Yusuf Khamadani Mosque

Abu Yaqub Yusuf al-Hamadani was born in 1048 in the region of Hamadan. As he reached adulthood, he was sent to study in Baghdad, a city renowned for its scholars, preachers, and Sufi mystics. Over time, al-Hamadani distinguished himself, becoming a respected preacher and a knowledgeable scholar of Hadiths, earning recognition across the East and Central Asia. Eventually, al-Hamadani decided to step away from his teaching career and relocated to Merv, where he embraced an ascetic lifestyle. In Merv, he was held in high esteem, and his advice was sought after by nobles, sheikhs, and elders alike.

Al-Hamadani spent significant periods of his life in Herat and Bamiyan in Khorasan, but he returned to Merv in his later years, where he passed away in 1140. Due to the large number of pilgrims visiting his grave, a grand school with a mosque was built nearby in the 13th century, and a mausoleum was erected over his burial site. However, over time, the structure fell into disrepair due to invasions and the passage of time.