy consists of mainly machinery production, energy, metallic equipments, chemistry and construction materials together with light industry. More than thirty tribes live in Daghestan. And they speak more than thirty languages. Having the one quarter in Daghestan population, Turkish tribes, namly Nogay, Azeri and Kumukhs, are unified with mountainous tribes in socio-cultural aspect. Living together with Turks for ages brought the fact that Turkish has become a common language. Arabic has always been important as a religious training language in the country. Russian were accepted as an official language in Stalin period when soviet system abolished the national cultures. In order to satisfy these Daghestan peoples, soviet system gave national cultures a little place in public payers and radio programs. They continue this policy even today. In south Daghestan, an artificial conflict were about to appear between Azeri and Lezghi people. But religion unity prevented this conflict to have serious effects.
Folk songs and legendaries telling about freedom and independence war held by Imam Shamil and his friends as well as poems about the Prophet, his family and friends, form the basics of Daghestan Literature. Generally written by women, these poems, songs and ballads are sung for praising bravery, moral virtues and patriotism. After the Russian and Jewish people left the country, Daghestan has become 90% Muslim country. With the collapse of soviet system, people in Daghestan has tended to religion and mosques have been built all over the country. Comtemporary Daghestani writers are complain about the policy of orthodox Christianity which is to become an official religion through media means.
Once having bad habids such as vendetta, highlander culture has become a tradition of individual, social, moral and humanitarian virtues with the contribution of Islam religion. Being a means of income, handicraft has also artistic samples with the most beautiful esthetical behaviours in the region. Turkish educational institutes in the country give full contribution for the quality of education in Daghestan as well as establishing friendship, peace and good relation with this country. A common ownership was charity foundation. These lands were given to some charities for public services.
The basic of a Wakf (charity) was to make a premise be in use for everyone in the name of God. Motels, baths, bazaars, agricultural lands and others are among the charity goods of which income were used for education, religious training, health and other social purposes. The basic reason for the developed charity foundation in Muslim societies ar that luxury and extravagance were forbidden so that the over-income of Muslims could be spent for the public prosperity. In other words, consumer rant which means an ability for paying more money for a good was not seen in Muslim societies because price differences were prevented by forbidding extravagancies and thus public prosperity were sustained through these charity foundations.
The existence of charity lands in Daghestan shows that these were once private lands. On the other hand, it has been against the feudal system for they have become the lands of charities instead.