These areas (Daghestan, Chechnya, Ingush) are called the Northern Caucuses. The people are the source for the word Caucasian. In fact, the term Caucasian used in Russia and surrounding areas refers to the people of these regions.

It is bordered on the Southwest by Turkey and the north by Russia proper.

You can see a map of the area here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Caucasiamapussr.gif

This is going to sound ignorant, so I hope you will explain to me, inshaAllah.

I am familiar (passingly) with the name Daghestani (as you know), but did not realize it was a region. Also never heard of Ingush. Are these still modern-day areas or have they been absorbed into another country? Where (geographically) are/were they located?

Brother Naeem, you knew the answer when you asked the question. There are always going to be such Shaykhs, but whether we recognize them as such is up to us. If we are always looking for a shaykh to conform to our own ideals, we will find ourselves disappointed because they have risen through study and devotion above our understanding and worldly concerns.

Oh, I think such Shayukh are out there. At least, for certain, the direct inheritors of Shaykh Yaraghi’s knowledge and secrets are found within the Osmanli Naksibendi Tarikat as represented by Shaykh Maulana Nazim Effendi and Shaykh Effendi Abdul Kerim.

Subhan’Allah. This is simply amazing!

I know that we’ve been down this road before in a previous post (and so I know your stance), but I continue to wonder how come we don’t have shuyookh like Al-Yaraghi who have this balanced perspective between the personal and the political that I so desperately seek?