Living History In Central Asia; Shymkent

It is one of the most populated regions in Kazakhstan and one of the important cities of Turkestan Province. Shymkent – is on the list of cities of Kazakhstan with a population reaching one million. It is located 690 km. west of Almaty and 120 km. north of Tashkent.

It is located on the Badam River, which flows into Arisa, a tributary of the Sirderya River, in the valley south-west of Aladag, 512 m. above sea level. The first historical information about Chimkent is recorded in Nizam al-Din Shami’s Zafername as ‘Chikend ‘ and it is stated that it was a small village near Sayram.

In the XVI and XVII centuries, Shymkent, which is also mentioned as a large village and fortress in the sources, started to develop with the establishment of Hokand Khanate in 1700. In time, it became a city of culture and in the first half of the XIXth century it became a city of madrasas and libraries and became one of the important centers of Turkestan.

Sayram

One of the oldest historical settlements of Turkestan province. The city, whose historical name was Isfijab, Beyza, is now one of the districts of Turkestan province, located on the banks of the Sayram Su river. Sayram is the oldest settlement in the Maveraunnehir region. Historically, the first mosque in the Kazakhstan region was built here.

Historian Rashiddin Fazlullah Hemedani (1247 – 1318) wrote about Sayram that it was a big city with forty gates and it was a day’s journey from one end of the city to the other.

Mahmud Kashgari in his work ‘Divan Lugatit-Turk ‘ writes : ‘Sayram is a Turkish word and means a shallow water that does not rise above the heel. Sayramlanmak – to become shallow – means to become shallow, water recedes, water decreases’. According to Nizam-ul-Mulk (Selçüklü verzir), during the reign of Harun Reşid, a rabat was built in Sayram and the commercial life of the city was revitalized.

Sayram was an important city of trade and culture on the Silk Road. Along with Taraz, it is one of the cities with the highest number of Islamic complexes. However, like other cities in the region, it fell into ruins during the Mongol invasion. A few scattered tombs remain in today’s Sayram town built on the site of the old city.

Abdulaziz Baba Mausoleum

It is a small complex consisting of a tomb and a mosque. The tomb is covered with a dome. Its size is 11 x 6 m. height is 10 m. The first construction of the mausoleum belongs to the IXth century. It has been repaired many times over time. The current form was restored by Navrüz Ahmed Khan (Barak Khan) in the XVI century.

There is not enough information about Abdülaziz Baba, it is estimated that he lived between 766-771. He is known as the first person who accepted Islam in Isfijab and invited the local people to religion and rendered great services to Islam. In Turkestan dialect, ‘Baba’ is used as an expression of reverence in relation to great figures.

It is recorded in some sources that when Ishak Baba, the 13th ancestor of Hodja Ahmad Yassawi (k.s.), conquered the city of Isfijab with Islamic soldiers in 766, the flagman of his army was a man named Abdulaziz Baba. He became famous with the name ‘Belagerdan ‘ because he helped people in troubled and difficult situations and showed the right way.

Ibrahim Ata Mausoleum

This mausoleum, built in the XI century, belongs to Ibrahim Sheikh, the father of Khoja Ahmad Yassavi (k.s.). The mausoleum is made of brick, 7 × 7 m in size and covered with a dome.

Hodja Ahmed Yesevi (k.s.) is descended from Muhammad Hanafiyya, the son of Hazrat Ali (k.v.). His blessed lineage is as follows: Khoja Ahmad Yassawi (k.s.) b. Sheikh Ibrahim b. Sheikh Ilyas b. Sheikh Mahmud b. Iftikhar b. Sheikh Muhammad b. Sheikh Umar b. Sheikh Osman b. Sheikh Hasan b. Sheikh Ismail b. Sheikh Musa b. Sheikh Momineen b. Sheikh Harun b. Ishaq b. Abdurrahman b. Abdulkahhar b. Abdul Jabbar b. Abdul Fattah b. Muhammad Hanafiyya b. Hz. Ali (k.v.).

Mother Karashash Mausoleum

It was built for Ayşe Hanım, the mother of Hoca Ahmed Yesevi (k.s.). The tomb, which is estimated to have been built in the XI-XIIth centuries, is rectangular and has a single dome.