Appak Ishan mosque in Shayan aul of Baidibek district of South Kazakhstan region is an architectural monument of the late XIX century. The mosque-madrasah was started by brothers Ishan from Turkestan - Kosym and Kulatay, continued by Kosym Ishan's son Seydakhmet and graduated by his grandson Appak Ishan. Maksum is the name that his father Seydakhmet called his son to call to prayer in the beginning. He was tall, thin, and handsome. He was always a pious man who did not wear white. Probably, that's why people called him Ak Ishan. When people heard about the opening of the mosque and madrasah, they began to flock. Since the small mosque needed spacious rooms for discipleship, King Seydakhmet obtained permission from the authorities to build a mosque-madrasah. The construction of three complexes of the mosque-madrasah took several years. The mosque, the auditorium, and the cells were built separately from each other and all in one square. No wooden materials were used in the construction of the mosque-madrasah. The domes are made of European-baked ceramics. The mosque and the porch are separated by arches - arches - 35 domes. These domes served as amplifiers at the time. The domes are high and stepped, no matter which way you look at them. The main dome looks special from afar. Appak Ishan mosque-madrasah in Shayan was once one of the largest educational institutions in Kazakhstan.
Reference: Kazakhstan sacred objects
of whole national importance. – Astana: Foliant, 2017. –288-290-p.
