Discover Islamic heritage of Lithuania

Contrary to many Western or Northern European countries, Islam was known in Lithuania since the Middle Ages. In contrast to the other European societies at that time Lithuania was known by high levels of ethnic diversity and relative religious tolerance and freedom. Lithuanian tatars arrived to Lithuania  and established in some territories. Together they brought their religion of Islam and their traditions to their new homeland. Their main communities were established in the lands around Raiziai (in the municipality of the District of Alytus), Nemezis (in the municipality of the District of Vilnius) and other places. After time tatars completely settled therein, started making families, having their children, created religious and cultural communities and integrated into the local social life of Lithuania.  During 700 years Lithuanian tatars assimilated with local people, lost their language and now use Lithuanian, however they preserved Islam as their religion. Due to the isolation from the rest of the Muslim world, religion practices of Tatars has some differences from other sunni Muslims, but they are not considered as a separate sect.

Public enterprise “Education and heritage“ (registered as Viešoji įstaiga “Švietimas ir paveldas”) offers you an opportunity to discover tatars cultura and local Islamic heritage by visiting related places. The trip is divided into two tours. During the first tour we are planning to go out of the city and feel the life of village in the Southeast Lithuania. Here we will visit the Raiziai mosque (about 130 km from Kaunas) and Lithuanian Tatars museum. These two places preserved very interesting and deep history, there is old muslims’ cemetery near the mosque. During the second tour we will visit mosques of Nemezis and Forty Tatars villages. After that we will visit Muftiate of Lithuania in Vilnius.

We wish to introduce Lithuanians and guests with Islamic heritage and local tatars culture in Lithuania.

It is worth remembering words of Allah:

“O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.” (Quran  49:13)

At the moment these trips are only for women and children, muslims and non-muslims. Those who are interested please register by e-mail: info@islamasvisiems.lt