Weli-Ahmed Hakim

Weli-Ahmed Hakim (né Abdulhakimoff; 27 July 1882 – 28 November 1970) was a Tatar founding member and a long-time imam of The Finnish-Islamic Congregation. Hakim also operated as imam in Tampere. Hakim was a key figure in organizing religious gatherings before a Tatar congregation was established. Hakim is also mentioned as a major contributor in helping Islamic theologians and Idel-Ural State refugees in Finland, and taking a part in the forming of Tatar community in Narva, Estonia.

Biography Weli-Ahmed Abdulhakimoff was born in the village of Olı Rbişça , in the Nizhny Novgorod Governorate of the Russian Empire. He moved to Finland in 1914 and acquired citizenship in 1926.

Hakim was a founding member of the Helsinki-based Tatar congregation, The Finnish-Islamic Congregation, and for decades operated as its main imam. The local Tatar community invited Hakim after the previous imam, Semiulla Sadretdinoff moved to Turku. Hakim got his imam's training in Ufa. He had also studied in Medina and Mecca. Before his vocation in Finland, Hakim was the imam in Kasimov and also for example worked as a teacher in Moscow.

Hakim was also known for teaching the children of his community and in 1939 publishing a work called Türk balalarınıñ din deslerı I-II . Hakim was aligned with Pan-Turkism. When referring to his community, he avoided the term "Tatar" and rather identified them as "Turks". (turkkilainen in Finnish).

Hakim has been named as the honorary member of The Finnish-Islamic Congregation. In addition to his work as an imam, he had a major contribution in helping the Islamic theologians and Idel-Ural State leaders when they came to Finland, and fellow Mishars arriving from Nizhny Novgorod Oblast. Hakim was in close contact with Jadidists who were visiting the country. Hakim has been called a talented speaker, who recited the Quran with a melodic voice. İske İmlâ: ولى احمد حكيم