Robert crewss for prophet and tsar is a work of historical scholarship but it speaks directly and effectively to todays burning debates drawing attention to the ways in which the tsars simultaneously used and promoted islam as a tool for co opting and controlling its far flung muslim populations crews implicitly addresses three crucial issuescrews has written a splendid book that should be read by anyone interested in contemporary russia central asia or the predicaments and . For prophet and tsar islam and empire in russia and central asia robert d crews add to cart product details paperback 2450 o gbp1995 o eur2200 isbn 9780674032231 publication date 05 31 2009 academic trade 480 pages 5 1 2 x 8 1 4 inches 8 halftones 2 maps world related subjects history russia the former soviet union religion islam general about this book about . Stanford historian robert crewss for prophet and tsar is a well researched timely study with relevance for current questions about russias long relationship to islamcrews brings together the diverse interests of russias empire and adeptly balnaces them to stimulate constructive thought about important issues he demonstrates the breadth of his expertise by drawing not only on russian historiography but also on such non russian language turkestani sources such as shihabetdin . For prophet and tsar draws on police and court records and muslim petitions denunciations and clerical writings not accessible prior to 1991 to unearth the fascinating relationship between an empire and its subjects as america and western europe debate how best to secure the allegiances of their muslim populations crews offers a unique and critical historical vantage point. Stanford historian robert crewss for prophet and tsar is a well researched timely study with relevance for current questions about russias long relationship to islamcrews brings together the diverse interests of russias empire and adeptly balnaces them to stimulate constructive thought about important issues he demonstrates the breadth of his expertise by drawing not only on russian historiography but also on such non russian language turkestani sources such as shihabetdin marjanis