Khazrati Imam Complex

Hazrat Imam Complex Overview

The complex, now known as Hazrat Imam (or Hast Imam in modern pronunciation), consists of the Barakhan Madrassah, Tilla Shaykh Mosque, Muyi Muborak Madrassah, the tomb of Kaffal Shashi, Namozgah Mosque, the Hazrat Imam Mosque, and the administrative building of the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan. It is named in honour of Sheikh Kaffal Shashi.

Crafts and Local Life

Today, over 20 craftsmen sell their handmade products in the courtyard of Barakhan Madrassah. Visitors can find ikat fabrics, jewellery, woodcarvings, and pottery, giving the complex a lived-in, everyday feel alongside its religious importance.

Sheikh Kaffal Shashi

Abubakr Muhammad Kaffal Shashi was one of the first imams of the Muslim world and a native of Tashkent. He was a preacher and distributor of Shafiism, as well as a respected scholar of the Holy Qur’an, Hadith, Islamic law, and lexicology.

Development of the Complex

In the 16th century, during the Sheybanid period, Tashkent developed into a cultural, trade, and craft centre of Maverannahr. At this time, the mausoleum of Kaffal Shashi was rebuilt on the ruins of an earlier structure, becoming one of the city’s main shrines. A large cemetery gradually formed to the south.

By the mid-16th century, the complex included the Kaffal Shashi mausoleum and Barakhan Madrassah, forming a single ensemble with two mausoleums: Unnamed and Suyunij Khan. In 1579, a new mausoleum dedicated to Sheikh Babahodzhi was added.

Barakhan and Muyi Muborak Madrassahs

Barakhan Madrassah was constructed in the 16th century under the direction of Nauruz Ahmadhan. From 1950 to 2007, it was used by the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan. Muyi Muborak Madrassah, also dating from the 16th century, is named after a relic believed to be a hair of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW), with “Muyi Muborak” meaning “Sacred Hair.”

Today, the madrassah functions as a library for the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan, housing the 7th-century Koran of Khalif Uthman, widely regarded as the world’s oldest surviving copy of the Koran, alongside other rare manuscripts.

The Tomb of Kaffal Shashi

The tomb of Kaffal Shashi honours Abu Bakr ibn Ali ibn Ismail al-Kaffal Al-Shashi. Although the original structure has not survived, the current form was rebuilt in 1542 by Ghulam Husayn. Architecturally, it follows the khanaka style, combining cells, a mosque, a shrine, and associated spaces within a single complex.

Namozgah Mosque

Built around 1865, Namozgah Mosque was once among the largest mosques in Tashkent and hosted major holiday prayers such as Eid Ramazan and Eid al-Adha. Since 1971, the building has been used by the Tashkent Islamic Institute.

Hazrat Imam Mosque

Completed in 2007 on the initiative of President Islam Karimov, the Hazrat Imam Mosque is a prominent feature of the complex. It has a terrace supported by twenty carved sandalwood columns, two large blue domes decorated with gold leaf, and window openings designed to admit sunlight throughout the day. The entrance is flanked by two minarets, each standing 53 metres tall.