Khiva - Muhammad Amin Inaq Madrasa

The Muhammad Amin Inaq Madrasa is located opposite the western corner of Tash Hauli in Ichan Qala of Khiva. It was built in 1785 by Muhammad Amin Inaq, who laid the foundation for the dynasty of the Kungrat Khans, whose son Kutli Murad (Bala Khan) was killed in a struggle for the throne and is buried here.

Viewed from above, the madrasa has the shape of a rectangle stretched in the transverse direction. The main principle of the structure has been preserved, namely the arrangement of the residential hudjras around a courtyard and a common hall at the entrance.

The portal divides the façade proportionally into two single-storey wings with unused niches and towers (guldasta) on the sides. According to legend, one of the rooms of the madrasa contains the tomb of Muhammad Amin Inaq himself or his younger son Kutlug Murad Bala khan.

In 1935, some historical buildings in Khiva fell into disrepair. According to the residents of Khiva at the time, who were working on the restoration of the structures, two graves were found in the Muhammad Amin Inaq madrasa.

The bodies in the tomb were well preserved, apart from the shrouds, they were also wrapped in animal skin. The tomb contains more than twenty hujjras and has a high portal at the front without ornamentation.

The complex has a staircase of square fired tiles on both sides of the entrance hall leading up to the roof of the madrasa. Opposite this madrasa in Khiva, the Fazilbiy madrasa was built in 1799, with its central façade facing the madrasa of Muhammad Amin Inaq, which together with it formed the traditional type of Kosh madrasa in the Orient.

Fazilbiy served during the reign of Muhammad Amin Inaq as Amir al-Umaro – commander-in-chief of the troops of the Khiva Khanate, and his annual salary was 500 tilla – gold coins.

The building of the madrasa was destroyed in 1945 – 1955. The Muhammad Amin Inaq Madrasah was restored in the late 1980s, its interior colourfully decorated with the Gansh patterns of Khiva, after the courtyard was redecorated into a wedding hall for the citizens of Khiva.

The interior of the building is magnificent and unique.