Khiva - Mazari Sharif Madrasa

The Mazari Sharif Madrasa (1882) is located in Khiva, southeast of the Pahlavan Mahmud complex. It was built by the master Qalandar Kachim on the orders of Muhammad Rahimkhan II. The Atajanbay madrasa is adjacent to the Mazari Sharif Madrasa on the east side. The entrance to the madrasa is in the southern wall, through an arched gallery with a large archway to the courtyard. Only the entrance portal is decorated with glazed green bricks. Rahimkulikhan had a son named Isa Tura, he was Khokim of Tashauz (town in the territory of Turkmenia) for some time and built a madrasa in his name near the mausoleum of Pahlavan Mahmud, which is called “Mazari Sharif” (“Tomb of the Noble”).

There is a legend about it. It is said that Isa Tura fell ill in the city of Istanbul during a pilgrimage to Mecca, then he was placed in a kajawa (a kind of stretcher for carrying the rulers and dignitaries of the court) and thus carried to the Hajj and brought back.

On his return to Khiva, he told the Khan what had happened. Muhammad Rahimhan Sani (Feruz), who was on the Khan’s throne at that time, told Isa Tura that “one should take hardships on the way on a pilgrimage”. Some time passed and Isa Tura, following the Khan’s advice, prepared himself well and went on pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca again. On his return from the Hajj, Isa Tura fell ill again, but already in the city of Mazari Sharif (city in the territory of northern Afghanistan). After his recovery in Khiva, the Khan’s son built a small madrasa, called Mazari Sharif, in honour of this city for his relatives.