Abstract
This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the Jadidism movement that emerged among Muslim Turkic peoples within the Russian Empire in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, exploring its essence, goals, and influence in Kazakhstan. Jadidism is described as a religious, cultural, and socio-educational movement aimed at modernizing traditional Islamic education in accordance with contemporary demands, fostering science and enlightenment, and awakening national consciousness. The article highlights the innovative educational ideas of Turkic intellectuals led by Ismail Gasprinski and examines the role of prominent Alash figures – Ahmet Baitursynuly, Mirzhakyp Dulatov, Magzhan Zhumabayev, and Sultanmakhmut Toraigyrov – in continuing this movement and spreading it across the Kazakh steppe. Additionally, the significance of Jadid schools, the distinct characteristics of Kazakh enlightenment, and the role of Jadidism as a form of spiritual resistance against colonial policy are discussed.