Description of the attraction
The Magoki-Attari Mosque was built on the site of a pagan sanctuary where the Moon was worshiped, which is called "Moh" in Arabic. Therefore, Magoki-Attari has a second name - the Moh Mosque.
The inner premises of the mosque are located underground, “in the pit”, that is, in the “magok”. And the word "Attari" is translated as "mosquitoes". The name Magoki-Attari is also directly related to the location of the mosque: for a long time there was a market around the mosque where unusual goods were sold (folk remedies for all kinds of ailments, spices, pagan figurines, etc.).
The first mosque on the site of the current one appeared in the distant X century. Two centuries later, it was transformed with the addition of a southern portal. By the way, this is the only architectural element of that building that has survived to our time.
At first, the mosque was located on the ground, like all other buildings in Bukhara. But over time, she practically went underground. In the first half of the 20th century, Soviet archaeologists had to literally dig it out. Now it has been restored to its original form.
Interestingly, the Magoki-Attari mosque, along with Muslims, had the right to visit also Jews. Scholars are still debating whether the Jews prayed together with the followers of Islam or waited for their turn and started conducting religious rituals after the Muslims prayed. Thanks to this close coexistence, Jews and Muslims had to find a common language and be polite and courteous. Until now, the Jews of Bukhara during their prayers say the words: "Shalom Aleichem", and this is a wish for peace. There is no such tradition among Jews living in European countries.
