The name Nogai derives from the name of one man. Nogay, grandson to Genghis Khan, was an outstanding chieftain and the real leader of the Golden Horde. He was the ruler of these people west of the Danube. Nogay was killed around 1300, but his name remains. Most Nogai Tatars are in Russia, but there are smaller numbers in Romania and Kazakhstan.
The Nogai live in scattered linguistic enclaves. In recent times, several waves of migration have swept into Nogay territories.
The pre-Islamic Nogay word for god is tengri, a term associated with the animistic religion of traditional nomadic Turks. (Animism is the belief that objects and non-human lives have spirits). However, in the 1500s, during the time they were closely associated with the Turkic Khanates of Crimea and the Ottoman Sultans, the Nogay were introduced to Islam. Islam literally means "submission," and a Muslim is "one who submits." Muslims strictly adhere to monotheism as expressed by their creed: "There is no god but Allah, and Mohammed is his prophet." Today, virtually all of the Nogay profess to be Sunni Muslim. However, as far back as the Russian Revolution in the early twentieth century, travelers noted that the Nogay were not very religious.
The Caucasus is very difficult for Christian workers to enter because of government restrictions and suspicion from the local people.
Ancient animosities are at work in this region. Pray for peace in the Caucasus region.
Pray that Christian radio will be made available throughout the Caucasus and that people will find it and listen with open hearts and minds.
Pray for the Lord to speak to Nogai elders through dreams and visions.
Scripture Prayers for the Tatar, Nogai in Kazakhstan.
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