Jinnah Antarctic Research Station, operational since 1991, emerges as likely site of inaugural salah in Antarctica amid Pakistan’s polar scientific missions.
The Jinnah Antarctic Station, Pakistan’s permanent research facility established in 1991, is recognized as the first confirmed location where Islamic prayers (salah) were performed on the Antarctic continent.
Situated in the East Antarctic region, the station has served as a scientific and logistical base for decades.

Operated by Pakistan’s National Institute of Oceanography, the station conducts year-round studies in glaciology, marine biology, and climate science.
Since its inauguration, Muslim members of winter-over teams have maintained prayer routines within designated spaces at the base, despite extreme cold, months-long darkness, and isolation.
While informal worship likely occurred earlier during transient expeditions, documented communal prayers began with the station’s continuous operation.

A small musallah (prayer area) was established inside the main living module, oriented toward Mecca using calculated qibla directions specific to the Antarctic region.
Antarctic Treaty protocols respect all forms of religious observance across research stations. The Government of Pakistan confirmed the station remains active today, with ongoing research and religious accommodation for personnel.
The station is named for Muhammad Ali Jinnah, founder of Pakistan.
Uzbekistan continues to consistently pursue a state policy aimed at the in-depth study, preservation, and broad promotion of the rich scholarly and spiritual heritage of its great scholars. As a logical continuation of these efforts, on 24 July 2026, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan signed the Resolution “On the wide celebration of the 1,200th anniversary of the birth of our great compatriot, the distinguished scholar of hadith and Sufism, Hakim Termizi.” The Resolution provides for a comprehensive set of measures to promote in-depth research into Hakim Termizi’s scholarly legacy, expand public access to his works, and promote them internationally.
Hakim Termizi, who lived and worked in the ninth century, is regarded as one of the greatest scholars of Hadith, Qur’anic exegesis, and Sufism. His works have played a significant role in shaping Islamic spirituality, ethics, the concept of the ideal human being, and intellectual thought, earning enduring recognition throughout the Muslim world for centuries.
In accordance with the Resolution, an international scientific conference entitled “The contemporary significance of Hakim Termizi’s scholarly and spiritual legacy” will be held in the city of Termez in November 2026. Bringing together leading scholars from Uzbekistan and abroad, the conference will comprehensively examine the scholar’s intellectual heritage and his contribution to the development of Hadith studies, Sufism, and Islamic thought. The Resolution also provides for the publication of scholarly annotated academic translations of Hakim Termizi’s works, including Nawādir al-Uṣūl and Baḥr al-Tafsīr, as well as other sources related to his legacy, in Uzbek and foreign languages. These initiatives will further enhance international scholarly awareness of Hakim Termizi’s intellectual heritage.
As part of the Resolution, a series of publications dedicated to Hakim Termizi’s scholarly legacy will be prepared and published throughout 2026. To encourage the younger generation to study the scholar’s works in greater depth, the “Expert on the works of Hakim Termizi” competition will be organized among students of religious educational institutions in cooperation with the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan, with outstanding participants receiving awards. In addition, a national kurash tournament dedicated to Hakim Termizi’s memory will be held under the slogan “Mardlar Maydoni” to commemorate the 1,200th anniversary of his birth. This initiative is intended to promote national values, spirituality, and sport in a harmonious and integrated manner.
The Resolution represents another significant step toward preserving the legacy of Uzbekistan’s great ancestors and passing it on to future generations, while also promoting to the international community Uzbekistan’s invaluable contribution to the development of Islamic civilization. It creates new opportunities for the broader study and promotion of Hakim Termizi’s rich scholarly and spiritual heritage, recognizing it not only as a national treasure but also as an integral part of humanity’s shared intellectual and spiritual legacy.