SOURCES ON THE APPEARANCE OF ISLAM IN CENTRAL ASIA: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF HISTORICAL NARRATIVES OF THE 7TH–9TH CENTURIES

This article examines the introduction of Islam to Central Asia during the 7th–9th centuries through a comparative analysis of historical narratives, including Arabic, Persian, and local sources. The study reveals discursive discrepancies between Arabic "futūḥ" literature, universal histories, and local memory texts. The author interprets the process of Islamization not as a one-time military victory but as a long-term political, social, and cultural transformation. The article compares the mechanisms of political subjugation in Arabic sources with urban memory and legitimacy patterns in Persian narratives. The findings indicate that the deep integration of Islam in the region reached a new stage during the Samanid era (9th century), and archaeological evidence confirms the preservation of cultural continuity throughout this process.