This publication is devoted to the problems of studying an Islamic component of Ossetians’ ethnic religion. Its syncretism, which at different times was repeatedly emphasized by a number of authors, assumes existence of Islamic elements which are found in various spheres of national culture: in life, language and ceremonial practice, in writing and oral national folklore. Nevertheless, despite the known revival of theological researches and growth of their relevance during the recent period, the problem of Islamic influences has been almost completely dropped out of the scope of interests of the scientists. The first part of the present article contains arguments accounting for the reasons of the mentioned paradox consisting in almost total absence of research interest in the problem in the situation of the increasing popularity of ethnoreligious subject. Further the historical specifics of Islamic influence on development of ethnos in general, in particular on religious and ceremonial practice are defined and analyzed. Role of Islam in conserving ethnic tradition is separately emphasized and the Islamic-Ossetian parallels in the context of transformation of mythological outlook of ethnos into religious are brought to light and investigated. In addition, the article defines aspects of Muslim influence on the religious and language culture of Ossetians and its traces both in the Narts’ epos, and in the oral legends which were not included into Nartiada. The task of the religious scholar requires the striving for an objective assessment of his own and “alien” religion. The article also raises the problem of responsibility of historians to future generations of scientists.

Keywords: Islam, ethnic religion of Ossetians, reasons for lack of research interest, syncretism, national Islam, mythological outlook, religious outlook, religious transformations.

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