Isfijab
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Isfijab is the Arabic name of the modern city of Sayram, located in South Kazakhstan Province.
[edit] History
When Islam first came to Sayram in 766, it was brought by a detachment of Arab and Arabic-speaking volunteers from the already converted lands to the West. Leading this group was a man named Iskak, remembered in Sayram as Iskak-bab. The standard bearer of these soldiers of Islam was none other than Abd al Aziz-baba, whose heroism helped convert the surrounding lands to Islam. One surviving manuscript, entitled "Nasabname" tells how the Muslim warriors under Iskak-bab came to Sayram: 'Iskak-bab invited Nakhibar to the true faith. But Nakhibar replied, "I am a tarsa of the seventieth generation, and my faith is true! That is why I shall fight you." Hand-to-hand combat ensued, and lasted for three days and nights. Ten thousand Nestorian tarsas and fifteen thousand Muslim died for their faith. The color-bearer of the Muslim forces was Abd al Aziz.'
[edit] Renaming the City
That same manuscript goes on to describe Iskak-bab's building of the first mosque in Sayram, which would make it the first mosque in modern Kazakhstan, as well. It states, "After that he set up a Friday mosque in Sayram, renamed Isfijab."
Isfijab is spelled alternatively "Ishfijab" and "Ispijab" in English.
[edit] References
- Nurazxan, Yerkin (editor), Sayram Region, 75th Anniversary, 2003
