Kox Ota Mosque

Kox Ota Mosque — a congregational mosque located in the Kox Ota neighborhood of the Shaykhontohur district of Tashkent city. On September 30, 2001, it was registered as a religious organization by the Tashkent city justice department.

History

The mosque was built in 1834–1835 and is considered one of the ancient mosques in Tashkent. It was named so because it was built next to the Koh Ota tomb and is located in the “Ko‘h-ota” neighborhood. Islamic worship was performed in the mosque until 1937. On April 5, 1990, based on decision No. 90/7 of the Shaykhontohur district People's Deputies Council, the building’s surroundings were transferred to the neighborhood’s jurisdiction. Neighborhood activists consulted and began reconstruction work on the mosque on that site. That year the mosque was rebuilt by the neighborhood residents through a voluntary labor system and resumed activity. In 2004–2005 the Koh Ota mosque was partially renovated. In recent years, because the mosque building fell into a state requiring repair, reconstruction work began in August 2017. The new mosque includes a 200‑seat prayer hall, a library, a ablution facility, and service rooms. The mosque was completed at the end of 2018. In the area adjacent to the mosque is the “Ko‘h-ota” tomb, a historical monument dating from the 14th century.

War years

On the eve of the Second World War the mosque was closed and for a certain period was used as a soldiers’ barracks, then as a children’s home. In the 1980s the children’s home was closed and the 9th City Polyclinic was moved into its place. In the mosque area the “Koh Ota Buzruk” tomb, listed as a cultural heritage object, is located and was fully renovated in 2008.

Koh Ota

Koh Ota is a historical figure whose real name was Shaykh Kamoliddin. Historical information about him is relatively scarce, and mainly various oral legends exist. Koh Ota was a disciple of the famous 10th‑century scholar Qaffol Shoshi and reached the rank of buzrukvor. He was a scholar in tafsir and Sufism. He was the spiritual teacher of Amir Timur, although they lived in different periods. Amir Timur could not meet Koh Ota during his lifetime. Koh Ota originally came from Egypt. There are also legends that he was a hardened wrestler, famous for his remarkable strength and stature, which allowed him to travel the world and participate in combat contests. This may have been the main reason for his nickname “ko‘-ota”, which, when translated from Forsh, means “Father Mountain”. Koh Ota is buried in Tashkent. According to legends, Amir Timur personally lifted stone and brick to build this tomb, and Koh Ota was his spiritual teacher, assisting Timur in his journeys and giving him strength and power.

Location

The mosque is located at 105A house, Kox ota street, Shayxontohur district, Tashkent city. The mosque is within the Kox ota neighborhood area.