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Photos

  • Mausoleum of Hussein Bey. Photo 1
  • Mausoleum of Hussein Bey. Photo 2
  • Mausoleum of Hussein Bey. Photo 3
  • Mausoleum of Hussein Bey. Photo 4
  • Мавзолей Хусейн-бека. Photo 5
  • Мавзолей Хусейн-бека. Photo 6

Description

The mausoleum of Hussein Beg is one of the few surviving medieval structures that have the status of a Muslim shrine, along with the mausoleums of Tura Khan and Kesene. This is the burial place of the first imam, who preached Islam among the Bashkir population. The grave is located on the territory of the Akzirat cemetery, one of the oldest Muslim cemeteries, located less than 1 km from the village of Chishmy and 50 km from the city of Ufa.

History and legends

Hussein Bey was born at the beginning of the 14th century in Turkestan. After graduating from the madrasah, he joined the wandering Sufi brotherhood of Yasaviya. At a later age he made a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca for Muslims. At the request of the local khan, Borak arrived in the Bashkir lands to preach and spread Islam among the local population. Here he was given the title of qadi (supreme judge of Sharia). Hussein Bey actively preached Islam, becoming the first imam of the Bashkir lands. He died in 1366 at the age of 76 and was buried near Lake Akzeirat, where the cemetery is located.

At the end of the 14th century, around 1393-1394, Khan Tamerlane came to the lands of Bashkiria, pursuing the Khan of the Golden Horde, Tokhtamysh. According to one legend, Tamerlane personally ordered the construction of a large mausoleum at the burial site of Imam Hussein Beg. The mausoleum was built from rough-hewn limestone blocks, with a dome on top, and had a total height of 4.2 meters. The tombstone, made in Turkestan, was brought to the construction site on 12 oxen by Khan Temir-Leng. The following words were carved on the slab:

"May God have mercy on the late Hadji Hussein Beg, the son of Gumar Bek from the Taras clan, from the land of Turkestan. Lord, my God, do not leave him with your mercy! Hussein Beg, the son of Gumar Beg died in 744 Hijri (in 1366 by mile) is 76 years old. Hearken, ye true believers."

The mausoleum at present

Currently, the tombstone of the mausoleum of Hussein Bey is missing from his burial site; it is located in the local history museum of the city of Ufa. During the wintering period of Tamerlane and his horde on the territory of the mausoleum, some of his soldiers could not survive due to unfavorable climatic conditions, and their bodies were buried near the tomb of Hussein-Bek.

At the beginning of the 18th century, the mausoleum of Hussein Beg was completely destroyed, but restoration work began only in the 20th century, after 1911, on the initiative of the Mufti of the city of Ufa. In 1985, an archaeological expedition led by G.N. Garustovich, excavations were carried out inside the mausoleum. As a result, 9 burials were discovered, among which three belonged to adults and six to children. All discovered remains were buried facing the holy city of Mecca. The examinations indicate that one of the burials probably belongs to Imam Haji Hussein Bey. Scientists have reconstructed his appearance: a short man, no more than 160 cm tall, with facial features characteristic of Europeans, and without any signs of illness, injury or fracture, which indicates his longevity.

The Mausoleum of Hussein Beg is a Muslim shrine and an important archeological and cultural monument. Every year it is visited by many pilgrims and tourists, attracted by its historical and religious significance.

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