A group of scholars in oriental and Islamic studies visited National Library of France and the Languages and Civilization Library of France in Paris in order to introduce French cultural circles with a wide range of developments in Uzbekistan reports UzA.
The main purpose of the visit was to get acquainted with the activity of libraries in France, preservation of rare manuscripts of our ancestors and establish partnership among the institutions. It is worth noting that Languages and Civilization Library is unique in France which has a department for Central Asian documents. The library has manuscripts, rare books and research works in more than 350 languages from around 180 countries. More than hundred students, researchers and guests visit the library daily.
The sides agreed on exchange of specialists and presentation of books published in Uzbekistan which was held the same day at the library where 15 books published by Imam Bukhari International scientific-research center was shown. The Uzbek delegation felt proud to hear Mr. Benjamin Gishar’s acknowledgment that Uzbekistan stood out among Central Asian countries with its rich scientific potential. He also mentioned that Imam Bukhari’s XVII century “Sahihi Bukhari”, Ibn Sina’s “The Laws of Treatment”, Mirzo Ulugbek’s “Ziji jadidi Kuragoni”, Mahmud Zamahshariy’s “Mukaddamatul adab” were among the true treasures of the libarary and in that respect French part was willing to cooperate with Uzbek specialists to study the manuscripts.
During the talks held in the National Library of France which has 31 million books it was concluded that specialists from Imam Bukhari International Research Center and The Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan would be given access to the manuscripts in order to get copies from VIII-XI centuries Qur’an, Imam Bukhari, Khorezmi, Beruniy and Fergani’s works in Arabic and Latin languages. Within the framework of “Cultural Employee” program two practitioners from Uzbekistan would be admitted for manuscript digitalization specialization.
Press Service,
Muslim Board of Uzbekistan
Egypt's largest daily newspaper “Al-Ahram” published an article by Ibrahim Negm, Senior Advisor to the Grand Mufti of Egypt, dedicated to his participation in the 1st International Forum of Islamic Civilization, which took place in Tashkent, Samarkand and Termez, reports Dunyo IA.
According to the author, the forum, held under the motto “The Path of Peace, tolerance and enlightenment”, exceeded all his expectations in terms of organization. Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan made a particularly profound and unforgettable impression on the scholar.
Article notes that the author was fascinated by the unique manuscripts, thousand-year-old copies of the Quran, and modern exhibition technologies presented at the Center. In his opinion, the past here is not merely displayed to visitors - thanks to modern museum solutions, each exhibit seems to acquire a new life.
Recalling his years of study at Harvard University, Ibrahim Negm discusses the theory of the “clash of civilizations”. He notes that despite the interpretation of this concept, according to which Islam was viewed as the main rival of the West, he had always doubted its scientific validity. According to the author, the Islamic civilization has never been in a state of stagnation and has never lagged behind global development.
During his visit to Uzbekistan, Ibrahim Negm visited historical and modern sites of the country's cultural and spiritual heritage, including the Center of Islamic Civilization, the Imam al-Bukhari complex, the Hakim al-Termizi mausoleum, and other shrines of the Islamic world. Based on the results of the trip, he concluded that the Islamic civilization and its rich spiritual and scientific heritage continue to dynamically develop, entering a new stage of their historical development.
Author also emphasizes that the Mushaf of Uthman, kept at the Center of Islamic Civilization, is one of the most valuable written relics not only of Uzbekistan but of the entire Islamic world. According to him, this manuscript represents a crucial source for studying the history of preserving the text of the Holy Quran in the first centuries of Islam.