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Section 6. History
Saparbayev Bunyadbek, teacher, the Faculty of history, Department of history, Urgench State University, Urgench, Republic of Uzbekistan E-mail: [email protected]
THE STUDY OF THE WORK "FIRDAWS AL-IQBAL" AND THE PERIOD OF MUHAMMAD RAHIMKHAN I BY UZBEK SCIENTISTS
Abstract: the article examines and analyzes the contribution of Uzbek scientists in the study of the work of "Firdaws al-iqbal" and the reign of the Khiva Khan Muhammad Rahimkhan I. A review of the works of the researchers of this source and the period of the reign of Muhammad Rahimkhan I Q. Munirov, F. Ganikhodzhaev, G. Karimov, S. Dolimov, V. Abdullaev, T. Akhmedov and other scientists.
Keywords: the work "Firdaws al-iqbal", Munis, Agahi, Muhammad Rahimkhan I, Q. Munirov, F. Ganikhodzhaev, G. Karimov, S. Dolimov, V. Abdullaev, T. Akhmedov.
One of the historian that conducted research on the historical work "Firdaws al-iqbal" and the period of Muhammad Rahimkhan I is Q. Munirov. In his monography "Historiography in Khorezm", he presents complete information about the great historiographers of the beginning of XVII-XIX and XX that lived in Khorezm and about historical works written by them [1, 192].
While commenting on the work "Firdaws al-iqbal", the historian informs that approximately 10 manuscripts copies of this work are kept in the manuscripts reserves of the Saints Petersburg department of the Orientalism institute of Russian Academy of Sciences and the Orientalism Institute under Abu Rayhon Beruniy of Uzbek Academy of Sciences.
This monography of Q. Munirov consists of IV chapters, and the first chapter tells about the problem of the study of Historiography in Khorezm.
The second chapter describes the historical works of Abulgoziy Bahodirkhan, Munis, Ogahiy and Bayoniy.
The third chapter tells about the description of the problem of political life of Khanat ofKhiva in the historical works written in Khorezm around the beginning of XVII-XIX and XX.
The fourth chapter presents information about the socioeconomic and cultural life of the khanat of Khiva during that ages. Specifically, it analyses many problems regarding irrigation works, feudal land ownership, taxes, positions, diplomatic and trade relations, the categories and tribes in the population structure, regional geographic information, scientists and poets, in addition to building works.
The research is written shortly, clearly and meticulously. The historian mentions particularly the authors of the work "Firdaws al-iqbal": "The work started at the age ofXVII by the Khan of Khiva and historian Abulgoziy, the renowned Uzbek poets and famous historiographers Shermuhammad Munis and Muhammad Rizo Ogahiy continued proficiently at the age XIX. In addition to writing the history of Khorezm, these
great scientists and historiographers in turn created a particular school in this field" [1,4].
Valuable records about the manuscript copies of the work "Firdaws al-iqbal" can also be found in the book by F. Ganikhodjaev "The description of the works of Ogahiy'' [2, 126]. As it is mentioned in the book, there are six copies of this work by Munis and Ogahiy. The most complete copy of the work is kept in the department of Orientalism institute in Sainst Petersburg. There is one more copy of this work in this department. Both copies are the same. However, while the first copy was written by the handwritings of Munis and Ogahiy, the second one was written by that of Mulla Nurniyoz.
The third copy is kept in the manuscript reserve of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan. This copy was written down by Muhammad Rizo okhund ibn Muhammad Karim in 1879. The fourth copy is also kept there. This copy was also written down by the author of the third copy in 1903. The fifth copy is kept there as well. Khodjaniyoz al-Khonqahiy copied it out in 1903. The sixth copy is within the former manuscript reserve of the institution and was written down by Mulla Khudaybergan Khivaqiy in 1910.
Some reference to the work "Firdaws al-iqbal" are observed also in the works of G. Karimov and S. Dolimov [3, 5-35]. However, the works of these scientists do not give the citations from this historical work, but pay more attention to the historical works written by Ogahi only.
Vohid Abdullayev presents positive opinions about "Firdaws al-iqbal" as well. Specifically, the scientist writes about it as follows: "Firdaws al-iqbal" plays not only role in the study of historical events, but also in the reflection of the literal social atmosphere of that time. Although "Firdaws al-iqbal" is a prosaic historical work, the literal historical value of it is increased by the presence of legends, poetic parts, peoples' sayings and aphoristic words" [4, 116].
THE STUDY OF THE WORK "FIRDAWS AL-IQBAL"AND THE PERIOD OF MUHAMMAD RAHIMKHAN I BY UZBEK SCIENTISTS
There are some remarks by T. Ahmedov regarding "Firdaws al-iqbal". His article in the book "The history of Uzbek lierature" was written in accord with the Soviet ideology. Therefore, the researcher avoided the world outlook ofMunis (as a historian), praised often the governing class, the khan and his close people, and underrepresented the astrocytic governance, and in short he wrote it to the interest of leader class. He blacks the actions of other nations that fought for their freedom and independence [5, 412]. But whoever reading "Firdaws al-iqbal" attentively, he or she can understand what really lies under reciprocal battles presented in this historical work.
For example, the provocative actions of Toramurid sufi during the reign of Muhammad Rahimkhan I cannot be considered to be the struglle for the freedom. Moreover, it is difficult to call the actions of yumit, chovdir tribes related to robbing caravans, attacks to city and villages, enslavement, rather than robbery. In short, the khan struggled at that time for the integrity and stability of the state. Both sides are equally guilty for the tensions entailed with neighbouring khanates.
In last years, the interest and the striving for studying "Firdaws al-iqbal" have increased more.
The 2010 edition of the work also include prologue and epilogue, which present good observations regarding the work. For instance, the author of the epilogue of that time N. Djumak-hudja put forwards positive views related to this book. As he writes, the annals of "Firdaws al-iqbal" (The garden of happinesses) was on of the influential events as it was in accordance with the first modern Uzbek spelling and genuine sources, the complete publishing of which was a large step to understand the existence and the national moral revival" [6, 372].
N. Djumakhudja develops the idea in his article by considering this historical annals to be invaluable treasure with the help of the opinions expressed by our most respectful first president I. A. Karimov. He pays attention to the talent of the authors in terms of the description of the events in the work and he proves the moral educational significance of this work for today. He also presents the socio-economic reasons for the bloody battles in the work. The fact that the author of the article proves that the part of Ogahiy should be written as the style of Muhammadrizo and that its different writing styles should be put an end to is important as well.
There is one more aspect that N. Djumakhudja draws attention to, as he writes Munis and Ogahiy uses Persian and especially Arabic words and expressions to express thoughts in the book. They use the Arabic moulds usefully to construct the religious sentences related to divine. Moreover, the style of Ogahiy is different to that of Munis by its relative simplicity.
Therefore, it is rational form now one to publish the complex works as "Firdaws al-iqbal" by adapting them to the current Uzbek literal language [6, 379]. Of course, this view of the scientist is right, because it is very difficult to understand the language of the work even for the scientist with tertiary education.
This edition includes the foreword of S. R. Ruzimboyev and A. Ahmedov that pays attention to the unique history of Khorezm and mentions "Avesto" and Behustun manuscripts. Also, it provides the observations for the works of Bartold, Veselovskiy and Tolstov.
References:
1. Munirov K. Хоразмда тарихнавислик (Historiography in Khorezm),- Tashkent,- 2002.
2. Ganikhodjaev F. Огадий асарларининг тавсифи (The description of the works of Ogahiy),- Tashkent,- 1986.
3. Ogahiy Асарлар, VI жилдлик, I жилд (The Vl-chapter work, chapter I),- Tashkent,- 1970.
4. Abdullayev V. Узбек адабиёти тарихи (The history of Uzbek Literature),- Tashkent,- 1967.
5. Узбек адабиёти тарихи, IV том (The history of Uzbek literature, chapter IV),- Tashkent: "Fan".- 1978.
6. "Фирдавс ул-и^бол" улкан ^омусий, тарихий-адабий манба // Фирдавс ул-и^бол ("Firdaws al-iqbal" the large encyclopedic, historical-literal source // Firdaws al-iqbal). The persons who prepared the work for the publishing: Djumakhodja N., Ruzimboyev S., Ahmedov A.- Tashkent,- 2010.
