The Rutuls or Rutuls are one of the Lezghin peoples living in south-west Dagestan in Russia and northern Azerbaijan. They are descended from the inhabitants of Caucasian Albania and are one of the indigenous peoples of the region. They are named after the village of Rutul in what is now the Rutul district of Dagestan. They speak the Rutul language, which is classified as part of the Lezghin group of Dagestani languages. Knowledge of Russian is widespread, and some older people also speak Azerbaijani. Until the 1930s, Arabic script was used for their language. Today, the Rutuls use Azeri and Russian for written communication. Most Rutuls live in the Caucasus region of present-day southern Russia, but about a third live in northern Azerbaijan.
Traditional Rutul settlements consisted of several neighbourhoods, each belonging to one tukhum, or clan. Each tukhum consisted of families descended from a common male ancestor. In the past, the centre of the settlement was a mosque and a neighbouring tea house or club where men of the same tukhum gathered. During the Soviet period, new settlements were built. Sometimes whole settlements were moved to agricultural areas or to the Caspian Plain. Today there is a club or «house of culture» in the centre of the settlement. Until the beginning of the 20th century, most Rutuls lived in two-room one- or two-storey stone houses. Instead of windows, the houses had light holes. Modern buildings now have windows and are decorated with thick woollen or felt carpets inside.
The main occupation of the Rutuls is sheep and cattle breeding. Sheep husbandry practices have improved over the years, especially during the long winter months. Shepherds also grow spring and winter wheat, rye, barley, millet and spelt. Traditional crafts include making pottery, leather shoes and wool products such as cloth, felt, rugs and decorated socks. Their beautiful woollen carpets and decorated socks are produced commercially.
Rutuls traditionally eat meat, dairy products and flour dishes. Meat is eaten fresh, dried and in the form of sausages. Milk is often processed into butter and cottage cheese. The diet is supplemented with fruits, vegetables and herbs. Previously, marriages were arranged by parents, predominantly fathers. Often a matchmaker acted as a matchmaker between families. In the past, the choice of a groom was determined by the state of his family, social status of the tukhum, diligence and health. Today, nuclear families prevail, although some tukhums existed until the beginning of the 20th century. Families are patriarchal, women are completely subordinate to men. All family members are subordinate to the head of the family.
Islam became widespread among the Rutuls from the 7th century. Today, the Rutuls are virtually all Muslims. Every settlement had a mosque and Muslim spiritual leaders. However, along with Islamic practices, various ancient beliefs were preserved: the cult of nature, hunting and fertility, animal worship and occult rituals related to family life and labour. They perform magical rituals to summon the sun or rain, visit sacred groves, mountains, springs, graves and other places associated with Muslim saints. Magical remedies are popular, including talismans (objects with alleged supernatural powers or protection), «holy» water, earth from the graves of saints, and various incantations to false gods.