|
1.3. The Derivation of Bukhara and Samarkand’s Religious Importance and
Holiness in the Muslim World
The name of Bukhara means ‘lucky place’ in Sogdian language, a branch of
old Persian language. The name of Samarkand means ‘stone fort’ in Sogdian
language. Asmara means stone or rock and
kand
means fort or town in Sogdian. In
addition, there is another claim about the name Samarkand’s meaning. In Turkic
language, it means ‘rich city’ which is derived from
‘Semiz-Kent’
.
Semiz
means rich
and
kent
means city in Turkic language. There are also other meanings which were
given by Arabs, the new visitors of the region in the 7th century.
“Madinat al sufriya
(the copper city) and also
Madinat al tujjar
(the city of merchants) was named for the
city of Bukhara in Arabic. Also, the name of
Fakhira
for Bukhara and the name of
Sumran
for Samarkand were used in Arabic”.
34
In addition, the installation of
33
Becker, Seymour
, Russia’s Protectorates in Central Asia: Bukhara and Khiva, 1865–1924
,
(London &New York: Routledge Curzon, 2005),17-18
34
Frye, Richard N.,
al-Narshakhi’s the History of Bukhara
, (Princeton: Markus Wiener Publishers,
2007), 27.
15
religious and holy cult and identity of Bukhara and Samarkand in Muslim world
began after the Arab conquest. While Arabs were giving new names and meanings to
these ancient cities, they loaded an Islamic cult and great religiosity to these cities.
And this strengthened in the reigns of Muslim dynasties in the centuries. The name
of Bukhara was, even is today, and called as
Bukhara-i Sharif
(Holy Bukhara). Sharif
means holy in Arabic language. The religious and holy importance of Bukhara and
Samarkand was also referenced through the hadiths by Muslim scholars. Richard N.
Frye gives a place to a hadith about Bukhara and Samarkand in his book al
Narshakhi’s the History of Bukhara to demonstrate the Islamic prominence of these
cities.
The Prophet of God said that Gabriel told him that in the hand of the East was a country called Khurasan. On the
Judgment Day three cities of Khurasan will be adorned with red rubies and coral, and their radiance shall shine about them.
Around these cities will be many angels praising, glorifying and exalting God. They will bring forth these cities in grandeur and
pomp onto the plains, as a bride who is brought into the house of her betrothed. In each of these cities will be 70,000 banners
and under each martyr will be 70, 000 believers, speaking Persian and receiving solution. On the Judgment Day on every side of
these cities to the right and left, front and rear, for ten days of journey it will be filled with martyrs.” The Prophet said, “Oh
Gabriel, tell me the names of these cities.” Gabriel replied, “The name of one of these cities in Arabic is Qasimlya and in
Persian Veshgird. The second in Arabic is Sumran, and in Persian Samarqand. The third in Arabic is Fakhira and in Persian
Bukhara. The Prophet asked, “Oh Gabriel why is it called Fakhira?” He replied “Because on the Judgment Day, Bukhara shall
excel all other cities in glory because of the multitude of martyrs (buried there)”. The Prophet cried, “God bless (the people of)
Fakir and purify their hearts by the fear of God; improve their actions and make them among the merciful of my people.
35
The holy buildings constructed in the era of different Muslim dynasties also
enabled these cities to obtain religious and holy identity throughout the centuries.
The buildings such as mosques, minarets, mausoleums, tombs and madrasahs in the
cities were and prominent in terms of architectural in addition to religiosity and
holiness. The well-known ones of them are madrasah of Ulug Beg, Ser-Dar
Madrasah, Tilya Kori Madrasah, Bibi-Khanym Madrasah, Gur-e Amir Mausoleum,
Observatory of Ulugh Beg, the Registan (ancient center of the city) in Samarkand
and Kolyan Minaret, Masjid-i Kalan, Mir-i Arab Madrasah, Ismail Samani
Mausoleum, Chasma Ayub Mausoleum, Lab-i Hauz (ponds), the Ark (massive
35
Frye, Richard N.,
al-Narshakhi’s the History of Bukhara
, (Princeton: Markus Wiener Publishers,
2007), 27-28.
16
fortress surrounding Bukhara’s city center) in Bukhara. These buildings and their
importance were known and they were displayed as the best Islamic architects of
Muslim world by Muslim people, even in today.
Do'stlaringiz bilan baham: |
