Ruhnama, (or The Book of the Soul from Arabic: روح rūḥ (soul) and Persian: نامه nāmeh (book)) is a book written by Saparmurat Niyazov, late president-for-life/dictator of Turkmenistan, combining spiritual/moral guidance, autobiography, and (revisionist) history, much of it of dubious or disputed factuality and accuracy. The text includes many stories and poems, including those by Sufi poet Magtymguly Pyragy.^{[citation needed]} It was intended as the "spiritual guidance of the nation" and the basis of the nation's arts and literature. The Ruhnama was introduced to Turkmen culture in a gradual but eventually pervasive way. Niyazov first placed copies in the nation's schools and libraries but eventually went as far as to make an exam on its teachings an element of the driving test. Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Turkmenistan local long form: none local short form: Turkmenistan former: Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic Data code: TX Government type: republic Capital: Ashgabat Following the breakup of the Soviet Union, Turkmenistan declared its independence on October 27, 1991. ... Gurbanguly Mälikgulyýewiç Berdimuhammedow (Russianized name: Курбанкули (or Гурбангулы) Мяликгулыевич Бердымухаммедов[1], born 1957) has been the President of Turkmenistan since December 21, 2006, when he became acting president following the death of Saparmurat Niyazov. ... The Assembly (Mejlis) has 50 members, elected for a five-year term in single-seat constituencies. ... Next to the Assembly (Mejlis), the Peoples Council (Khalk Maslakhaty) is considered the ultimate representative body. ... It has been suggested that State Security Council of Turkmenistan be merged into this article or section. ... Turkmenistan is a single-party state. ... The Democratic Party of Turkmenistan is the only political party in Turkmenistan. ... Elections in Turkmenistan gives information on election and election results in Turkmenistan. ... Presidential elections were held in Turkmenistan on February 11, 2007, following the death of President for Life Saparmurat Niyazov on 21 December 2006. ... Turkmenistan is divided into 5 provinces or welayatlar (singular - welayat): Ahal (capital Ashgabat) Balkan (capital Nebitdag) Dashhowuz (formerly Tashauz, capital Dashhowuz) Lebap (capital Turkmenabat, formerly known as Charjew) Mary (capital Mary). ... Districts of Turkmenistan The provinces (velayets) of Turkmenistan are divided into districts (etraplar, sing. ... The human rights situation in Turkmenistan, an authoritarian state, remains extremely poor. ... Turkmenistans declaration of permanent neutrality was formally recognized by the United Nations in 1995. ... Information on politics by country is available for every country, including both de jure and de facto independent states, inhabited dependent territories, as well as areas of special sovereignty. ... Arabic ( or just ) is the largest living member of the Semitic language family in terms of speakers. ... Persian (Local names: فارسی Fârsi or پارسی Pârsi)* is an Indo-European language spoken in Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan as well as by minorities in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, India, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Southern Russia, neighboring countries, and elsewhere. ... Saparmurat Atayevich Niyazov (Turkmen: , Russian: [Saparmurat Ataevič Niâzov]) (b. ... Cover of the first English edition of 1793 of Benjamin Franklins autobiography. ... Sufism (Arabic تصوف taṣawwuf) is a system of esoteric philosophy commonly associated with Islam. ... Magtymguly Pyragy (in Persian: مختومقلی فراغی Makhtumqoli Faraghi)(in Turkmen language: Magtymguly Pragy) (1733-1783) was a Turkmen spiritual leader and philosophical poet whose efforts to secure independence and autonomy for his people in the 18th century figured prominently in the Ruhnama. ...

In March 2006 Niyazov was recorded as saying that he had interceded with Allah to ensure that any student who read the book three times would automatically get into paradise.

History

Niyazov issued the first work's first volume in 2001, saying it would "eliminate all shortcomings, to raise the spirit of the Turkmen." In 2004, Niyazov issued a second volume, covering morals, philosophy, and life conduct. The book was a substantial part of Niyazov's personality cult and his administration's policy of Turkmenization. The government required bookstores and government offices to display it prominently — and churches and mosques to keep it as prominent as the Koran.[1] After some imams refused to comply with this demand, alleging that compliance would be blasphemous, the state demolished some mosques.[2] Adolf Hitler built a strong cult of personality, based on the Führerprinzip. ... It has been suggested that Ecclesia (Church) be merged into this article or section. ... The Masjid al-Haram in Mecca as it exists today A mosque is a place of worship for followers of the Islamic faith. ... The Quran (Arabic al-qurʾān أَلْقُرآن; also transliterated as Quran, Koran, and less commonly Alcoran) is the holy book of Islam. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Blasphemy is the defamation of the name of God or the gods, and by extension any display of gross irreverence towards any person or thing deemed worthy of exalted esteem. ...

The Ruhnama's role in society

Knowledge of the Ruhnama is compulsory, imposed on religious communities and society generally. The work is the main component of education from primary school to university. Knowledge of the text – up to the ability to recite passages from it exactly – is required for passing education exams, holding any state employment, and to qualify for a driving license. Driving licences within the European Union are subdivided in different categories. ...

Public criticism of or even insufficient reverence to the text was seen as the equivalent to showing disrespect to the former president himself, and harshly punished by dispossession, imprisonment or torture of the offender or the offender's whole family if the violation was grave enough. Since the passing of Niyazov, punishment for disrespect of the book is in a questionable status.

There is an enormous mechanical replica of the book in Ashgabat, the country's capital. Each night at 8:00PM, it opens and recorded passages from the book are played with accompanying video. Aşgabat Aşgabat Aşgabat Aşgabat (Turkmen: ; Persian: , UniPers: Ešq-âbâd; Russian: - Ashkhabád) also spelled as Ashgabat, Ashkabat, Ashkhabad, Ashgabad, is the capital city of Turkmenistan, a former Soviet republic. ...

Months after president-for-life Niyazov's death (in December 2006), the "Ruhnama"’s grip on the Turkmen public seemed unweakened, the AP’s Benjamin Harvey reported in May 2007.[3] Television stations featured solemn readings from the book. "The Ruhnama is a holy book" was carved into one side of the entrance arches at Central Asia’s largest mosque in Niyazov's hometown — and "The Koran is Allah's book" was carved into the other, wrote Harvey,adding: ‘Posters of the "Ruhnama" flank the roads of the capital city, Ashgabat, alongside likenesses of Niyazov. Quotations from it are inscribed on the desert city's fantastic array of fountains, monuments and official buildings.’ Saparmurat Atayevich Niyazov Turkmenbashy [ssap-ar-moor-at ni-yaz-obv] (Turkmen Saparmyrat Nyýazow Türkmenbaşy) (born February 19, 1940) has been the most powerful figure in Turkmenistan since 1985. ... The Associated Press, or AP, is an American news agency, the worlds largest such organization. ...

“I don’t think the "Ruhnama" will be disavowed,” Michael Denison, of the UK’s University of Leeds, told the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs’ IRIN News.[4] “It might just [become] rather perfunctory,” he added. Other observers were watching for the restoration of full secondary and tertiary education, both of which Niyazov cut and for changes to the curriculum, which was based on the "Ruhnama". Changes were likely to be gradual, they said. Leeds is a major city in West Yorkshire, England. ... The foundation of the U.N. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues. ...

Questions remain about whether Niyazov actually wrote the two-volume "Ruhnama" himself. It has been translated into 30 languages.

External links

• Ruhnama – Official government site (English)
• Rukhnama in 4 languages – Official Ruhnama in English, Russian, Turkmen, Turkish.
• Ruhnama – English text
• Website on the Ruhnama and Turkmen culture
• The Wisdom of Ruhnama
• Forum 18 report on Ruhnama being imposed on religious communities
• IWPR report on the impact of Ruhnama on society
• Eurasianet report on impact of Ruhnama on education
• IRIN report on impact of Ruhnama on education
• Ks.Solyanskaya. God of all Turkmen – critical article in Gazeta.ru on Rukhnama (in Russian).
• Forum 18 survey/analysis of religious freedom in Turkmenistan