So, who was Sadr-i Ziya? According to sources, Sharifjon Makhdum Sadr-i Ziya (1867-1935) was born into the family of the religious scientist Abdushukur (he wrote his poems under the pseudonym Ayat) in Bukhara. "Makhdum" was usually used for mullahs and "Sadr" for people with religious knowledge. Domulla Abdushukur was also involved in crafts and needlework. He also worked as a mudarris in a madrasah in Bukhara. He worked as a judge in several regions of the Bukhara Emirate. His son Sadr-i Ziya, after graduating from higher madrasahs, performed this work, i.e., judging, in a number of districts of Bukhara until 1920. At the same time, he was engaged in literary research. Sadriddin Ayni also mentions this in his works.
Sadi Zia's scientific and literary heritage consists of more than 60 works. “Navodiri Ziyoiya”, “Roznama”, “Tazkirat-al-khattotin”, “Tarihi amironi mangitiya”, “Risalai asbabi inkilobi Bukhara” were considered one of his most important and valuable works. According to Ustaz Aini, the Sadr-i Zia family gathered the most active Jadid intelligentsia of Bukhara at the beginning of the 20th century and discussed the most pressing issues of the time, especially education and science. The Uzbek scientist Altynay Masalieva worked with the manuscript of Sadr-i Zia’s work called “Majmuai Tazkor” stored at this institute and conducted scientific research. Also, Sadr-i Zia’s son, academician of the Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan Muhammadjan Shakuri, and his student S. Siddikov published a monograph and memoirs about the legacy of the famous scientist. According to Altynay Masalieva, “Majmuai Tazkor” is a rare source on the history and literature of the peoples of Central Asia.
The author of the work, Sadr-i Zia, died in 1932 under the Red Empire.
You can learn more about this topic in the book-album “The Collection of the Al-Biruni Institute of Oriental studies, the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan” (part five, “Miniature and Calligraphy”) (Volume XXIII) from the series "Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan in the World Collections".
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