5th day - Bakhouddin Naqshbandi memorial complex

April 07, 2023

Bakhouddin Naqshbandi Memorial Complex

Hello everyone!

Today we visited one of the most famous ancient sites of Bukhara , Khoja Bakhouddin Naqshbandi Memorial Complex . Todayʼs trip was enjoyable and memorable. We went there with our coursemates , as well as our lovely teacher was with us. We gained new information about this place. Now I am going to express my impression and experience that I gained during todayʼs guided tour with you😌

The Memorial Complex of Khoja Bakhouddin Naqshbandi is one of the most important Muslim shrines. Every self-respecting Muslim knows and reveres this name. The great theologian of the XIV century, founder of the Sufi Order "Naqshbandia" was buried 12 km from Bukhara in his native village of Kasri Orifon. Some time ago there was the pagan temple of the site of current tomb of Naqshbandi.

The main building of the complex is the khanqah. Before the frontal of the mosque there is the minaret and small madrassah. To the west from dahma, in separate courtyard there is the large necropolis, where Naqshbandi is buried. Graves of his mother and his teacher - Said Mir Kulol, are situated not far from his grave.

Bahouddin Naqshbandi - the Founder of the Naqshbandiya Order

Muhammad ibn Muhammad Bahouddin Naqshbandi al-Bukhari (also known as Khoja Bahouddin Balogardon, Khojai Buzruk, Shokhi Naqshband) is a prominent saint (avlie) and the founder of the Naqshbandiya Order. He was born and died in Kasri Khinduvon village near Kagan (1318-1389) which later was re-named for Kasri Orifon in honor of Bahouddin Naqshbandi. He made hadj to Mecca 32 times.The famous Sufi made 32 hajj pilgrimages to Mecca, and today his mausoleum is also a Central Asian ‘Mecca’. They believe that if one walks to the mausoleum from Bukhara three times, it will equal one hajj. Believers from many Muslim countries got together at the site to pray, asking forgiveness for their sins and asking for fulfillment of their wishes.

His biography is almost unknown because he prohibited his disciples to chronicle his life and activity. He was thought to be Seyid – a direct descendant of Prophet Mohammed. He was born in a craftsman’s family. His father was a weaver and chaser (Naqshband). But it was his grandfather who played an important role in his life. He was well familiar with Sufis and paid much attention to the religious sciences. Bahouddin Naqshbandi was taught by famous counselors of that time. His first teacher was Muhammad Bobo Samosiy (1340-1345), the fifth Pir (counselor) of Bukhara. After his death Naqshbandi was taught by one of the famous leaders of the “Hojagon” Order Said Amir Kulola (appr 1288 -1371), the six Pir of Bukhara who familiarized him with the Abdulholik Gijduvani’s teachings (1103-1179). Gijduvani was the founder the “Hojagon” Order, one of the first Pirs of Bukhara; he propagated to obey the rules of the Shariah and prescriptions of Prophet Muhammad. He devoted his life to a true Allah’s path and founded 8 rules (rakhsha) in his Order.

Naqshabandi founded his Order based on these eight Order rules, having added another three additional rules. He was a supporter of simplicity treating negatively religiosity, loud zikr and forty-day fasting. The main principle of his teaching was “Dil ba eru dast ba kor” – “Heart with Allah, hands in work”. According to his teaching, the comprehension of Allah takes place though the soul while the hand should always be busy with work. The Order symbol was a heart with the word Allah inside it.

Uzbekistan widely celebrated the 675 anniversary of Bahouddin Naqshbandi in 1993. His tomb with the complex adjacent to it became a place of pilgrimage in Uzbekistan. The Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan keeps 195 scientific papers and books about Bahouddin Naqshbandi.