Western scholars are trying to understand how Islamic beliefs acquired their essence and form in the context of Soviet modernization and anti-religious campaigns. It is worth noting that representatives of Uzbek academia have also made significant contributions to the study of Islam during the Soviet era (for example, Bakhtiyor Bobojonov, Nuryog’di Toshev, etc.). In most cases, Western scholars use the works and ideas of their Uzbek counterparts. Paolo Sartori, a research fellow at the Austrian Academy of Sciences, is considered one of the most prolific researchers of Islamic doctrine in Central Asia during the former Soviet era. His new book “A Soviet Sultanate: Islam in Socialist Uzbekistan (1943-1991)” (Vienna: Austrian Academy of Sciences Press, 2024, 355 pages) examines the presence of Islam and its teachings in post-war Soviet Uzbekistan. As the author points out, this work is based on conversations with ordinary people and scholars. It should be noted that most of the mat