Islamic History and Literature

This scientific article analyzes the adoption of Islam by the Mongol rulers and the process of religious rapprochement with local Muslim peoples. The relevance of the study is that, as historical sources show, in the 13th–14th centuries, Islam was considered not only a religious belief, but also a factor ensuring political and social stability. In particular, the adoption of Islam by the Golden Horde Khan Berke, the Ilkhanid dynasty's Ghazan Khan, and the Chigatai ulus' Tughluq Temur Khan served to maintain a balance of political legitimacy and religious conformity in the society they ruled. The study used historical-comparative, source studies, and systematic analysis methods. In the main part, the religious decisions of the Mongol rulers were analyzed in the context of the Sufi movement, the Sharia system, and relations with the local population. According to the results obtained, the official status of Islam led to the centralization of state institutions, economic stability, and increased political attention of the people. As a suggestion, the need to use this historical experience to determine the place of religion in modern religious tolerance and governance, as well as to further study the historical role of Sufi schools, was put forward.