Linguistic AHC: Arabic remained the lingua franca of Dagestan

From 18th century up to the 20th, the lingua franca used by the ethnic groups in Dagestan (a multiethnic republic in Russia) was Arabic; in fact, it was the language of learning (as well as politics) for centuries.

Here's the question: What scenario/s should lead to the preservation of Arabic as the lingua franca of Dagestan?
 
Have it be part of an Arab polity, or perhaps have it become part of Iran and have the government at the time promote it?
 
From 18th century up to the 20th, the lingua franca used by the ethnic groups in Dagestan (a multiethnic republic in Russia) was Arabic; in fact, it was the language of learning (as well as politics) for centuries.

Here's the question: What scenario/s should lead to the preservation of Arabic as the lingua franca of Dagestan?

It will need to be maintained as an independent state ruled by Muslims. Perhaps an Ottoman victory in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877 could be a PoD, with the Ottoman Empire managing to successfully modernize in subsequent decades. At the same time, the Russians should lurch from crisis to crisis. A second Russo-Turkish War some time during the late 1890s or early 1900s could see Russia cede some of their Caucasus provinces as independent states under Ottoman protection. If Dagestan is one of them, Arabic will likely remain its lingua franca.
 
So, this alternate Dagestan will include most of OTL Azerbaijan?

I don't see why it would, the only thing Dagestan and Azerbaijan have in common with each other is being in the same region and having the same religion (and even then Azerbaijan is Shi'a and Dagestan Sunni).
 

Old Airman

Banned
Arabic was NOT a lingua franca of the region. It was a language to write on, due to absence of writing systems for Dagestani languages. So, to keep it in this role, one need to keep Russia out. Meaning either Iran or Turkey should properly annex and integrate the region, instead of keeping it as an semi-independent borderland between those two and Russia. 1870s is obviously too late for that, Russia started looking at the region in late-1500s. So, the POD should be around 1550-1600. The problem is, there was nothing worth keeping for either Russia or Iran or Turkey in those mountains.
 
I don't see why it would, the only thing Dagestan and Azerbaijan have in common with each other is being in the same region and having the same religion (and even then Azerbaijan is Shi'a and Dagestan Sunni).
Thanks for the clarification.
 
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