Mufti of Novosibirsk: The Center is a unique place that introduces Muslim heritage to the world
The Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan, built over nearly nine years, has been warmly received from its very first days by the general public, especially foreign visitors and the Muslim community. Today, the number of visitors to the Center continues to grow, and its reputation is steadily rising on the international stage.
As President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has emphasized, the main goal of the Center is to deeply study and widely promote the rich millennia-old history of our people, their scientific heritage, and the significant contribution of Islamic civilization to global development. The ongoing visits and high evaluations clearly demonstrate that these noble objectives are being successfully realized in practice.
The Mufti of the Muslim Religious Administration of the Novosibirsk Region of the Russian Federation also visited the Center. At the beginning of the visit, the Mufti familiarized himself with the pages of the “Avesta” manuscripts displayed in the exhibitions dedicated to the pre-Islamic period, noting that these sources hold invaluable importance in illuminating the earliest spiritual roots of human history.
The section dedicated to the First Renaissance left a particularly strong impression. The Mufti highly praised the specially designed capsules devoted to great hadith scholars such as Imam Bukhari and Imam Tirmidhi, as well as the modern presentation of their lives and scholarly activities through interactive maps. He noted that this approach allows for a deeper understanding of the development of Islamic scholarship.
In the Second Renaissance section, the AI-enhanced presentation of maps of Amir Temur’s state sparked great interest, as it enables visitors to vividly experience historical processes. The Mufti also emphasized that the depiction of Mirzo Ulugbek’s astronomical discoveries and the observatory environment was so immersive that it felt as if he were physically present in that era.
The Qur’an Hall became one of the most impactful highlights of the visit. The mapping holograms, the design of silk carpets, and the overall spiritual atmosphere evoked deep emotions in the guest, who noted that “the atmosphere here moves the heart of every Muslim.”
Abdulhamid Shakirzyanov, Mufti of the Novosibirsk Region:
Alhamdulillah, I had the opportunity to visit such a large and modern museum. We gained a great deal of new knowledge here.
The heritage presented in the Center holds great significance for me as a Muslim. The way our historical values are collected and preserved here inspires great pride. Although some exhibits have been restored, all of them are presented at a very high level.
This Center is undoubtedly fulfilling its mission at a high level. Not only local visitors, but also many foreign tourists come here, gaining new knowledge about Islamic culture and the ancient Islamic civilization.
Personally, I found the religious sections particularly interesting. The exhibitions dedicated to our great scholars such as Imam Bukhari and Imam Tirmidhi left a strong impression on me. I was also drawn to the display of works by scholars of the Islamic Golden Age.
According to the Mufti, such centers play an important role in widely promoting the true essence of Islam — the ideas of knowledge, enlightenment, and peace.