Forum. Photo: cisc.uz
A plenary session with the participation of the International Expert Council was held in the conference hall of the Center for Islamic Civilization in Tashkent as part of the forum “The Legacy of a Great Past Is the Basis of an Enlightened Future.”
The session opened with a video about the work of scholars at the Center for Islamic Civilization. Director Firdavs Abdukhalikov delivered the welcoming remarks.
“Over the past eight years, the work of this center has reflected the consistent research, academic studies, and historical discoveries carried out by more than 2,000 scholars and specialists from our country and abroad. Today’s event is a vivid expression of these efforts and of international scholarly cooperation,” Abdukhalikov noted.
He also recalled the words of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, stressing that the Center for Islamic Civilization, which will open its doors in the coming months, is part of a broader policy of promoting tolerance in society. A special presentation at the United Nations will highlight the rich spiritual and scholarly heritage of Eastern thinkers such as Imam Bukhari, Imam Tirmidhi, Imam Maturidi, and others.
“These words vividly reflect the enlightened policies pursued in our country, as well as the attention devoted to science and culture,” Abdukhalikov concluded.
Bahrom Abdukhalimov, vice president of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, then addressed the gathering. He thanked participants for their work at the forum, expressed hope for long-term cooperation, and launched the final stage of the session, which consisted of summarizing results and exchanging views on the information gained during the forum and the visit to the Center.
In total, ten topics directly related to the Center for Islamic Civilization were discussed by international experts: the Hall of the Holy Quran, pre-Islamic civilizations, the history of Islam’s spread, science and education, the First and Second Renaissances, the khanate period, the innovative library, the museum, the collection of artifacts and manuscripts, and the creation of an international platform for joint projects.
Each session featured five international experts who shared their initial impressions. Scholars praised what they had seen but also offered a number of recommendations concerning ideas for museum exhibitions, the library’s content, and areas of cooperation with foreign partners.
Detailed feedback will be presented privately in the near future following further analysis.
At the close of the plenary session, memorandums of cooperation were signed, after which participants adopted a declaration. The forum was then declared closed. Director Firdavs Abdukhalikov thanked colleagues for their efforts and wished them success in future joint work.
The forum “The Legacy of a Great Past Is the Basis of an Enlightened Future” was organized at the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. More than 200 scholars and experts from over 20 countries took part. Experts included representatives of national and international academic organizations, among them TURKSOY, ISESCO, IRCICA, and Al-Furqan. The event was covered by more than ten media outlets from around the world, including Euronews, Al Jazeera, and Mir.
The Center for Islamic Civilization was built in the Uzbek capital next to the Khast-Imam complex. Designed in the style of medieval architectural monuments, it features four portals, each 34 meters high, and a central dome rising 65 meters. The building includes a Hall of the Quran, a 460-seat conference hall, and a museum with exhibitions spanning Uzbekistan’s history from pre-Islamic times to the present. The center is intended as a hub for studying the heritage of past generations and reinterpreting it in cooperation with the International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan and academic and educational institutions worldwide.
