Ensemble Hast Imam

Architectural complex Hast Imam (Hazrat Imam) is an ensemble of historical monuments dating back to the 16th century. It was named after Abu Bakr ibn Ismoil al-Kaffal Shoshiy, one of the first preachers of Islam in Tashkent.

The much-revered saint imam was born in the city of Shash (Tashkent). His initial knowledge was obtained in the madrassah of Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara, and a little later, at a mature age, he went to Baghdad to improve his knowledge in fiqh, philosophy, poetry, and linguistics. Abu Bakr Kaffal Shoshiy carries out his activities at the court of the Abbasid caliphs, for his skillful knowledge of more than 70 languages, eloquence, and a sharp mind, Abu Bakr Kaffal Shoshiy became known as Shoshiy Al Qabiyr (the great Tashkenter) and was awarded the post of caliphate diplomat. In his later years, the great Islamic thinker returned to his hometown of Tashkent and made a huge contribution to the recognition and spread of Islam as a single religion throughout the city and for all.

Mausoleum Hast Imam

The mausoleum built-in honor of Hazrat Imam is rightly considered one of the most important attractions of the complex, where sons and disciples of Hazrat Imam and other prominent figures of that time were buried. The building of the mausoleum was rebuilt more than once in several centuries and got its final look in the 16th century, the facade of the mausoleum is decorated with mosaics of plant ornaments characteristic of that time, majolica poem inscription.

Besides the Mausoleum of Hazrat Imam, the ensemble includes a number of attractions, such as: Barakhana Madrassah; Mui Mubarak Madrassah; Tilla Sheikh Mosque; Khazrat Imam Memorial Mosque, Tashkent Islamic Institute and Administration of Muslims of Uzbekistan.

Barakhan Madrassah

Poet Zainuddin Vasifi, who played a major role in Tashkent's history, is another important figure. Talented poet, disciple of Alisher Navoi was also native of the capital of Khorasan - Herat. After the Iranian shah's invasion of Khorasan, Vasifi leaves his homeland and goes to Maveranakhr, where he finds refuge in the city of Tashkent. For his wit, poetic talent, and eloquence, Vasifi was called to the court to educate princes from the Sheibanid dynasty. One of Vasifi’s pupils, Nawruz Akhmad nicknamed Barakkhan (lucky), orders the construction of a madrassah where Wasifi becomes the chief mudariss (rector). The remaining years of his life the poet and spiritual mentor of the Tashkent rulers devote to enlightenment and art. It is during this period that he wrote his famous work "Badai al Vaqai" (Amazing Events). So in the half of the 16th century in the architectural complex Hast Imam grandiose construction of Barakhan madrassah appears, the original look of the madrassah, unfortunately, it has not been preserved for the past years, it has been reconstructed several times, and in addition, modern architects distorted proportions as on the one hand was completed another dome. Until 2008 the madrassah served as a residence for SADUM (Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Central Asia and Kazakhstan).

Mui Muborak Madrassah

Mui Muborak Madrassah was built in the 16th century but was completely restored several times. Originally it functioned as a khanaka for dervishes, then it was transformed into a higher religious education institution for students. Today, Mui Mubarak Madrassah is famous as a library, the keeper of more than 20 thousand manuscripts and books of the religious and spiritual genre, among which the only and original manuscript of the Quran - the Quran of Osman, written by the disciple and secretary of the Prophet Muhammad Zeid ibn Sabit in 650 on the commission of the third righteous Khalifa Osman takes a special place. This original, consisting of 353 folios, is considered to be the personal Qur'an of Othman, as evidenced by the traces of blood of the murdered Caliph during the reading of the holy book. In 1991, the Quran of the Caliph of Othman was transferred from the history museum to the Hast Imam library.

Tilla Sheikh Mosque

The next attraction in the ensemble is the Tilla Sheikh Mosque. The mosque was built at the expense of one of the richest residents of the city in the 18th century. Modest type of architecture, minimal size of the construction did not prevent from being the main mosque of the city in its time. Today, the mosque is fully operational.

Nomozgoh Mosque

The Tashkent Islamic Institute, a higher religious education institution, has been operating on the territory of the Namozgoh Mosque, training theologians and madrasah teachers for half a century.

Namozgoh Mosque itself was built by the order of Kokand khan Khudoherkhan for festive prayers for many thousand armies of Kokand khanate. The mosque was built from 1845 to 1862 by the chief architect Khoja Iskhak.

The newest buildings of the ensemble are the memorial mosque Khazrat Imam and the building of the Administration of Muslims of the Republic of Uzbekistan, built-in 2008. On the territory of the mosque, there are Friday and festive prayers, the mosque building itself was built in the medieval Tashkent style of burnt bricks, with inscriptions on the Sul and Kufichi scriptures on the facade and inside, and also decorated with mosaics of plant ornaments. Two minarets on either side with a height of 54 meters are not typical of the medieval architectural style of Tashkent. Due to the seismic location of the city, no tall minarets were built in the Middle Ages in Tashkent, and they had to be replaced by small "guldasta" minarets at the entrance portal.