Khast Imam (Hazrati Imam) is Tashkent’s spiritual centre, a serene square of mosques, madrasas, and a mausoleum rebuilt with calm, symmetrical grandeur. Its great draw is a library holding the Uthman Quran, believed by many to be the oldest surviving copy in the world.
Don't miss
- The 7th-century Uthman Quran, kept in the Muyi Muborak Madrasa
- The twin minarets and tiled portal of the Hazrati Imam Mosque
- The quiet, less-touristed atmosphere compared to Samarkand
Good to know
Respect
An active place of worship: cover shoulders and knees; women may want a headscarf for the mosque.
Photo spot
Photography of the ancient Quran itself is usually not allowed; ask before shooting indoors.
A Quran Stained by History
The Uthman Quran is said to be the very copy the third caliph was reading when he was assassinated in 656 CE, and dark marks on its deerskin pages are claimed to be his blood. Carried off by Timur, returned, then taken to Russia, it was finally given back to Tashkent after 1917 and now rests behind glass at Khast Imam.
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