Sayyids of Termez.

Termez sayyids played considerable role in political system and public life in different epochs of Termez, By the term sayyid they understand the descendants of the Prophet of Muhammad Ar-Rasul, especially the descendants of grandchild of Muhammad - al - Husain. Termez sayyids trace their genealogical tree to one of the fourth grandchildren of Imam Zain al-Abiddin AH bin al-Husain (680-695) - Ubaidullah al-Araj. The majority of sayyids of Central Asia derive their family tree from the same person. There is not much in­formation about al-Araj in the sources. In early sources he is mentioned as a member of the delegation from Khalif Abu Jafar al-Mansur Muhammad bin Abdallah (754-775) to Abu Moslim. The elder son of al-Araj whose name was Jafar had his own party - "Khujat Allah". Therefore his nickname was "al-Khuja.»(2)

One of the sons of Jafar - Husain Abu Abdallah first went to Samarkand and later to Balkh. Here the only his son al-Hasan Abu Muhammad was ap­pointed city's Nakib, which means the head of all sayyids. In the ninth century in the big cities there were heads of nakibs who were subordinated to the supreme sayyid "nukaba". Nakibs were supposed to know genuine genealogical trees of sayyids, they were also supposed to look after the sayyids and support their interests. They also served as judges in the area. At a later period in all Central Asian cities the positions of nakibs were given to sayyids that were from Termez. (3)

Sojourn of Termez sayyids' founders in Mawarannahr during the reign of khalif Mutavakil (847-862) can be easily explained by the antialid course of the latter in the domestic affairs. According to the book "Sayyidina", which is dedi­cated to the genealogical tree of Termez sayyids Al-Hasan Abu Muhammad left Balkh for Termez in 865. Sources state that he honoured the descendant of Samanids - Arkak by presenting him Balkh, which was then ruled by khalif al-Mutavakil (846-861). Later the Samanids manifested deep respect and honour. One of them, Amir Abdallah, married the daughter of Samanid Ismail Ibn Ahmad whose name was Makhisima. After this the descendants of Termez sayyids had the title "Khudanandzade", i.e. prince. (4) Legends say that near Termez there was a settlement, which was called Saman. A place not far from the ensemble Sultan Saodat at the end of XIX century was called Shahri Sanian. (5) Data given in the family tree of the Termez sayyids do not always bear real facts, they are most legendary. Archives materials testify that at the end of XIX century there were other documents as well, that were translated into Russian, though they were not found. (6)

Sayyids were special elite group in the social hi­erarchy of Moslim society and enjoyed advantage and privileges among believers. In their conscious they considered them to be holy-auliya. It is inter­esting to mark that in the process of becoming up the house of Termez sayyids, al-Hakim at-Terrnizi worked out the basis of idea of auliya (holy).

After the downfall of Samanids in the first half of XI century Termez belonged to Gaznavids and was the most important strategic post guarding the northern borders of the state. In those years the city was ruled by rayis (chairman) who had civil, mili­tary and administrative power. (7) There is no exact data about sayyids of this period. Gaznavids consid­ered Termez to be God blessed city of the state. The fact that the sayyids were the nakibs of Gazna - the capital city of the country testifies their high posi­tion in the society, though in some scientific litera-

ture they maintain that "for some period sayyids stood aside of the political life of the country since in written sources of this time they were not men­tioned.»(9)

From the middle of the XI to the middle of XII centuries Termez belonged to Seljukids though from time to time Gaznavids and Qarakhanids went on laying claim to it. As a result of instability of the political situation in the state of Seljukids there was instability in Termez though the civil power was al­ways belonged to sayyids. According to Anvar in the second half of XII century Sayyid Imam ad-Din Firuzshah was the ruler of the city. (10) Before this period in 1127 a well-known religious historian Abu-1-Fath ash-Shahristani dedicated his work "Kitab al-Milal va-Nmal»to a nakib of Termez. (11)

Membership in the family of sayyids was of great importance because it meant success and support of all kinds for the sayyids. The appointment to the post of khalif of one of the great Termez sayyids is exemplary of this. (12)

In the thirtieth of XIV century in the fight of one of Chighatai Khan, Khalil, against the Mongol invader Ala al-Mulk was his ally and vizier. According to Ibn Battuta Khalil seized Mawarannahr and advanced towards the Chinese border. Enviers succeeded in arousing suspicion in Khalil against Ala al-Mulk and the former gave an order to kill him. (13) Fasih Khavafi in his "Mujmal-1-Fasihi»wrote about the dates of death of some representatives of Termez sayyids and gave the details of their genealogical tree. (14)

Termez sayyids became the most respectful and honoured people in the epoch of Temur and Temurids. (15) Almost in all the sources of that pe­riod one can find information about the activities of this family. The sons of Ala al-Mulk- Ala ad-Din, Abu-1 Maali and Ali Akbar took an active part in political and public life of the country. Abu-1 Maali and Ali Akbar participated in the ceremony of Amir Temur's ascending the throne. In 1371 Abu-1 Maali was exiled for his participation in conspiracy against Temur but the next year he was in Temur's cam­paign against Khwarazm. In 1399, on his way back from India, and in 1404, on his way back from his campaign to the West, Amir Temur stopped at the home of Ala al-Mulk, who was a son of Abu-1 Maali. Ala al-Mulk's son Ali-Asgar had three sons: Ala al-Mulk - "Emir Buzurg", Abu al-Maali and Shams ad-Din. Abu-1 Maali was buried in Gumbaz Sayyidon. His Tombstone inside the Gumbazi Sayyidon gives a detailed description of the family tree of sayyids. His elder brother Emir Buzury is more popular. His name is also mentioned in works of Alisher Navoiy (16) and in "Baburname.»(17) Rulers usually married the daughters of sayyids. The rulers of Mawarannahr Abu Said, Ahmad, later Mahmud married the daughters of Termez sayyids. (18) This tradition was also kept by Shaibanikhan's son, Muhammad Temur-sultan (19) and the ruler of Kashgar - Abdurashidkhan. (20)

Many religious leaders of Moslim world were re­lated to Termez sayyids. A well-known shaih and Jaloliddin Rumi's tutor - Sayyid Burkhoniddin Termizi, shaihulislam Sayyid Abdulla Termizi, a well-known spiritual leader of Afghan tribes sayyid Ali Shah Termizi whose nickname was Pir Baba and many others worked to propagate and strengthen Islam.

After long research in the primary sources in the 1950s, A.A. Semyonov came to the conclusion that an outstanding shaih of Tashkent Khorand Takhur be­longed to Termez sayyids. This was confirmed by B. Ahmedov. (21) I. Nizametdinov proved that noted painter Mir Sayyid Ali was also born in Termez. (22) In the forward of the Uzbek translation of the work "Dastur al-Milk»by Khwaja Samandar Termizi, the translator gives proof of the fact that the author of this essay also comes from Termez. (23)

Thus, the fragmentary materials and sources that we have at our disposal show that the sayyids of Termez have occupied many important posts in the Moslim society. Study of their activities enables us to fill new pages of the history of the East