Gijduvani memorial

Khodja Abd al-Halik Gijduvani (died in 1180/1120) was born and died in the village of Gijduvan near Bukhara. He was a pupil of outstanding Sufi Khodja Usuf al-Hamadani and the founder of Central Asian Sufi school of "khadjagan" - "way of khodjas (teachers)".

Adherents of "khadjagan" had to recognize freewill poverty, ascetics and celibacy as well as to abstain from contacts with authorities. Sufi Amir Kulal, Baha ad-Din Naqshband and khodja Akhrar belonged to this tradition. Memorial complex of al-Gijduvani was constructed at the beginning of the 21st century beside Ulugbeg Madrassah that was built near the tomb of the great Sufi teacher.