Resources

The Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan has once again become a major international platform for scholarly dialogue. In cooperation with Malaysia, the Center hosted an international scientific and practical conference entitled “Scientific Tradition in Islamic Civilization: Resources, Potential, and Challenges.”

Organized with the participation of Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, the conference was dedicated to further enriching academic and educational ties between the two countries, as well as to the joint study and promotion of the spiritual heritage left by our great ancestors. More than 300 participants attended the event, including representatives of government institutions, leaders of higher educational establishments, research centers, prominent scholars, researchers, experts, representatives of cultural and educational circles, as well as young specialists and students from various countries.

At the opening ceremony of this important international scientific and practical conference, Director of the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan Firdavs Abdukhalikov highlighted the cooperation between the two countries and noted that from the very first days of its activity, the Center has been organizing various international conferences, cultural and educational events, meetings, and dialogues in collaboration with a number of institutions and organizations in Malaysia.

In recent years, under the leadership of President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar of Malaysia, the historical ties between the two friendly nations have entered a new stage.

To date, the Center has organized two major photo exhibitions in Malaysia dedicated to the history and contemporary life of Uzbekistan. Representatives of the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan have made more than ten official visits to this friendly country. Malaysian partners also regularly participate in international conferences held in Uzbekistan.

In February 2025, as part of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s state visit to Malaysia, the Center organized an international conference, a series of meetings, exhibitions, roundtable discussions, and presentations in Kuala Lumpur. Memorandums of cooperation were signed with several Malaysian scientific and educational institutions.

The Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia is one of the Center’s permanent partners. Last year, within the framework of the “Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan” project and with a foreword by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, a special illustrated book was published about artifacts related to Uzbekistan preserved in this museum. The international scientific and practical dialogue held today at the Center in cooperation with Malaysia will further strengthen cultural ties between our countries, promote a deeper understanding of our shared history and culture, and enhance relations among different civilizations.

Established at the personal initiative of the President, the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan is developing into a major scholarly and educational institution specializing in the study of Islamic civilization and the cultural heritage of the East, not only in our country but throughout the region.

In her speech at the opening ceremony, Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, emphasized the great significance of the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan in the global study of Islamic culture, history, and heritage. She noted that studying Islamic heritage and defining its place in world civilization is of utmost importance today.

“Uzbekistan is the homeland of great scholars. The legacy of such outstanding figures as Imam al-Bukhari, Abu Mansur al-Maturidi, and Imam al-Tirmidhi continues to be studied throughout the Islamic world. We must pay special attention to passing on their works and scholarly ideas to future generations and to widely promoting the universal values advanced in their writings. I am confident that cooperation between our two countries will yield significant results in this regard,” said the Queen of Malaysia.

Among the speakers at the event were Muzaffar Kamilov, Head of Department of the Administration of the Republic of Uzbekistan; Zambry Abdul Kadir; Kongratbay Sharipov; and Alparslan Acikgenc of Türkiye. They discussed the prospects for cooperation between Uzbekistan and Malaysia, key issues in the study of the heritage of Islamic civilization, and ways to develop scholarly and educational ties.

As part of the conference agenda, scholars from both countries also delivered academic presentations in panel sessions on topics such as “Knowledge and its definitions and tradition,” “Science education in the muslim world,” and “Modern challenges and scientific paradigms.” Memorandums of cooperation were signed between a number of scientific and educational institutions and higher education establishments in Malaysia and Uzbekistan.

As part of the conference, guided tours of the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan and visits to the museum exhibitions left a strong impression on the guests. Professor Alparslan Acikgenc of Ibn Haldun University described the inclusion of the Center in the Guinness World Records as a highly joyful event.

“In the hadiths of our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), it is stated that seeking knowledge is obligatory for every Muslim man and woman. I was immensely pleased to read this noble hadith inscribed above the entrance to the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan. It is also a source of great joy that this Center, as the largest museum of Islamic civilization in the Islamic world, has been included in Guinness World Records. The establishment of such a Center in Uzbekistan demonstrates the high regard given in this country to science, cultural heritage, and Islamic values,” he said.