They were Sunni Muslims, predating the establishment of Shi ism as a state religion in Iran. They are primarily known for their cultural patronage rather than their religious beliefs, and their civilization spans the geographic region encompassing all of the territories Tajiks see as their cultural realm. Throughout the country culturally significant structures are being rebuilt, such as fabulous tea houses in the northern Ferghana Valley city of Esfarah. The opposition is reconstructing historic mosques for the celebration, and scholarly conferences are planned. Left out of the cultural equation in the Samanid celebration are the troublesome symbolic elements that pull at Tajik identity.
Russian culture is, of course, absent, but so are modern Iranian elements.
The recreation of the past thus contributes to a reformulation of modern Tajikistan. We can expect that the process of cultural reformulation and juggling will continue for some time to come. If the current political coalition holds, the chances of seeing a stable symbolic identity in Tajikstan in time are great. The most likely outcome for Tajikistan in the short term is the continuance of a secular state sensibility with some tolerance for religious activism. The possibility that Islamic forces will be able to carry out their agenda for a religious state remains remote so long as Tajikistan is dependent on Russia for economic and military support.