Among Central Asian nomads, spirituality is expressed as much in ancient pre-Islamic forms (shamanism, animism, wisdom, morality tales) as in Muslim monotheism. Muslim faith, however, is well anchored in Kyrgyz culture, as this song shows. Though not intended for ritual purposes, it expresses a Sufi sensibility by offering moral wisdom and repeating sacred words at the end of each couplet. (During, Levin 2001)