The mausoleum of Imam Zaynalobbiddin

Imam Zaynalobiddin’s mausoleum is one of the most sacred places in Dusti district. Before giving information about the history of the mausoleum, it is necessary to dwell on the meaning of the word «Zaynalobiddin».

Historian Olim Ghafurov argues about the meaning of this concept, that in the beginning it was not a name, but a title or rank. The descendants of Hazrat Ali, known as the Alawites, elected an Imam from among themselves, who were respected in rank along with the official caliphs. The first to receive this honorary title was the fourth Imam, Ali’s son Hussein, who was martyred near the plain of Karbala.

О. Ghafurov says: “In Central Asia, where Shia religious literature was distributed in Persian, the name Zaynalobiddin became one of the most common names for its Sunni population. But the word «Zaynalobiddin» was not easy to pronounce. For this reason, in Central Asia, Zaynalobiddin is mostly used in the form of Zaynalobiddin, or Zaynullobiddin. In Iran and Azerbaijan, Zaynalobiddin is so abbreviated that it is now found in the form of Zaynalobiddin.

 From May 24 to June 24, 2002, a group of archaeologists from the Ahmadi Donish Institute of History, Archeology and Ethnography visited A.U. On behalf of the President of Tajikistan, Tajikistan has conducted research here. One of its scientific conclusions was as follows: «Materials obtained from the pits testify to the fact that the mausoleum of Zaynalobiddin was built over the Samanid settlement, which is located on the border of the» Tiger Forest «. Also found was a circular stone pillar, part of the fire altar. This discovery testifies to the fact that there was a town and a Zoroastrian temple in the time of the Kushans and the Greeks — Bactria. Due to the fact that the old building of the mausoleum was almost completely destroyed, in the 1920s the people of the area organized a hashar and repaired and rebuilt it.

Imam Zaynalobiddin is mentioned in medieval manuscripts as “Khazinat-ul-Asfiya”, “Mahbar-ul-Wasilin”, “Shavodih-un-Nubuwat” and some others. According to this information, his name is Ali, his pseudonym is Zanalobiddin and his surname is Abu Muhammad. He is a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad, the grandson of Hazrat Ali and the son of Imam Hussein. His mother was Shahrbonu, the last daughter of the Shah of Iran from the Sassanid dynasty Yazdigurd III. Hazrat Zaynalobiddin was born in Madinah in 659 AD and died in 713 AD at the age of 54. His grave is located in the mausoleum of Baqi Madinah. It is noteworthy that Imam Zainolobuddin was of Iranian descent by his mother, that is, in this regard, he has a direct connection with history and culture. There is no information in history about his arrival in Central Asia. The mausoleum in Jilikul district was built in his memory, respect and honor. ” In July 2001, during his official visit to Khatlon region, the President of our country Emomali Rahmon visited the mausoleum of Imam Zaynalobiddin and later the shrine was repaired on the instructions and with the assistance of the President.