Khoja Ubaydulla Ahrar (Hazrat-I Imam) is famous sufi thinker. He lived in Samarkand in the 15h century and died at the age of 86.
Being fair person, he achieved abolishment of excessive and unfair taxes in Mawarannahr (Transoxiana). Possessing the heart of peacemaker, he prevented intestine strife among Ferghana, Tashkent and Samarkand.
The burial place of Khoja Ahrar near Samarkand is considered as sacred place. A gravestone is rich for epitaphs in Arabic.
Architecture
Nadir Divan-Begi, a statement in the 16th century, ordered to construct madrasah and mosque near it.
However, earthquakes which frequently occurred in Samarkand were the results that the buildings were damaged. The decorations fell, while upper part of madrasah moved forward. People of Samarkand do not remember original look of the ensemble. Soviet scholars started to reconstruction and restorations of the complex.
During these works, it was revealed that Khoja Ahrar madrasah was called as Sher Dori Birun, which means External Sher Dori. Image of the madrasah, made in the 19th century, was found in Hermitage. It was found out that master Abduljabbar headed construction of Sherdor and Khoji Ahrar madrasas. May be that’s why, decorations of facades of the madrasahs look almost similar. However, there are some nuances, but they are insignificant. Due to their similar look, people started to call it as mirror of Sherdor.
Now Khoji Ahrar complex includes madrasah, summer and winter mosques, minaret and aivan (terrace). This is beloved place of pilgrims and people, who love to spend time with thinking in silence.
