Arab Muhammad Khan Madrasah

The numerous Shibanid dynasty that once ruled the territory of Transoxiana has grown so much that its descendants have ruled the country and each of its cities for many centuries. The very name of Shibanids originates from the name of Shiban, the third son of Jochi and grandson of the great Genghis Khan. One of the branches of the Shibanids, the Turkic-Mongol dynasty of the Genghisids, who ruled Khorezm and Khorasan, was called the Arabshahids. The talented ruler of this dynasty, an excellent politician and strategist, the Arab Muhammad Khan, the eleventh of the Arabshahid dynasty, ruled Khorezm for two decades. The Arab Muhammad Khan is known for having moved the capital of his state from Urgench to Khiva, was engaged in the centralization of the state, urban planning and improvement of the city. In addition, he is one of the few rulers who succeeded in fighting the raids of the Kalmyks and Cossacks.

In 1616, in honor of the transfer of the capital, on the initiative of the Arab Muhammad Khan, the construction of a madrasah (Muslim educational institution) began, which still bears his name. A site was chosen for the construction of the madrasah, on which a small madrasah belonging to one of the wealthy residents of the city was already located. The khan managed to negotiate with her and bought the land from her for construction.

The original building was built of burnt brick and was one-story. The trapezoidal madrasah, which is more than 400 years old, has been repeatedly reconstructed, so its original appearance has almost not been preserved. However, there are some elements of it that have remained virtually intact since the XVII century, such as wooden columns and fragments of the mosaic ceiling.

The first large-scale reconstruction of the madrasah was initiated by Allakuli Khan, the fifth ruler from the Kungrat dynasty, who ruled Khorezm in the XIX century. After its reconstruction, the madrasah building took on the appearance in which it appears to us today.

Externally, the Arab Muhammad Khan madrasah is distinguished by its simplicity and asceticism. The building became two-storeyed along its main facade, however, its other three facades also remained one-storeyed. The number of hujras (rooms for madrasah students) has increased, the portals of the building have been partially redone, and minarets are located in the corners of the building. Since the times of the XVII century, the building includes a lobby (miyankhana), study rooms (darshana) and halls.

In addition, the madrasah has its own mosque.

Located in the center of the city walls of Ichan Kala, the Arab Muhammad Khan Madrasah building is one of the oldest architectural monuments of Khiva and is included in the list of cultural heritage sites of Uzbekistan.