If you ask a local about who is buried in the Khazrati-Shokh Mausoleum, you’ll hear that it is the resting place of Saint Khazrati-Shokh, believed to be the brother of Kusam ibn Abbas, a cousin of the Prophet Muhammad, who was buried in the 11th century at the Shakhi Zind complex in Samarkand. This is the legend passed down in the area.
The Khazrati-Shokh Mausoleum is one of Tajikistan’s oldest landmarks and is part of the historical-architectural complex «Khazrati Shokh» located in the ancient part of Istaravshan. This complex includes three religious structures: the Khazrati-Shokh Mausoleum, the Khudoyor Valami Mausoleum, and the Khazratishokh Mosque (also known as Namozgokh), which was built in the 19th century. These structures form a semicircle, each built at different times with unique histories and purposes. Historically, the city’s cemetery and a madrasah were also part of the complex.
The Namozgokh Mosque is typical of Istaravshan’s mosques, featuring a modest design with painted ceilings and column capitals. In the 1890s, a minaret was constructed with intricate brickwork, reminiscent of pre-Mongol Central Asian architecture, a style preserved in the Fergana Valley into modern times.
At the base of the minaret is a small «matryoshka» mausoleum, built in the 18th century around the older 17th-century Khudoyor Valami Mausoleum, serving as a burial site for the nobility of the Ura-Tyube principality. In the center stands the smallest and most recently constructed, yet most revered, Khazrati-Shokh Mausoleum, said to be the grave of the cousin of Arab missionary Kusam ibn Abbas. The legendary Samarkand Shakhi-Zind complex grew around his supposed refuge. However, it is more likely that an Arab military leader is buried here. The legend of Kusam ibn Abbas, who was actually the cousin of the Prophet Muhammad, was popularized by Dilshod, a 19th-century poetess from Ura-Tyube, who became part of the Kokand Khan’s harem after a local conflict.
Architecturally, the Khazrati-Shokh Mausoleum may not be the most intriguing ensemble in Istaravshan, but it holds significant cultural importance. In front of the mausoleum is a spring, believed to have holy and healing properties. According to legend, the spring was created when Caliph Ali dropped his staff into Lake Ojkul, and it emerged at the feet of Khazrati-Shokh, buried in Ura-Tyube, marking the spring’s origin. This spring’s presence led to the establishment of the mausoleum, as Muslims consider springs to be sources of life, making it a fitting burial site for a revered religious figure. The mausoleum was later constructed above his tomb.
The complex dates back to the 18th century, although its origins trace back to the 10th and 11th centuries, marking it as a significant historical site.