Abstract—Discussion and development of principles of the uniform nation formation within the limits of the Kazakhstan state obviously became one of the most pressing questions of the day. The fact that this question has not been solved "from above" as many other questions has caused really brisk discussion, shows us increase of civil consciousness in Kazakhstan society, and also the actuality of this theme which can be carried in the category of fatal questions. In any sense, nation building has raised civil society to a much higher level. It would be better to begin with certain definitions. First is the word "nation". The second is the "state". Both of these terms are very closely connected with each other, so that in English language they are in general synonyms. In Russian more shades of these terms exist. For example in Kazakhstan the citizens of the country irrespective of nationality (but mainly with reference to non-kazakhs) are called «kazakhstanians», while the name of the title nation is \"Kazakhs\". The same we can see in Russia, where, for example, the Chechen or the Yakut –are \"Rossiyane\" which means “the citizens of Russian Federation, but not \"Russians\". The paper was written under the research project “Islam in modern Kazakhstan: the nature and outcome of the religious revival”. Keywords—Islamic revival, Kazakhs, Kazakhstan, Nation, National idea. I. INTRODUCTION HE concept of national idea has no clear scientific definition. National idea defines the meaning of the existence of peoples, ethnic group or nation. There is a significant difference between the national idea, at least in the totality of the nation's image of itself, and the national state ideology. National idea is a systematic, sustained compilation of national identity, often presented in socio-philosophical and socio-political forms, artistic works that means that it could be rational and, well shaped. The national idea as it answers the question about the meaning of being a particular historical community: ethnicity, nation and the state, responds to the question of their specificity, spiritual mission. G.E. Nadirova is with the Department of Arabic and Persian studies Kazakh National University named after al-Farabi as Professor, 050040, Kazakhstan (Phone: +7 (777) 2372074, e-mail: gulnad@mail.ru). Sh.S. Kaliyeva is with the Department of Arabic and Persian studies Kazakh National University named after al-Farabi as Associate Professor, 050040, Kazakhstan (phone: +7 (777) 5713432, e-mail: shynar_kalieva@mail.ru). A.A. Mustafayeva is with the Department of Arabic and Persian studies Kazakh National University named after al-Farabi as PhD, 050040, Kazakhstan (phone: +7 (707) 8261383, e-mail: rummana@mail.ru). B.Zh. Aktaulova is with the Department of Arabic and Persian studies Kazakh National University named after al-Farabi as Candidate of History studies, 050040, Kazakhstan (phone: +7 (701) 4507592, e-mail: bakyt1976@mail.ru). National idea from a religious point of view can be seen as a goal set by God before this people, as the contribution which in accordance with the divine plan of this nation it must make to the world development. State idea is a combination of political, legal, social and economic principles on which the state becomes a home to this nation. Optimal state idea is one that will best contribute to achieving the goal set in the national idea. National ideology is a form of realization of the function of state power, that’s why the countries inclined to authoritarianism, and especially to totalitarianism often use it, and that ‘s why many of them are often in search of a national idea. This idea helps to mobilize the masses, constantly seeking ways to unite, connect people and territories around the authorities. It may explain their constant desire to find a "national idea", but it’s artificial character, introduced by force is not able to display the result outside the framework of the state ideology, to turn it from official ideology to public consciousness and mentality. It is obvious that in the states that emerged from the collapsed Soviet Union state idea in the period beginning from 1991, was the maximum possible use of independence for the benefit of their peoples. And so far the theme of social reconciliation and the consolidation of society came to the fore [1]. II. FINDINGS AND RESULTS Kazakhstan is a multi-religious and multi-ethnic country, and this fact complicates the process of a single idea and a sense of a nation forming within our borders, but in recent years constantly repeated formula that Islam is a "historic spiritual basis" of the main, dominant ethnic group has developed. All this seems to be confirmed by the surveys, according to which the vast majority of the population consider themselves Muslims, but they don’t practice the performance of Islam religious rites in daily life. The strange thing is that a large number of traditionalists reject a purely Muslim culture and the idea of supranational (globalist) character of that religion, they perceive them negatively. As a result, the public were offered two ideological products - nationalist idea and the idea of religion. There is a third one, which is based on compromise «nation understood as citizenship." It is this kind of compromise embodied in the Doctrine of National Unity draft, called to become the the basic document in the field of the state and nation-building in Kazakhstan. Put forward by the head of the state in 2010 it has caused the extremely ready response in a society and the sharp criticism. G. E. Nadirova, Sh. S. Kaliyeva, A. A. Mustafaeva, and B. Zh. Aktaulova A National Idea in Conditions of the Islamic Revival T World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences Vol:6, No:11, 2012 3133 International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation 6(11) 2012 scholar.waset.org/1307-6892/6462 International Science Index, Humanities and Social Sciences Vol:6, No:11, 2012 waset.org/Publication/6462