The mausoleum of Sheikh Muslihiddin is a pearl of medieval Khujand, which, one might say, has miraculously survived to the present day. It was built in the XIII century. as the tomb of the ruler of the city, whose full name sounded like Bade id-din Nuri Shaikh Maslahat ad-din.
Sheikh Muslihiddin was a unique man who was both the emir of Khujand, a poet, philosopher, Sufi teacher and an authoritative theologian, and also showed himself as a talented diplomat who convinced the Mongols not to ravage the city and not kill its inhabitants, despite the fact that the defenders of the citadel offered the most stubborn resistance to the Mongol army.
Muslihiddin lived a long life and died at the age of 93. Tajik folk tales attribute numerous miracles to him. Although there is no concept of the patron saint of the city in Islam, the locals for centuries perceived the late sheikh precisely in this capacity.
The history of the mausoleum
It is said that the first mausoleum of Sheikh Muslihiddin was a modest burial chamber made of burnt brick, decorated with terracotta, since the saint did not like luxury during his lifetime. It is believed that this tomb was destroyed by the Mongols. In 1375, Khujand was visited by Timur, who, according to the chronicles, visited the grave of the sheikh and received a blessing for his dangerous intention — a campaign against the Golden Horde.
Timur ordered the mausoleum to be rebuilt. However, this building was soon destroyed. The magnificent building that we can see now was built in the XVI century. It was no longer just a tomb, but a whole complex where dervishes gathered for prayer and spiritual practices. In the 19th century, a 20-meter minaret was added to it. The complex also now includes the main mosque of Khujand. In general, it’s a bit of a long story.
Description of the complex
The facade of the complex faces Shark Street. Adjacent to the eastern wall of the winter hall is an aivan with 30 columns, which connects to the courtyard of the mosque. The southern wall facing Shark Street is solid, without windows. There is an entrance here, which is decorated with a deep portal.
The columns of the mosque are arranged according to a modular grid: on the iwan there are six rows of four columns, in the winter hall there are five rows. The two central columns of the northern facade of the ivan are decorated with carvings and support an elevated architrave with massive “stalactites” that partially preserved the remains of ancient paintings.
The entrance and the space above the mihrab are decorated with painted wooden geometric patterns on the ceiling, although the colors themselves have darkened with time and partially crumbled. The walls are decorated with carved patterns.
The building is built on a frame filled with raw bricks and covered with plaster. In the intervals between the frame, niches are arranged at the mihrab both in the winter hall and on the ivan. The roof is flat, earthen, with clay-adobe coating, and the foundation is made of burnt brick.
The courtyard of the mosque is surrounded by one-storey hujras from the east and partly from the north, and in the north-eastern part there is a minaret with arched openings, offering a beautiful view of the city.
The entrance portal facing Shark Street is decorated with tiles and carved panels. This high portal is a decorative wall made of burnt brick, with two-storey mud buildings adjacent to the north and a wooden ivan at the top.
The carved gates were created in 1513-1514. As a result, the mosque is a harmonious example of the synthesis of decorative art and the building tradition of medieval Khujand.