The Legend of Shah-Fazil: Echo of Real Events
THE LEGEND OF SHAH-FAZIL
In the mid-7th century, Caliph Hazreti Ali sent eight thousand warriors through Samarkand to Turkestan, commanded by Abdullah ibn Omar. After suffering defeat in Fergana, Abdullah ibn Omar sent a letter to Medina requesting assistance.
After reading Omar's letter, the rulers of Medina decided to support him with a 12,000-strong army led by Muhammad ibn Jarir (the prophet's nephew). On the way to Fergana, he replaced the rulers in some cities who opposed Islam. Moving through Balkh, Samarkand, and Ahsiqet, he approached the city of Kasana, where the ruler was a descendant of the Iranian Ikhshid, Akshid. Muhammad ibn Jarir sent a messenger to Akshid demanding surrender without a fight, promising that he could remain on his throne. However, Akshid refused to surrender the city voluntarily. The population did not support him, and he, with his 4,000 troops, was forced to retreat to Turkestan.
On the way, he made an agreement with the Shah of the city of Mamai, Karvan-bas, for joint military actions against Shah-Jarir.
After capturing Kasana, Shah-Jarir headed towards Karvan-bas. Not reaching Mamai, he left his army 5 km from the city, in the area of Padak (from the word "paytakht" — "capital"). He sent a messenger to Karvan-bas demanding surrender, and he allegedly agreed, informing Shah-Jarir of his submission and acceptance of the Islamic faith. But he did this with treacherous intent. He did not inform Shah-Jarir of Akshid's whereabouts; they were in secret correspondence, both preparing for a decisive battle against Shah-Jarir.
To gain trust and buy time, Karvan-bas gave his daughter Bu Ubaida in marriage to Shah-Jarir. However, the peace between them did not last long. The young wife of Shah-Jarir, while at her father's house, heard about the impending attack in collaboration with Akshid and conveyed this to her husband. But he did not believe her. And on the next Friday, during the prayer, a tragedy unfolded, resulting in the beheading of more than 2,700 Arabs. This place of prayer is still called "Kyrgynmechet".
The surviving warriors, led by Shah-Jarir, engaged in battle, but due to the overwhelming strength of the enemy, they were forced to retreat and then head to Arabia, failing to achieve their goal.
Karvan-bas and Akshid celebrated their victory, ordering that no one approach Kyrgynmechet and that the bodies of the Arab warriors not be buried. A servant of Shah-Jarir named Bu Bilon, of African descent, wishing to pay her last respects to her lord, whom she believed to be dead, gathered the heads, washed them, and laid them together. Karvan-bas decided to punish Bu Bilon severely, but the population pleaded for her mercy. Due to the trauma and fear she experienced, Bu Bilon became lighter in complexion, and her skin turned white. From that time on, she was called Safed (white) Bilon (Bulon).
Soon, Safed-Bulon died, and she was buried at the site where the mausoleum of Bu Bilon now stands, next to the grave and mausoleum of Kalakhan, where the heads of 2,772 Arabs rest.
In Medina, Shah-Jarir passed away. His wife Bu Ubaida soon gave birth to a son, whom they named Shah-Fazil. Forty years after his father's death, during the reign of Caliph Abdumalik Mavron, Shah-Fazil went to Fergana, to the site of the Arab warriors' demise. He took control of the surrounding territory, which he ruled for 16 years. Following his father's command, Shah-Fazil buried all the fallen.
He ruled in Kasana, where his son Muhammad was born. During the annual celebration of his son's birthday, Shah-Fazil was poisoned at a feast by his secret adversaries, the followers and descendants of Karvan-bas and Akshid. He was buried in the same grave where the bodies of the fallen were interred. The mausoleum itself was built later. Shah-Fazil's mother, Bu Ubaida, with her grandson, set off for Arabia, but near Kokand, she perished along with little Muhammad.
In addition to this story, there are accounts from legends that the mausoleum of Shah-Fazil was erected by the order and at the expense of Amir Timur himself, with the construction supervised by his son Omar-Sheikh. After his death, Omar-Sheikh was also buried in this mausoleum.
Legends and traditions have long been recognized by historical science as an additional source of information. The legends of Safed-Bulon echo real events that took place in Central Asia and Fergana, particularly in the early Middle Ages, during the period of its conquest by the Arabs, the advance of the Turks, and the establishment of the cult of "saints" in Islam.
Legends
