From The Religious Educational Buildings in The Syrdarya Basin: Kaljan Ahun Madrasa

The vast lands of modern Kazakhstan, especially the Transoxania region, have been a geographic region in which the Turks have played an important role throughout history. For example, in the Syrdarya basin in the 9th-10th centuries. There is a city of Yangikent/Dzhankent, which was the capital of the Oghuz period until the first half of the 19th century. It is known that after converting to Islam, various religious architectural structures were built in the region, especially hanikahs and madrasas. Since the Syrdarya basin is strategically located and was the object of constant wars for regional dominance, religious architectural structures have not survived to this day. Archaeological excavations conducted in different periods have uncovered ruins of structures. According to the researchers, it has been established that the cities were abandoned due to war and the retreat or change in the course of the Syrdarya River. Although educational structures were built in the region from the early days of converting to Islam, only ruins remain. Although there is no exact data about when the first madrassas were built, there are different opinions on this matter. However, one of the first buildings mentioned in the sources as a madrasa belongs to the jurist and hadith scholar Abu Bakr Ahmed ibn. This is the building of Dar as-Sunna in Nishapur, founded by Ishaq. However, madrasas and lodges made a significant contribution to the spread of Islam among the Turks of Turkestan and Khorasan. In general, madrasa structures providing education can be found in all regions where Islam has spread. As madrasa structures became more widespread, they were supported by the income of foundations created under the patronage of sultans, influential statesmen, and wealthy individuals. In this report, we will focus on the Kaljan Ahun Madrasa, which made a great contribution to the education and training of the population of the Syrdarya basin. The Kaljan Ahun Madrasa is significant because it is the only surviving example and is located in the Kyzylorda region in the Syrdarya River basin. The madrasa was built in the shape of a square with an open courtyard. It consists of student rooms and classrooms (mosques) facing the courtyard on three sides of the square courtyard. The building continued to function as a madrasa until 1922. Since religious education was prohibited in the Soviet Union, the madrasa building was used for other purposes. Today, the building, registered and protected by the Department of Nature Protection of Kazakhstan, has been restored. This study focuses on the 20th century. The plan, architecture and decoration of the Kaljan Ahun Madrasa, built in the early 19th century, were studied using a comparative method. In addition, its place and significance in Turkish-Islamic art were emphasized by comparing it with other madrasas in the region.