At the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the mosque that is being built in Chilanzar district will be named after Sheikh Muhammad Sadik Muhammad Yusuf.
The President of Uzbekistan visited the construction site of this mosque, in Tashkent.
Sheikh Muhammad Sadik Muhammad Yusuf was a scholar, not only well-known in Uzbekistan, but also recognized throughout the Islamic world, said Shavkat Mirziyoyev. He devoted his life to studying and promoting the foundations of our sacred religion, educating youth in the spirit of enlightened Islam.
Sheikh Muhammad Sadik Muhammad Yusuf in 1989, in a very difficult time, became chairman, mufti of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Central Asia and Kazakhstan. That period has a special place in the history as the time of revival of Islamic science, religious traditions and values. He made a great contribution to resolution of many unnecessary disagreements in those difficult years.
As mufti he conducted wide international activity, became able to establish and develop cultural and enlightenment ties with many Islamic countries.
Sheikh Muhammad Sadik Muhammad Yusuf as mufti and as a deputy of the Supreme Council of the former union introduced an appeal to the government, which set out issues of respecting the rights of Muslims, creating necessary conditions for them.
Coming out with such an initiative at a time when the totalitarian ideology was dominant, without a doubt, was a great feat, said President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. As a result, the Soviet government changed its policy towards Muslims, mosques and madrassas were opened, the number of pilgrims performing the Hajj increased. In 1990, 500 Muslims succeeded in performing the Hajj from the Central Asian republics through the city of Tashkent. This is a great result, considering that at that time only 20-30 people from the whole union went to the Hajj annually.
Sheikh Muhammad Sadik enjoyed great respect and authority among Muslims of the whole world. He was a member of such authoritative organizations as the Executive Bureau of the Assembly of Islamic Scholars and World Thinkers, the International Union of Muslim Scholars, the Muslim World League, the Royal Academy of Jordan. He was awarded the “Laurel of the Nile” gold medal of the Arab Republic of Egypt. It should be emphasized that no one in the history of modern Uzbekistan has reached such heights in the Islamic sciences as he did.
An outstanding scholar wrote more than 100 books on various religious and enlightenment themes. Wise words, conversations, speeches on radio and television, books, including audiobooks of the Sheikh took a firm place in the life of people of Uzbekistan.
With his profound knowledge, good instruction and exemplary activities, Sheikh Muhammad Sadik Muhammad Yusuf is an example of conscientious service for the sake of the Motherland and development of religion. Studying his life and scientific activity, familiarizing people with his heritage is an honorable duty.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, getting acquainted with the project of the mosque, noted the need for its further improvement, studying the proposals of the population and religious figures.
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Health, Fahad Al-Jalajel, who visited the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan, emphasized that the complex, established at the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, is creating a new environment for learning by seamlessly integrating history, science, and enlightenment in a modern format for future generations.
During his visit to the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Health, Fahad Al-Jalajel, toured the museum’s exhibitions, rare manuscripts, displays on the history of Islamic civilization, the rich scholarly legacy of great Muslim scholars, and exhibitions featuring advanced digital and interactive technologies.
During the visit, the distinguished guest explored the Center’s exhibitions showcasing the centuries-long development of Islamic civilization, its traditions of science and enlightenment, the invaluable contributions of scholars from Central Asia, particularly present-day Uzbekistan, to the advancement of global knowledge, as well as the large-scale reforms being implemented in New Uzbekistan to preserve and promote the nation’s cultural heritage.
Sharing his impressions of the Center, the senior Saudi official noted that the complex, established at the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, plays a significant role in presenting the rich intellectual and spiritual heritage of Islamic civilization to the international community through modern museum practices and innovative exhibition concepts.
“Seeing the history of science and enlightenment that has evolved over centuries at the Islamic Civilization Center filled me with a profound sense of pride and admiration. Here, one can witness how civilization has developed in harmony with the passage of time. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev for making it possible to present this museum and its rich historical legacy to the world in a language that is accessible and understandable to all.
This Center provides the younger generation with a profound understanding of past civilizations, connects them with their own history, and demonstrates the enduring link between every historical era and today’s progress. We, your brothers and sisters in Saudi Arabia, are truly delighted to witness the remarkable reforms and achievements being realized in Uzbekistan,” he said.
According to Fahad Al-Jalajel, initiatives of this kind serve as an important foundation for strengthening cultural dialogue among nations, fostering a deeper appreciation of our shared civilizational heritage, and expanding international cooperation in the fields of science and enlightenment.