Monuments of Samarkand : Uzbekistan

Memorial complex of Imam Al’-Bukhari is located in 30 kilometers far from Samarkand. This complex is one of the most important worship places of Muslim world. Here is a tomb of a famous scholar of IX century – Imam Al’-Bukhari. He was one of hadith’s collectors. Hadith origins from Arabic “narrative”, “pronounced”. Hadith are narrations originating from the words and deeds of the prophet Muhammed, which form the basis of Shariat (Islamic fundamental concept, law). Al’ Bukhari’s book named As-Sahih Bukhari is the second important and authoritative book for Sunni Muslims after the Koran.

This unique construction was built in 1428- 1429 by a ruler of Maverannakhr and an outstanding scholar of his time – Mirzo Ulugbek. It was a three-floored building of cylindrical form, 46 meters in diameter and 30,4 meters high. External walls were decorated with delicately made tiles. The foundation of the observatory is an azimuth quadrant which had a 40,212 meters radius and 63 meters length. The main tool was a sextant, oriented to meridian line from south to north.

Samarkand can not be imagined without Registan square, like Egypt without pyramids. This square was a trading center during Amir Timur ruling and became a main square of the city under his grand son Mirzo Ulugbek. The square is composed by monumental constructions built in different centuries. They are Ulugbek’s Madras (1417-1420), Sher Dor Madras (1619- 1636) and Tillya Kari (1647-1660).

Shakh-I-Zinda Necropolis is located in the north Samarkand, on the hills of ancient Afrosiab. The historical center of the Necropolis is Mausoleum of Kusama ibn Abbas. As Arabian chronicles say, prophet Mukhammed’s cousin Kusama arrived in Samarkand in 676. He advocated Islam religion and was murdered by pagans when he was praying. But the folk knows him as Shakh-I-Zinda – “Alive King”, as per legend he has left this world alive. His tomb was sacred for Muslims for many centuries. And nowadays, Shakh-I-Zinda is popular among Muslim pilgrims.