Shopan-Ata Mosque: Historical Data and Legends

The Shopan-Ata Mosque is one of the most ancient architectural monuments located in western Kazakhstan, along the Caspian Sea coast. This sacred site is the final resting place of Shopan-Ata, a great Sufi, philosopher, and mystic who was a disciple of the renowned religious figure, Khoja Ahmed Yasawi. According to ancient legends, Shopan-Ata was the mentor and spiritual teacher of Beket-Ata, a famous Kazakh educator, Sufi, religious leader, and warrior. By long-standing tradition, pilgrims first visit the Shopan-Ata Mosque before proceeding to the Beket-Ata Necropolis.

One ancient legend tells of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi instructing his students to shoot arrows into the sky. Wherever the arrows fell, they were to establish a mosque and preach Islam. Shopan-Ata’s arrow landed in Mangistau, where he later found the staff of his teacher. In this place, a beautiful mulberry tree sprouted, which is now over 800 years old. Another captivating legend recounts that Shopan-Ata’s arrow fell near the home of a wealthy man, who later employed him as a shepherd for his flock of sheep. The only condition of the rich man was that Shopan-Ata would work for free, but if white lambs were born in the flock, they would be given to Shopan-Ata as payment. During the first year, only white lambs were born. In the end, the rich man married his daughter to the young shepherd. After several years, Shopan-Ata carved an underground mosque into the rock where he had once worked as a shepherd. He and his wife had two sons and a daughter. Throughout his life, Shopan-Ata helped people and left behind a legacy of kindness and wisdom.

The ancient temple was carved into a rocky mountain massif. Historians date the construction of the mosque to the 13th–14th centuries. Near the necropolis are the ancient Beket-Ata Mosque and the old Masat-Ata Necropolis. Close to the necropolis lies a significant burial site, containing approximately 4,000 graves, which historians date to the 10th–14th centuries. During this period, the Oghuz-Kipchak people roamed this territory.

Historians believe that this architectural monument was built as a religious center. The mosque consists of 12 separate chambers, each with its specific function. Some rooms are designated for various religious rituals, others are used for education and spiritual teachings, while others serve practical purposes.

The mosque’s main central hall is a small rectangular chamber. Light enters through a circular opening in the ceiling, slightly off-center. In the middle of the room are two long wooden poles, considered sacred by pilgrims. To the right of this room is another smaller chamber with a high threshold.

On the left side of the room, there is a burial chamber. According to legend, the great Sufi Shopan-Ata was buried in this niche. A little further from the niche, there is a door that leads to a small ravine. Near the entrance, behind a curtain, lies another burial chamber where, according to tradition, the saint’s daughter is buried. Along almost the entire width of the mosque’s walls, two large rooms were carved out for the use of pilgrims. The roughly hewn stone walls are undecorated, reflecting the mosque’s solemn simplicity.

Below the underground mosque is a well. Historians believe that a second mosque was built here at a later time. This second mosque is located to the east of the main mosque and has a separate entrance. The prayer hall in the second mosque runs perpendicular to the building and faces the qibla to the south.

A 5-7 minute walk from the mosque leads to the sacred well. According to tradition, the water from this well is believed to cure many ailments. Not far from the well grows the majestic 800-year-old mulberry tree, where visitors often take photos, embrace the tree, and make wishes. Before entering the underground mosque, visitors usually stop by a house that looks like an ordinary village home. Pilgrims who preserve the heritage of these sacred places live in this house.

If you visit the holy sites of Mangystau in the summer, don’t forget to bring a hat, sunglasses, and bottled water. The weather is extremely hot and dry, which can lead to sunstroke. If you plan to explore the burial sites around the mosque, comfortable shoes are a must. Photography is allowed outside the mosque, but inside the underground mosque, it is typically prohibited. It is recommended to wear modest, conservative clothing, avoiding shorts, skirts, or sleeveless tops when visiting the mosque and holy places.