Shahi Zinda / شاه زنده – this beautiful necropolis is located in the ancient core of the city of Samarqand. The tomb complex contains an ensemble of small and larger tomb structures built from 12th century up to 19th century. The bodies of various nobles and intellectuals of Samarqand rest here. Most importantly however is the that the body of Qutham ibn Abbas- the Holy Prophet’s (saw) cousin and emissary who was martyred while bringing the message of Islam to Central Asia. Since his martyrdom, the location of his tomb has long been a place of pilgrimage and earned the title of Shahi Zinda.
The tomb pictured however is that of Khwaja Ahmad, built in the said to be built between in 1340-1350. Based on the tiles and architectural style it significant differs from Timurid and post-Timurid Persian architecture. The use of larger tile slabs and heavier use of sculpted relief techniques in the tiles is similar to the ornamentation found in architectural monuments in Iran that date back from the Seljuq and Ilkhanate periods.