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On March 11, 2025, the Department of World History, Historiography, and Source Studies at 51���� Kazakh National University's Faculty of History organized a lecture by Professor Habibulla Akram of Indiana University Bloomington (USA), an expert in Arabic language, textology, and bibliography, on the topic: "The Halfa Madrasah in Karnak and its Role in the Spread of Islam in Kazakhstan."

Habibulla Akram, author of 4 research papers and over 50 articles, also studies the history of the village of Karnak, located in the Turkestan region of Kazakhstan. From Mr. Akram's lecture, faculty and students gained particularly important historical information.

The ancient settlement of Karnak is located northwest of the modern city of Turkestan, the capital of Southern Kazakhstan. In the past, archaeologists such as A.N. Bernshtam, G.I. Patsevich, and E.I. Ageeva conducted excavations here, but were unable to reach definitive conclusions. One group of archaeologists suggested that Karnak was the medieval Ishkent, while others argued that Karnak was built during the Timurid dynasty.

Karnak has historically been considered a center of education and culture, but its history is still not fully explored. It is assumed that Karnak had 4 large madrasahs and 22 smaller madrasahs. Among them, the Halfa Madrasah holds a special place. The Halfa Madrasah was founded by Hafiz Mullah, who lived in the 18th century, and his son Oimukhammad Mullah (also known as Kozy Khoja, Kozy Mullah, Kozy Turkistani). Although little is known about Hafiz Mullah now, there are oral and possibly written records about his son Kozy Mullah and his madrasah. According to the records of Sulaimon Amirov, the author of the book on the history of Karnak, more than 200 Kazakh youths from cities such as Kyzylzhar, Karaganda, and Atbasar studied at the Halfa Madrasah. One of them was the famous poet and expert in Arabic and Persian languages Musa Baizakuly (1849-1932). The "Ardaktylar" website, which contains biographies of famous Kazakhs, states that Musa Baizakuly "studied at the Kozy Mullah madrasah in the village of Karnak" (see: ). Similar information can be found on the "El" website: "Musabek Baizakuly… studied at a religious madrasah opened by Kozy Mullah in the settlement of Karnak" (see: http://el/bm4471). In addition, such famous Kazakh figures as Shortanbai Kanauly (1808-1881), Mashkhur Jusup Kopeuly (1858-1931), Sary Mullah, and Balmagambet Balkybayuly from Zhezkazgan also studied in Karnak.

Associate Professor of the Department of World History, Historiography, and Source Studies G. Sabdenova, Doctoral Student Sh. Rakhmensheev.