Mir-i-Arab madrasah

 It was our second day of practical week

We went to Mir-i-Arab madrasa with our classmates 

Mir-i-Arab Madrasa, Bukhara, Uzbekistan

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Mir-i Arab Madrasa (1535-36)

The Mir-i Arab Madrasa is one of three buildings comprising the Po-i-Kalyan ensemble in the heart of Bukhara, along with the 12th century Kalyan minaret and the 16th century Kalyan mosque. It was constructed by the Shaibanid ruler Ubaydullah-khan (r. 1534-39) who was the first of the Shaibanids to make Bukhara his primary capital. Its name, Mir-i Arab, literally means "Prince of the Arabs" and refers to Sheikh Abdullah Yamani of Yemen who rose to fame as head of Bukhara's Muslim community during the reign of Muhammad Shaybani, the founder of the short-lived Shaibanid dynasty. Sheikh Yamani served as the pir (spiritual adviser) of several Khans and was ultimately laid to rest within the madrasa that now bears his name.

Madrasas were in common use in Transoxiana by the 16th century and served as Islamic “colleges”. Most were rectangular with a monumental entrance gate (an iwan), a large central courtyard, and four inward-facing iwans—a set of design principles originating in Iran. The architects of the Mir-i-Arab would likely have been familiar with numerous contemporary examples in Central Asia such as the Ulugh Beg madrasa built in early 15th century Samarkand under the Timurids, as well as other examples which no longer survive. In keeping with Iranian and Central Asian precedent, the Mir-i-Arab is laid out along similar lines and measures 73 x 55 meters on the exterior with an inner courtyards spanning 37 x 33 meters. The two-story facade is almost completely covered in glazed mosaic faience tiles, a time-consuming and expensive decorative treatment that was first popularized under Timur’s rule. However, unlike the Ulugh Beg madrasa which features corner minarets, the corners of the Mir-i-Arab are squat, heavy, and battered, giving the monument a somewhat fortress-like mien.