Mir-i-Arab madrasah, Islamic educational building in Bukhara, Uzbekistan
The Mir-i-Arab Madrasah is an Islamic school in Bukhara distinguished by two large turquoise domes and walls covered with geometric tile work. The structure organizes around a central courtyard surrounded by arched galleries and study chambers decorated with mosaic patterns.
This school was built in the 1530s under Shaybanid rule and funded by revenue from military campaigns in the region. It remained operational even during Soviet times, making it one of the region's oldest continuously functioning educational institutions.
This school continues to train Islamic scholars and imams, serving as an active center of religious learning today. Visitors can observe students engaged in their studies within the courtyard and surrounding rooms.
This school sits next to the Kalyan Mosque within the Poi-Kalon complex and welcomes visitors daily to explore its courtyards. You can walk through the galleries and view the decorated chambers without needing special preparation or background knowledge.
Inside the school lies the tomb of Sheikh Abdullah Yamani from Yemen, a religious guide who served the Shaybanid rulers of the region. This burial reflects the international connections between Bukhara and the broader Islamic world during that era.
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