This book was published in Bangla (national language of Bangladesh) in June 1976 under the title "Islam in the Soviet Union". This book has now been translated in English by Dr. Abu Kholdun Al-Mahmud, my dear student and a noted medical expert. This book is the result of over 5 years study on (former) Soviet Muslim History.

It is important to know this history for many reasons. First of all this area comprises a big part of Muslim world and Muslim Ummah. Secondly, it is important to know how the Muslims adjusted their life under Russian colonialists, how they tried to maintain their identity and finally how they freed themselves from colonial occupation. This is a valuable experience for the Ummah.

The book contains six chapters. First chapter discusses the spread of Islam in the Central Asia and part of Russian Federation. Second chapter discusses Russian conquest of Central Asia. Third Chapter discusses Muslim Revival Movement in the area. Fourth chapter discusses Muslim politics upto 1920. Fifth and sixth chapter discuses the Soviet Muslim Policy between 1917-1945 and between 1945-75 respectively.

I hope this book will be beneficial for the students of history of the Central Asian Region and its adjacent areas. I am grateful to Dr. Kholdun for the translation and to Mr. Mahmudul Hasan my another student and Ph. D. candidate for his assistance in editing the book.

Shah Abdul Hannan,
Author