The legend about Khoja Ahmed Yasawi withdrawing into seclusion (kiluet) after reaching the age of the Prophet is well known among the people. The “Nasabnama” published by the “Kara Osman” edition states: “Khoja Ahmed lived in the land of Yasi for 100 years. After the age of 60, he rarely walked on the surface. He used an underground passage between his Shildekhana and Kiluetkhana. He would only come outside during festive prayers and pilgrimages to saints’ tombs. In the year 562 AH (1166–1167 AD), at the age of 125, he left this world. His grave is in Yasi, where he is known as Yasawi Ata.”

Today, archaeological excavations at the Kiluet ritual complex have uncovered the underground cell Yasawi entered after the age of 63. However, the exact location of Yasawi’s residence remains a topic of debate. To determine where Yasawi lived, scholars have analyzed the works of researchers who explored Turkestan in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. One notable researcher actively conducting archival analyses on this subject is Dr. M. Kozha, Doctor of Historical Sciences.

Regarding archival documents, prominent orientalist N.I. Veselovsky, during his 1884 visit to Turkestan, described Yasawi’s house: “Following the instructions of the mausoleum caretakers, I visited Sultan Ahmed’s house, located about 100 fathoms from the city walls. It consisted of several rooms. In one room, there was an entrance leading about 3 fathoms down to a square-shaped chamber, approximately five spans wide and human height in depth. A small niche was carved into the corner, and the floor was covered with reed mats. According to locals, Sultan entered this place after the age of 60 and never emerged again until his death.”

Similarly, A.I. Dobromyslov, in his 1912 book, mentioned: “The Turkestan sheikhs showed me the place near the Khoja Ahmed Yasawi Mausoleum, where the saint lived underground for about 60 years. A small mosque now operates there, known as Khoja Ahmed’s house.” This also suggests that Yasawi’s kiluet was located beneath his own residence.

V.A. Gordlevsky further confirmed that after the age of 63, Yasawi retreated to an underground cell (ghar room). He described its location near the mausoleum, within a structure called “Kiluet,” which included stables, guest rooms for Sufi pilgrims, and upper chambers with stairs leading down to the underground cell.

The consistent descriptions by N.I. Veselovsky, A.I. Dobromyslov, and V.A. Gordlevsky indicate that Khoja Ahmed Yasawi’s residence was indeed situated above the underground “ghar” chamber he entered after the age of 63.

By T. Zholdasov, Scientific Researcher of the “Azret Sultan” National Museum-Reserve.