The ancient city of Merv, located in Mary Province, Turkmenistan, lies about 7 kilometers east of Bayramaly and 30 kilometers east of the city of Mary. In this sacred place rest two Companions of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ — Al-Hakam ibn Amr ibn Majd ibn Khuzaim ibn Al-Harith al-Ghifari رضي الله عنه and Abu-Abdullah Buraida ibn al-Husayb ibn Abdullah ibn al-Harith al-Aslami رضي الله عنه. Their lives are examples of sincere faith, devotion, and service to Islam.
Al-Hakam ibn Amr al-Ghifari رضي الله عنه arrived in Merv in 665 and passed away in 670. He was known for his piety and detachment from worldly pleasures.
Abu-Abdullah Buraida al-Aslami رضي الله عنه came to Merv in 671 and died in 681. When the Prophet ﷺ was migrating to Medina, Buraida met him, removed his turban, and made a banner from it as a sign of love and loyalty. Later, he spread Islam throughout Khorasan and was buried in Merv.
Their mausoleums stand close to each other within the ancient city of Merv, now an archaeological and spiritual center of Turkmenistan. Pilgrims and travelers come here to honor the memory of the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
