Mosques, as places of worship in Islam, are places where Muslims fulfill their religious
duties and unite. Muslims coming together in a place of worship ensures that the theoretical
principles of religion combine with folk culture and are reflected concretely in life. Dervish
lodges, where the Sufi interpretation of Islam is kept alive, also integrate folklore and Islam.
Throughout the historical process, Muslims have had to build underground mosques for
various reasons. These mosques have functions similar to dergahs, inns and caravanserais,
other elements of Islamic architecture. Mangistau, one of the regions where Sufi Islam is most
vital in Kazakhstan, is rich in underground mosques and khanakas, which are the reflection
of Sufi culture in architecture. This region is considered a unique cultural landscape, where
the most significant part of the country’s monuments and holy places is concentrated. The
underground mosques in Mangistau and Ustirt are unique in terms of historical and spiritual
value. Excavation of shelters, places of worship, or “mortal abodes” by digging caves out of the
common ground or mountain gorges has been a practice since very early times. Some of their
samples are kept in Spain, Turkey, Jordan, and Crimea. The article analyzes the similarities and
peculiarities of underground mosques with Sufi khanakas in the Middle Ages and their history
and current use
“AP19680234 Mangistau toponymic area: historical toponymy, topography and their interpretation”
Mosques, as places of worship in Islam, are places where Muslims fulfill their religious
duties and unite. Muslims coming together in a place of worship ensures that the theoretical
principles of religion combine with folk culture and are reflected concretely in life. Dervish
lodges, where the Sufi interpretation of Islam is kept alive, also integrate folklore and Islam.
Throughout the historical process, Muslims have had to build underground mosques for
various reasons. These mosques have functions similar to dergahs, inns and caravanserais,
other elements of Islamic architecture. Mangistau, one of the regions where Sufi Islam is most
vital in Kazakhstan, is rich in underground mosques and khanakas, which are the reflection
of Sufi culture in architecture. This region is considered a unique cultural landscape, where
the most significant part of the country’s monuments and holy places is concentrated. The
underground mosques in Mangistau and Ustirt are unique in terms of historical and spiritual
value. Excavation of shelters, places of worship, or “mortal abodes” by digging caves out of the
common ground or mountain gorges has been a practice since very early times. Some of their
samples are kept in Spain, Turkey, Jordan, and Crimea. The article analyzes the similarities and
peculiarities of underground mosques with Sufi khanakas in the Middle Ages and their history
and current use
the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Kazakhstan
“AP19680234 Mangistau toponymic area: historical toponymy, topography and their interpretation”
the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Primary Language | English |
---|---|
Subjects | North-West (Kipczak) Turkic Dialects and Literatures |
Journal Section | Research Article |
Authors | |
Project Number | “AP19680234 Mangistau toponymic area: historical toponymy, topography and their interpretation” |
Early Pub Date | September 10, 2024 |
Publication Date | September 16, 2024 |
Submission Date | June 5, 2024 |
Acceptance Date | July 31, 2024 |
Published in Issue | Year 2024 |
Türk Kültürü ve Hacı Bektaş Velî Araştırma Dergisi Creative Commons Atıf-GayriTicari 4.0 Uluslararası Lisansı ile lisanslanmıştır.