3600 view of maqam
of Imam Bukhari
Samarqand - City of Sahaba, Scholars, Sultans
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The Night Vigil of prayers, recalling God's Holy Names, and invocation, Salat al-tahajjud began at around 4:00 am in the hotel's dining room. |
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A warm April sun dawned brightly over Timur's maqam and the Registan, seen here from the hotel. |
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Mateen Siddiqui, Ahmed Fouad and Ishaq Bojel partake breakfast.
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| Imam Bukhari | ||
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The delegation made its way to the maqam of Imam Bukhari. The way, about 15 miles from downtown Samarqand, is surrounded by fields of orchards and the roads were lined with mulberry trees, whose spring-fresh leaves are used as food for the silkworm moths that many Uzbeks raise in special, cooled rooms in their homes, producing raw silk from the cocoons they weave. |
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The delegation was surprised to find an enormous, beautifully patterned and well-tended compound, surrounded by a large parklike area. |
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This site is obviously one of the more popular locations in Uzbekistan. Literally thousands of visitors were observed coming and going, many transported in large coach busses from their villages many miles away. |
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Visitors were extremely excited to see the foreigners, and sought out members of the group to take photos with. |
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Many invited us to their homes for a visit and dinner, but due to our strict schedules and the rules of the tour, we could not accept. |
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When Shaykh Nazim and entourage arrived, he was greeted by the mushrif of the maqam and the mufti of Samarqand. |
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All together the procession entered the main gate of the sanctuary. |
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The delegation proceeded from the main gate of the huge compound to the back, where the ornately decorated maqam of Imam Bukhari stands. |
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Mawlana Shaykh Nazim stands above the stairwell which leads down to the real maqam, contained underground, below the apparent one above it. |
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Here, in the crypt, lays the actual grave
of Imam Bukhari. |
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The group then proceeded to a large meeting hall. |  |
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All stood to recite Allah's glorification. Shaykh Nazim addressed the assembled group, mainly staff and students at the madrasa located within the maqam's large compound. |  |
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The original maqam and mosque
compound had been very tiny and had fallen into disrepair under the Soviet
Union. Renovated by President Karimov, the compound is now over ten times
its original size, with a large mosque, madrasah and administrative
offices.
Shaykh Nazim noted the great himma (ardour) of President Karimov in his love and respect for Islam, in that through this maqam was rebuilt and renovated in a period of only eight months - something that would normally take perhaps eight years! |
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| Here visitors drink and otherwise partake in the baraka of the well of Imam Bukhari's maqam. |  |
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Tasbih and du`a following Salat al-Dhuhr in the mosque. |  |
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| Official delegates of the ISCA tour were invited to eat with the Imam of the maqam. |  |
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While the other tour members visited with local visitors of the maqam, always eager to be photographed with the Naqshbandi visitors. |  |
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The remaining tour members visited a nearby "chaihane" where they were served an exceptional Uzbek meal. |
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The 'Living King' |
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Tour group members then reboarded busses for the long ride back to Samarqand, and the Shahinzade, Living King, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, buried in the great "city of the dead". |
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From the main gate, the maqam of the Sahabi and cousin of the Prophet, peace be upon him, Quthum ibn al-`Abbas, is located far up several dozen stairs. |  |
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It appeared to be a miracle the way the Shaykh ascended the stairs, almost as if he had flown, accompanied by a large contingent of the tour group. |  |
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In front of the beautifully colored tile cenotaph marking the grave's location, Mawlana Shaykh Nazim led a lengthy du`a, asking Allah to bless and support the Ummah of the Prophet for the sake of the great Sahabi buried there. |  |
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Local lore states that twelve Sahaba are located in this maqam. Following the ziyarat, the group prayed Salat al-`Asr in the mosque adjoining the maqam. |
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Following salat, members of the group wandered through the labyrinth of the city of the dead. Maqams of saints, sultans and graves of common people abound. |  |
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At the base of the necropolis, a large public bazaar selling all kinds of folkwares. | |
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Here Shaykh Nazim gave shahada to a Russian tourist, who was captivated by his tremendous presence. Not long after two other tourists accepted shahada. |
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 April
7 |
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April
9 |
