Religious discourse in the story “Running towards Light” by A. Yoldyrim and the novel “Hiҗrәt” (“Exodus”) by F. Bayramova

Abstract

   The article studies religious discourse in the novella “Running to Light” by A. Yoldyrim (2013) and the novel “Hiҗrәt” (“Exodus”) by F. Bayramova (2017). The authors focus on the fates of Tatar immigrants in Turkey who, in the early twentieth century, left their native Siberia to preserve their faith. The article proves that the religious picture with its system of values prevails in the analyzed works. Developing the chronotope, A. Yoldyrim and F. Bayramova make the arrival of Bukharans to Siberia the starting point of the religious storyline. Through depicting private fates, the authors move towards
showing big history. An important place in the works is given to the interpretation of the concept of “hiҗrәt”. The religious discourse, stated in the titles of the books, is made up from fragments of the Koran surahs, hadith and texts of prayers in Arabic. A significant role is played by Muslim holidays and rituals (Eid al-Adha, funerals, naming, nikah, etc.). Muslim motifs are transmitted through the worldview of the characters of the novels.