Type of Monument: Urban Planning and Architecture
Date: Mid-19th Century – Early 20th Century
Location: 5 kilometers south-southwest of Astaushi Village, Shalkar District, Aktobe Region, Kazakhstan.
Brief Description:
On May 26, 1997, the central mosque of Shalkar was officially named after Zhanaman Akhun Seitimuly. In 2004, a new mosque measuring 7 by 18 meters, with a minaret reaching 10 meters in height, was constructed on the exact site of the historic mosque in Myrzakongyr. Today, visitors come to the ancestral mosque to offer prayers, charitable donations, and spend the night in accordance with local spiritual traditions.
Historical Information:
Zhanaman Seitimuly was born in 1884 in Ordakongan village of present-day Shalkar District. From an early age, he studied at the mosque of Imam Abdigalym and later continued his religious education at a madrasa in Karagaly affiliated with the Kazan Muslim Spiritual Administration, where he studied under the teachers Daulet and Alken.
Seeking to further his education, he enrolled in a specialized religious institution in Khorezm. Upon completing his studies, he received an ashrikhat (diploma) and officially attained the rank of imam.
In the area known as Myrzakongyr, located within the Great Sands region, he commissioned the construction of a mosque and taught children there until 1920. Following the establishment of Soviet rule, he became the target of political persecution and was forced to relocate to Uzbekistan. Near the region known as Besqala, he continued to serve as an imam and maintained a mosque for the local Muslim community.
In 1949, Zhanaman Seitimuly returned to his native Shalkar region. He assumed responsibility for the mosque in Shalkar from Dikhan Molla and faithfully served as its imam until 1968.
In 1958, he actively participated in the congress organized in Tashkent by Babakhan, the Grand Mufti of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Central Asia and Kazakhstan. As a result of his contributions, he became a member of the administration. During this congress, Grand Mufti Babakhan conferred upon him the honorary religious title of Akhun.
Throughout his life, Zhanaman Akhun devoted himself to explaining the principles of Islam and Sharia, promoting faith, morality, and spiritual education among the people. He was fluent in Arabic, Russian, and Kazakh and enjoyed great authority within religious circles. He was recognized as one of the prominent religious figures of Kazakhstan and Central Asia and was widely respected for his wisdom, integrity, modesty, and exemplary character.
Zhanaman Akhun passed away in 1968 at the age of eighty-four.
Significance of the Monument:
The Zhanaman Akhun Cemetery and Mosque occupy a special place in the religious and cultural history of Shalkar District. From a historical perspective, the site reflects not only the life and work of an influential religious leader but also the broader development of Islamic education and religious traditions in Kazakhstan during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
The life of Zhanaman Seitimuly illustrates the resilience of Kazakh Muslim communities during the Soviet era, as well as their commitment to education, faith, and service to society. Despite periods of persecution and displacement, he continued his religious and educational mission, becoming an important spiritual authority for several generations.
Today, the cemetery and mosque remain active centers of religious life. Their continued use demonstrates not only the enduring legacy of Zhanaman Akhun but also the preservation of traditional Islamic learning, moral values, and cultural identity within the region.
For historians and researchers, the site represents a valuable source for understanding the history of religious institutions, Islamic scholarship, and community life in western Kazakhstan. It stands as a lasting symbol of faith, knowledge, and spiritual continuity.
References:
- Aktobe Newspaper: