The mausoleum of Sheikh Zainiddin

The mausoleum of Sheikh Zainiddin is one of the most ancient monuments of Sufism in Central Asia, located in Tashkent, in the old city, in Kukcha, (Kukcha takes its name from the name of one of the 12 gates of Tashkent). The architecture of the mausoleum is quite modest, but the history of the person in whose honor it was built and the secrets that surround the walls of the mausoleum and its outbuildings are quite impressive.

Sheikh Zainiddin Kui Orifon al Toshkandi is the son of Shihabuddin Suhrawardi, leader of the Baghdad Sufis, founder of the Sufi order, sheikh and poet. Sheikh Zainiddin lived in the XII century and was also a master of the Suhrawardia Order, was sent to Tashkent by his father to spread Sufi teachings. After arriving in Tashkent, he settled in Kukcha, where he lived all his life, lectured, prayed and enlightened the population. Sheikh Zainiddin played a big role in the life of the city after the Mongol invasion, when Tashkent was almost completely destroyed and rebuilt. During these difficult times, the Sheikh became the spiritual mentor of the townspeople, respected and revered by all, he lived for 95 years, and the residents called him Zainiddin Bobo (Bobo translated as a Grandfather) as a sign of respect.

However, the mausoleum was built only 2 centuries later, at the end of the XIV century, by the great Amir Temur. The commander visited the graves of the saints he respected before the big campaigns, and one day, before the next campaign, he ordered to erect a mausoleum to Sheikh Zainiddin.

To date, the mausoleum looks quite modest: brickwork, a high portal, 2 towers at the entrance and a lead crescent at the top of the dome. Once there was a glazed slab at the entrance, but it has not been preserved to the present day, there is only an inscription on the wooden wall, from which it follows that the construction of this mausoleum was led by master Abdul Mumin oglu.

The remains of Sheikh Zainiddin, as well as his followers, are kept in this mausoleum.

Also of interest is another building, the oldest building in Tashkent, dating from the XII century – a two-story cell, where Sheikh Zainiddin spent his time in prayer. Prayers and meditations lasted for 40 days, so the second name of this cell is Chillahona (Chil translated as forty). During the life of Zainiddin Bobo, it was also called the Hill of the Wise, but the true meaning of this name was discovered only in the XX century during the restoration of the cell, when an observatory was discovered there. In the domes of the cell at different levels, holes were found that were on different planes, but connecting formed a line corresponding to the Tashkent meridian. The niches of the room repeated the directions of the compass 8 points. And from the lower room of the cell it was possible to observe astronomical objects. 

According to another legend, there was a tunnel connecting the observatory with the mausoleum of Kaffal Shashi.

The mausoleum of Sheikh Zainiddin, shrouded in secrets and legends, always arouses the interest of visitors.