Azret-Sultan

"The Azret Sultan" National Historical-Cultural Museum-Reserve – one of the fundamental museums of the Republic of Kazakhstan, a historical architectural complex.

The museum, a prominent promoter of the Islamic faith, was opened on March 28, 1977 in the city of Turkestan as the "Republican Museum of the Architectural Building of the Khoja Ahmed Yasawi Mausoleum" in honor of the scholar Khoja Ahmed Yasawi (Azret Sultan), titled "Turkestan Pir", based on the mausoleum built by Amir Timur at the end of the 14th century. On August 28, 1989, by resolution No. 256 of the Council of Ministers of the Kazakh SSR, it was established as the "Azret Sultan" State Historical-Cultural Reserve-Museum. Then, in accordance with resolution No. 585 of July 24, 2015 of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, it was created by reorganizing the republican state institution "Azret Sultan" State Historical-Cultural Reserve-Museum of the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan. On December 19, 2023, by Presidential Decree No. 415 of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the "Azret Sultan" State Historical-Cultural Museum-Reserve was granted the status of "National", the first among museum-reserves in the country.

The museum-reserve has departments for protection and accounting of historical-cultural heritage monuments, reserve preservation and accounting, scientific research, excursions and promotion, service and exploitation. It contains 43 historical-cultural monuments. 1 is of international significance, 21 are of republican significance, 2 are of local significance. 19 monuments have been entered into the preliminary accounting list.

The construction of the Khoja Ahmed Yasawi mausoleum was completed at the end of the 14th century. The fate of the mausoleum since its erection has become intertwined with the history of the Kazakh people. Around the mausoleum, notable figures such as Jolbars Khan, Esim Khan, Jangir Khan, Tauke Khan, Ablai Khan, Kasym Khan, the Kaz voice Kazibek bi, Janibek batyr, etc., are buried.

In June 1864, the Russian general Cherniaev's troops bombarded with cannon the mausoleum guarded by Syzdik Sultan, the son of Khan Kenesary. The actions of Soviet totalitarianism, which tried to block the religious service of the Azret Sultan mosque as the main center of Islam in Kazakhstan, also failed to achieve their intended goals.

The International-level Khoja Ahmed Yasawi mausoleum, the main monument of Turkestan, was included in UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2003 as an unparalleled medieval architectural masterpiece. The monument, which has gained global significance, also holds a special place as a national pantheon. The protected museum complex, together with the Khoja Ahmed Yasawi mausoleum, includes the Great crypt (underground mosque, 12th century), the Holy Kumshyk Ata crypt (12th century), the Eight‑cornered mausoleum (4th–6th centuries), the mausoleum of Ulykbek's daughter, the wife of Abilkhair Khan, Rabia Sultan Begim (15th century), the Eastern bath (16th–17th centuries), the Esim Khan mausoleum (17th century), etc., encompassing the finest archaeological, historical‑architectural and fine‑art monuments. More than 300 historical figures, such as Jollybay Khan, Esim Khan, Jangir Khan, Tauke Khan, Ablai Khan, the Kazakh orator Qazybek bi, Janibek batyr, Begembay batyr and others, are buried around the Khoja Ahmed Yasawi mausoleum; as a result of research by the protected‑museum specialists, 231 of those persons have been identified today. The museum‑reserve holds 25 594 valuable historical artifacts. For the proper preservation of artifacts belonging to the written, archaeological‑ethnographic and numismatic groups, state‑of‑the‑art special devices have been installed.

"The Azret Sultan" State Historical-Cultural Museum-Reserve has established partnerships with all republican and regional museums in our country and is the museum with the most visitors among them. The types of services offered to visitors are also systematically organized according to standards. As a result of such activities, the reserve-museum received the International ICOM Association "Museum of the Year" diploma in 2015, and according to the 2016 summary it was awarded the title "Industry Leader" in the "Growth Rate" nomination of the National Business Rating program for Kazakhstan museums, received the "Gold" rating, and was honored with an International certificate and a special "Golden Eagle" medal.

The Khoja Ahmed Yasawi architectural complex was included in UNESCO's Red Book. In accordance with the revitalization of the Great Silk Road segment Almaty – Taraz – Turkestan, the cultural, material and spiritual heritage of Azret Sultan is being restored under the patronage of the governments of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Turkey.

Yasautanu Scientific Center

The "Yasautanu" scientific center was established in 2023 in accordance with the order of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

The head of state noted the need for deep study of the Yasawi teachings at the second session of the National Assembly "Just Kazakhstan – Honest Citizen" held in Turkestan on June 17, 2023.

According to the President's order, a special scientific center was opened in 2025 on the territory of the "Azret Sultan" National Historical-Cultural Museum-Reserve. The main purpose of the center is comprehensive research, promotion of the Khoja Ahmed Yasawi heritage, and scientific determination of the place of Yasawi teachings in Turkic-Islamic civilization.

The scientific center conducts fundamental and applied research in the fields of Yasawi creativity, Sufi tradition, Turkic spirituality and religious-cultural heritage.

Goals and Objectives

The main goal of the center is to study the Khoja Ahmed Yasawi teachings comprehensively and to formulate scientific conclusions.

Main tasks:

Comprehensive study of the Yasawi doctrine in historical, literary, philosophical and religious aspects;

Analyzing the content of “Divan-i Hikmet” and other works and conducting multidimensional analysis;

Defining the significance of the Yasawi heritage in Turkic‑Islamic civilization and studying its influence on the modern era;

Scientific description, digitization and publication of ancient manuscripts and rare books;

Collecting archival materials and introducing them into scientific circulation;

Carrying out joint projects with domestic and foreign scientific organizations;

Publishing scientific articles, monographs and collections;

Organizing conferences, seminars, round tables;

Conducting scientific‑educational courses for young researchers and students.

Service areas

The center works in the following directions:

Conducting fundamental and applied scientific research;