Annotation The book examines the impact of the structure of a language on the cognitive abilities of its speakers, also known as linguistic relativity. The first chapter contains a detailed analysis of the development of relativist theories from the end of 18th centuries to 1990s. The second chapter is devoted to the comparative research carried out in 1990s-2010s on the matter of space semantics, conceptualization of time, colour terminology and other empirical and theoretical issues related to the neo-relativist school in psycholinguistics and cognitive anthropology. The third chapter presents a new model of interrelation between the structure of a language…

Abstract The monograph examines the legacy of Mahmoud Shabestari (1288–1321), one of the most renowned classic authors of the medieval Sufism. His most famous work is “The Secret Rose Garden”, which contains a brief description of the major aspects of the Sufi thought. The monograph’s author attempts not only to present the views of the medieval Sufi, but also helps the readers immerse themselves in the world of the medieval Islamic mysticism. This immersion becomes possible due to the fact that Shabestari’s views are explored in the context of his cultural setting, and the book itself draws on the basic…

Abstract The four chapters and two appendices of the book describe the stable regularities of the human mind (relationships of the part and the whole, their contraposition and unification) in the theory and practice of the maqam art, which is an oral musical tradition preserved in Hebrew, Persian Arabic and Turkic languages. The annotated translation and research of Fakhr al-Din al-Razi’s (12th-13th centuries) treatise on music, as well as the first edition of the Russian translation of a treatise on music by an anonymous author (“Muhammad Nishapuri”) deal with ontological issues and the methodology of the historical knowledge with due…

Abstract “The reconstruction of religious thought in Islam” is the major work of Muhammad Iqbal (1873–1938), which contains reflections on the Muslim legacy taking into account the political, social and economic challenges of the 20th century, modern scientific discoveries and philosophic knowledge. The translation and research of Iqbal’s work are supposed to defy the Islam-related stereotypes that tend to underestimate the Islamic culture’s potential for development, adaptation and improvement. Imprint Iqbal, Muhammad. The reconstruction of religious thought in Islam / Muhammad Iqbal; English translation, introduction and comments by M.T. Stepanyants. – М.: ООО Sadra, 2020. – 224 p. – (Islam:…

Abstract Morteza Motahhari (1920–1979) was one of the most outstanding philosophers in the Iran of the 20th century. He combined deep wisdom, philosophical mentality, comprehensive knowledge of human sciences and an innovative approach towards the religion, which allowed him to move beyond a theoretic rhetoric and become a true thinker of action. This book contains the most interesting excerpts of M.Motahhari works published in Russian. These works deal with the most important challenges of the Iranian society of the day, that is the correlation of religious and national identity of the Iranians, establishing the principles of the Islamic ideology, the…

Abstract The book represents an attempt to understand the phenomenon of the Abrahamic myth. Drawing upon the original symbolic and existential concept, the author describes the architectonics of different religious systems — in particular, the Jewish, Christian and Muslim ones. In order to answer the question of how one mythology type differs from the other, the author has examined a rich body of materials collected over 10 years of hard work. The excerpts from some sources have been published in Russian for the first time. The book is intended for philosophers, orientalists, culture experts, theologians and everyone interested in the…

Abstract The book focuses on the idea that the creative work of the Iranians reached its peak in the art of handwriting and manuscript illustration. This work by Hamid-reza Kelichkhani helps the readers discover the wonderful world of calligraphy, where the aesthetics of meaning is combined with the aesthetics of its artistic presentation. The evidence for that can be seen in more than 300 illustration depicting unique art masterpieces. The book will be of great use for the experts in codicology, as well as everyone interested in the history of art and books. Imprint Hamid-Reza Kelichkhani. Iranian calligraphy: introduction to…

Abstract This work is devoted to the institutionalization of the 2nd Muslim parish in Moscow, which had formed in the north districts of the city by 1894 and further led to the construction of the existing Moscow Cathedral Mosque in 1904-1905, located in Vypolzov lane. This parish had numerous predecessors — places with a large number of Muslims living in mostly Christian environment. The medieval sites include the Derbentskoye area (near the Turgenevskaya metro station), the Palace of the Kasimov princes (Myasnitskaya street), the Yard of the sultan of Khiva (Maroseyka street), etc. More recent sites include the house of…