Madrasah Muhammad Rahimhana, Khiva

Muhammad Rahimkhan was one of the most enlightened representatives of the Kungrat dynasty, who ruled the Khiva Khanate from 1770. During his reign, numerous urban improvements were carried out, as well as reforms in the fields of politics, economics, and, most importantly, education. His reforms in the field of education led to the opening of the first “new-method” schools in Khiva (schools where not only religious but also secular sciences were taught). The crown of his activity was the construction of one of the largest madrasahs in Central Asia, named after Muhammad Rahimkhan. In the madrasah of Muhammad Rahimhan, not only religion and the Koran were taught, but also secular sciences were studied: mathematics, astronomy, geography. Along with the study of various sciences and theology, students of the madrasah composed poems, held debates.

Education in the madrasah of Muhammad Rahimhan was much different from the traditional form for Islamic universities. This was greatly facilitated by the personality of Muhammad Rahimhan himself. He was an educated and enlightened ruler, wrote poems under the pseudonym Feruz. It happened that he personally participated in discussions with students of madrasah.

The construction of the Muhammad Rahimkhan madrasah was completed in 1876. It is one of the largest in Central Asia. Madrasah is a two-storey building with a high entrance portal. The courtyard of the madrasah is four-aivan, small turrets are located at the corners. Also inside there are 76 hujras (internal living quarters of madrasah). In the madrasah there is a darskhona – a study unit, a winter and summer mosque, as well as a rich library. The madrasah of Muhammad Rahimhan embodies the spirit of enlightenment. It is a vivid example of the culture of architecture of that era and occupies its special page in the history of Khorezm.