Misralan: “The First International Islamic Civilization Forum opens in Uzbekistan”
Egypt’s cultural and educational news outlet Misralan extensively covered the opening of the First International Islamic Civilization Forum in Uzbekistan under the theme “Islamic Civilization: The Path of Peace, Tolerance, and Enlightenment.” The publication noted that the forum is dedicated to showcasing the humanitarian essence of Islamic civilization and its contributions to the advancement of science and culture, while promoting the legacies of Imam Bukhari, Imam Termizi, and Imam Maturidi on the international stage. It also highlighted that the exhibitions on manuscripts, Islamic art, sacred relics, and cultural heritage, together with the forum’s academic and educational events, will further strengthen Uzbekistan’s standing as a center of Islamic civilization and intercultural dialogue.
The First International Islamic Civilization Forum, held under the theme “Islamic Civilization: The Path of Peace, Tolerance, and Enlightenment,” officially opened on 7 July in Tashkent, as well as in Samarkand and Termez, and will continue through 11 July. The event has brought together prominent religious scholars and distinguished experts from across the Islamic world.
The forum is jointly organized by the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan and ICESCO. Its primary objective is to establish a new international platform for dialogue based on the principles of enlightenment, a culture of peace, mutual respect, spiritual heritage, and scholarly exchange.
The event aims to demonstrate the true essence of Islam as a religion of peace, enlightenment, mercy, and constructive engagement, while highlighting the immense contributions of Islamic civilization to the development of science, culture, philosophy, education, and the arts. At the same time, the forum seeks to promote the universal humanistic and educational values embodied in Islamic civilization.
Special emphasis is being placed throughout the forum on further strengthening Uzbekistan’s international standing as one of the leading contemporary centers of Islamic civilization, enlightenment, and intercultural dialogue.
The event is regarded as an international platform for fostering the spiritual and human unity of the Islamic world, promoting the humanitarian essence of Islam, encouraging dialogue among civilizations, cultures, and religions, and serving as an important forum for the preservation and promotion of Islam’s spiritual and manuscript heritage.
The forum also highlights the historical role of Mawarannahr as one of the foremost scholarly and spiritual centers of the Islamic world. Particular attention is devoted to the outstanding contributions made by the great imams, thinkers, scholars, and intellectuals who emerged from this region to the advancement of human civilization.
In particular, the legacies of Imam Bukhari, Imam Termizi, and Imam Maturidi are recognized as among the spiritual and intellectual foundations for the revival of contemporary Islamic civilization. Special attention is given to their invaluable contributions to Islamic theology (kalam), the science of Hadith, the culture of wasatiyyah (moderation), moral education, and the development of Islamic thought.
The forum also addresses Islamic book culture, manuscript traditions, the art of calligraphy, and the transmission of knowledge from one generation to the next. Books, libraries, manuscripts, and scholarship are recognized as enduring symbols of the intellectual greatness of Islamic civilization.
In addition, Islamic architecture, calligraphy, the culture of manuscript production, and the visual arts are presented as integral components of the Islamic world’s spiritual and scholarly heritage. They are recognized as an important legacy embodying the values of moderation, mutual respect, and intercultural dialogue.
The forum agenda also includes discussions on developing pilgrimage routes associated with the legacies of Imam Bukhari, Imam Termizi, and Imam Maturidi, as well as supporting educational pilgrimage initiatives designed to foster a deeper understanding of their scholarly and spiritual heritage.
The forum program features a wide range of cultural and educational events showcasing the rich scholarly, spiritual, and artistic heritage of Islamic civilization. These include the official opening of the international exhibition “Sacred Relics of Islam,” a visit to the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan, a pilgrimage to the Imam Bukhari Memorial Complex, and exhibitions dedicated to Arabic calligraphy, manuscripts, and sacred works of Islamic art.
In addition, the forum includes exhibitions of facsimile editions of rare manuscripts, presentations on digital heritage restoration projects, screenings of historical and documentary films, international evenings of spiritual music, and a variety of events celebrating Islamic art.