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Uzbekistan to host the First International Islamic Civilization Forum on July 7–11

Today, one of the key pillars of New Uzbekistan’s development is the preservation of national and universal values, the in-depth study of the rich scientific and spiritual heritage of our people, and its broad promotion to the international community. Under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, large-scale reforms have elevated not only the country's economic and social spheres but also its spiritual and educational life to an entirely new level.

In recent years, Uzbekistan has undertaken extensive efforts to study the lives and scholarly legacy of its great thinkers, restore historical monuments, preserve and digitize rare manuscripts, and integrate them into international academic discourse. These initiatives contribute not only to strengthening national identity but also to demonstrating more broadly Uzbekistan’s invaluable contribution to the development of world civilization.

The Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan, established at the initiative of the Head of State, together with the Imam Bukhari International Scientific Research Center, the Imam Maturidi International Scientific Research Center, the Imam Tirmidhi International Scientific Research Center, the Hadith School, and the Burhanuddin Marginani Scientific, Educational and Pilgrimage Tourism Complex, has become a practical embodiment of these noble goals. Today, these institutions serve as centers for fundamental research involving scholars from Uzbekistan and abroad, where manuscripts are studied scientifically and new academic publications are being prepared.

These efforts have also received high international recognition. The adoption of the “Enlightenment and Religious Tolerance” resolution by the United Nations General Assembly at Uzbekistan's initiative once again confirmed the country's active role in promoting the ideals of peace, tolerance, and enlightenment on the global stage.

As a natural continuation of these noble initiatives, the First International Islamic Civilization Forum, themed “Islamic Civilization: The Path of Peace, Tolerance and Enlightenment,” will be held from July 7 to 11 in Tashkent, Samarkand, and Termez. As the first event of its kind in the country’s history, this prestigious forum is expected to become a landmark occasion not only for Uzbekistan but also for the scholarly and intellectual life of the entire Muslim world.

A Natural Continuation of Noble Initiatives

One of the forum’s most significant features is that it will open at the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan, established at the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. This is no coincidence. In a remarkably short period, the Center has become one of the largest scientific and educational platforms not only in Uzbekistan but throughout the region.

Today, the Center serves as a modern academic institution dedicated to studying, preserving, and promoting the invaluable scholarly heritage of our ancestors while fostering international academic cooperation, strengthening dialogue among research institutions, and creating a solid foundation for new scholarly endeavors.

The forum's main events will begin at the Center. During the official opening ceremony, a message from the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the forum participants will be read. The event is also expected to bring together distinguished international figures, including Salim AlMalik, Director-General of ICESCO; Mahmud Erol Kılıç, Director-General of IRCICA; Sultan Raev, Secretary General of TURKSOY; and Shahin Mustafayev, President of the International Turkic Academy, along with prominent government officials, public figures, scholars from Uzbekistan and abroad, and leaders of international organizations.

A major platform bringing together scholars from around the world

The First International Islamic Civilization Forum is also significant for its remarkable scale. The program includes four international conferences, ten general sessions, fifteen plenary meetings, and six specialized panel discussions. These events will address a wide range of topics, including the history of Islamic civilization, Hadith studies, Islamic theology (kalam), manuscript studies, museology, archaeology, cultural heritage preservation, digitization, cultural diplomacy, and the spiritual and educational reforms being implemented in New Uzbekistan.

The forum is expected to welcome nearly 300 international participants from more than 50 countries. Among them will be government officials, public figures, ministers, grand muftis, academicians, leading scholars of Islamic studies, manuscript specialists, directors of museums and libraries, representatives of prominent international organizations, and members of the international media. Their participation underscores the forum’s role as a genuine platform for global dialogue and academic cooperation.

“Among the 57 countries cooperating with IRCICA, Uzbekistan continues to maintain a leading position in preserving and promoting Islamic culture and heritage,” said Professor Mahmud Erol Kılıç, Director-General of IRCICA.

“The achievements that New Uzbekistan has made in the cultural and educational spheres in recent years are clearly reflected in our joint activities. I recently visited Tashkent to participate in the international conference dedicated to Amir Timur and the Timurid civilization. We have now witnessed that all the necessary conditions have been created to ensure the successful organization of the First International Islamic Civilization Forum at the highest level.”

Special attention will also be given to the presentation of books and academic publications. Among the forum’s highlights will be the international conference “Al-Jami’ as-Sahih: The Book of the Ummah” and its collection of conference proceedings, prepared in cooperation with ICESCO; the illustrated volume “Shavkat Mirziyoyev – An Enlightened Leader,” published jointly with IRCICA; the Russian academic edition of Imam Tirmidhi's Shama’il al-Muhammadiyyah, produced in cooperation with the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Russia; and several other major scholarly publications.

The participation of leading international organizations, as well as directors of renowned museums and libraries, further demonstrates Uzbekistan's steadily growing prestige in the fields of international academic and cultural cooperation.

Scholarly dialogue around a great legacy

A closer look at the forum’s program reveals that its primary focus is the study of the rich intellectual and spiritual heritage left by our great ancestors through modern academic approaches and its broad promotion within the international scholarly community. In this sense, the forum is not merely a venue for academic discussion but also a prestigious platform that brings together different countries and scholarly traditions around a common goal the advancement of knowledge and enlightenment.

The plenary sessions on the forum's opening day will explore topics including the spiritual heritage of Islamic civilization, the religious and educational reforms being implemented in New Uzbekistan, the role of the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan as an international academic and educational platform, as well as issues related to manuscript preservation and strengthening cooperation among museums and libraries. The participation of ministers, grand muftis, presidents of academies, and leaders of international organizations from various countries will further enhance the forum's international standing.

Throughout the forum, joint projects between Uzbekistan's scientific and educational institutions and leading research organizations from abroad will be presented, alongside new academic publications, archaeological discoveries, rare manuscripts, and digital heritage initiatives. In addition, cooperation roadmaps will be discussed, while memoranda of understanding and partnership agreements are scheduled to be signed. This demonstrates that the forum extends beyond academic debate to produce concrete practical outcomes.

A great heritage through the eyes of the world’s scholars

An important part of the forum consists of the international conferences to be held in Samarkand and Termez, dedicated to the comprehensive study of the scholarly legacy of our great luminaries Imam Bukhari, Imam Maturidi, and Imam Tirmidhi.

In particular, the international conference in Samarkand, titled “Imam Bukhari’s Al-Jami’ as-Sahih: The Book of the Ummah,” will examine the life of the great hadith scholar, his scholarly development, the history of the compilation of Al-Jami’ as-Sahih, its manuscript tradition, Imam al-Bukhari’s methodology for authenticating hadith, and the works enduring contribution to the development of Islamic civilization.

The conference will feature five plenary sessions, bringing together leading scholars of Hadith from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, Türkiye, India, Bangladesh, the United Kingdom, Tunisia, and several other countries.

The conference dedicated to the legacy of Imam Maturidi will examine contemporary perspectives on moderation, religious tolerance, and the harmony between reason and revelation. Meanwhile, the conference in Termez will focus on the Termez school of Hadith and the outstanding contribution of Imam Tirmidhi to the global tradition of Hadith scholarship. Through these conferences, Uzbekistan will demonstrate that it is not only the homeland of great scholars but also a modern international center for the systematic study and global promotion of their intellectual heritage.

A remarkable example of an enlightenment-oriented policy

The significance of the First International Islamic Civilization Forum cannot be measured solely by its academic program. Above all, the forum represents a practical expression of New Uzbekistan’s foreign policy, founded on the principles of humanism, enlightenment, and tolerance.

Today, science, culture, and spiritual heritage are among the most powerful forces capable of bringing nations together. In this regard, the forum serves as an important platform for strengthening mutual trust among countries, civilizations, and scholarly traditions, promoting humanitarian dialogue, and advancing new joint academic initiatives.

“Without a doubt, the First International Islamic Civilization Forum will become one of the landmark events not only in the scholarly and educational life of Uzbekistan but also in the history of international humanitarian cooperation,” said Firdavs Abdukhalikov, Director of the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan.

“The forum stands as another vivid example of the enlightened state policy being pursued under the leadership of our esteemed President, Shavkat Mirziyoyev. It reflects the noble initiatives aimed at preserving the legacy of our ancestors and promoting it for the benefit of all humanity.”

It is important to emphasize that through this forum, Uzbekistan presents the heritage of its great ancestors not merely as a historical legacy but as a living intellectual and spiritual resource capable of contributing to the progress of humanity today and in the future. This reflects the country’s steadily growing international standing and enriches Central Asia's historic role as a center of enlightenment and civilization with new meaning.

Rustam Jabborov
Scientific Secretary of the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan