Tthe Kiz Bibi ensemble
Sufism is a mystical trend of the Islamic religion that became widespread in the XII century, including on the territory of modern Bukhara. The basis of Sufism is the classical Muslim philosophy, the main idea of which is asceticism and high spirituality. Thus, Bukhara became the birthplace and burial place of seven Sufi pirs (teachers), the first of whom was Abdulkhalik Gijduvani, and the seventh was the great Bahauddin Nakshbandi. Sufi sheikhs held positions at the helm of the state and had great influence, spreading their ideas. However, not only Sufi men have become world-famous in the Muslim world, history knows a lot of female Sufi names. One of these women was Agha-i buzurg, who was popularly called Mastura khanum, a Sufi saint who lived in the Sheibanid era and was considered a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad.
As with the names of other great Sufi sheikhs, many legends are associated with the name of Mastura khanum. According to one of them, her family wanted to marry the girl against her will, and in order to avoid this marriage, she fled to the desert, where she led a hermit lifestyle. After some time, she discovered the gift of healing in herself and then, all her life, she helped infertile girls by curing their ailment. According to another legend, a Sufi girl simply disappeared from her hujra (Sufi monastic cell) one day, and then no one saw her. According to the same legend, the spirit of Mastura khanum still lives within the walls of the Kiz Bibi Sufi monastery.
The construction of the mausoleum began under the Sheibanids, by the vizir of Mir Arab under Ubaydullah Khan – Sadikhon in honor of Mastura khanum, who was known and respected by the whole of Bukhara. The wife of Ubaidullah Khan, Mogul Khanum, showed special respect to her. However, the completion of the construction of all the objects of the Kiz Bibi ensemble took place only in the XVIII century.
To date, the Kiz Bibi ensemble is located 30 km from Bukhara and includes 3 courtyards: an economic courtyard, a courtyard for pilgrims and a monastery courtyard. The oldest part of the ensemble is represented by the burial of Agha-i Buzurg, which has a pillar with a triangular flag and the outlines of a hand on top. This is how the graves of holy people were marked from ancient times, so that they could be seen from afar. In addition to the tomb of Kiz Bibi with a marble tombstone and aivans, the ensemble includes the khanaka mosque (Sufi monastery), chillya khana (room for forty days of solitude and prayers), kitchens, baths, hujras (rooms for pilgrims) and rooms for the mentally ill people. Darvozakhana, that is, the entrance, is located from the south, and the layout of the ensemble is such that Sufis and pilgrims are hidden from the outside world.
For a long time, khanaka was the haven of the famous Sufi order Khajagan, whose founder was Abdulkhalik Gijduvani.
According to the beliefs Mastura khanum still helps pilgrims with her healing abilities. If a childless woman spends 3 days fasting and praying in the hujras of khanaka, then Mastura Khanum will grant her deliverance from the disease.
Men are strictly prohibited from entering the Kiz Bibi Sufi monastery.
To date, the female Sufi monastery of Kiz Bibi is included in the National List of real estate objects of material and cultural heritage of Uzbekistan.