From Britain to Bukhara : New

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From Britain to Bukhara : New,
The Land of Saints, Scholars & Scientists,

*[A5] Slim Paperback - 55 pages,

Compiled by Maroof Gul Pirzada,

Published by Karam Publications.

Temporary out of stock

Description :

'From Britain to Bukhara ; The Land of Saints, Scholars and Scientists.' This is a chronicle of Shaykh Pirzada's journey to Samarqand and Bukhara (Uzbekistan) on the occasion of him completing his commentary Imdad al-Bukhari fi Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari, (Bukhari: The Sublime Tradition). This travelogue documents a blessed and insightful journey to Uzbekistan accompanying Shaykh Muhammad Imdad Hussain Pirzada between 1st and 4th October 2019. It has been written with three distinct objectives in mind.

First and foremost, the services of Shaykh Pirzada to Islam and Muslims within the West are unique and internally recognised and admired. His students who have graduated to date number more than 400 since the inception of Jamia al-Karam in 1985. It is certainly the earnest desire of many of his students and associates to travel and accompany their Shaykh on blessed and momentous journeys such as journey to Uzbekistan.

Second, human beings by their very nature are forgetful. The Arabic word for human is 'insan' which derives from the root word 'nasiya' meaning to forget. This is why we all require to be reminded from time to time of various aspects of our lives. Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, repeats the verse, "So which of the favours of your Lord would you deny ?" in Surat al-Rahman (Chapter 55) a total of 20 times, almost to drill into our minds and hearts the message of being grateful to Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, for the blessings and favours he has given us.

The ability to write and preserve in a written record is from amongst the blessings of Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, and it is for this reason that this written record of the journey to Uzbekistan is being written on the very last day of the visit, before the progression of time causes these cherished memories to get vaguer in our forgetful minds. It will also enable this journey to be preserved as a historical account allowing people in the future to benefit from.

Third, the region of modern-day Uzbekistan and its historic cities of Samarqand, Bukhara, Khiva (part of what was previously called Khwarezm), Termez (Tirmidh) and Tashkent (Sash) played an incredible role not only in the history of Islam and Muslims, but its strategic location was at the centre of the Silk Road connecting East and West. It was therefore at the heart of political, economic, cultural, scientific and religious interactions for almost 15 centuries. Furthermore, starting with Qutham ibn Abbas, radi Allahu anhu, who was a Companion and cousin of the Prophet Muhammad, ?, and is buried in Samarqand, there followed a great line of illustrious Muslim scholars, sufi shaykhs, thinkers, poets and scientists who were born in and lived in this region.

As part of this travelogue therefore, alongside the account of Shaykh Pirzada's journey, some information will be given at various points in relation to historical sites that are connected to the religious, political and scientific achievements of Muslims in this region. This is intended to inspire and hopefully give zeal to readers to research into and perhaps visit Uzbekistan and marvel at the achievements of what was in the 14th and 15th centuries the largest empire (Timurid Empire) in the world established by the Muslim ruler, Amir Timur.

Table of Contents :

---Introduction,

---[1]. Arrival at Samarqand,

------The reason for visiting Uzbekistan,

------Arrival at Samarqand,

------Mausoleum of Imam Bukhari, radi Allahu anhu,

------The Imam al-Bukhari Complex,

------Shah i-Zinda (The Living King);

---------The Mausoleum of Qutham ibn Abbas, radi Allahu anhu,

------The Mausoleum of Abu Mansur al-Maturidi, radi Allahu anhu,

------Registan ; Three Historic Madrasas of Samarqand.

---[2]. Travel to Bukhara,