Press release
On September 28, 2022, in the "Palace of Symposiums" in Tashkent there was a mutual dialogue with, the Minister of Hajj and Umrah Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Tawfiq bin Fawzon ar-Rabia and the Chairman of the Committee on Religious Affairs under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sodiqjon Toshboev and the Chairman of the Muslims Board of Uzbekistan, Mufti Nuriddin Domla Khaliqnazarov.
The two countries have long been connected by historical, cultural and religious ties. Relations between Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia are built on the foundations of common and strong cooperation. Our ancestors aspired to Mecca and Medina. They are always fond of visiting holy places such as the House of God - the Kaaba, Arafat, Mina and Muzdalifah valleys, the Rawzai shrines and tombs of the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, the Baqi' place where the great companions were buried, the Qiblatain and Quba mosques, and Uhud mountain.
It should be noted that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Relations between Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia have gained positive momentum in recent years, and the quality of mutual cooperation has reached a new level.
In the dialogue, the Chairman of the Committee on Religious Affairs Sadiqjon Toshboev noted that the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoev's state visit to Saudi Arabia on August 17-18 this year at the invitation of two employees of the Holy Mosque, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, serves to raise the cooperation relationship to a higher level.
Importantly, he noted that the long-term friendship between the two nations, the scope of relations based on the principle of brotherhood, has expanded even more.
Also, Hajj and Umra events are being implemented by the Public Council on organizing and holding Hajj and Umra events based on Cabinet of Ministers Decision No. 364. He noted that the pilgrims from Uzbekistan deserve the status of the most exemplary during the annual Hajj season.
The Minister of Hajj and Umrah Affairs, Tawfiq bin Fawzon al-Rabia, noted that the high-level talks between the leaders of the two countries demonstrated the commonality of views. The parties focused on further expansion of mutually beneficial relations between the two countries in trade-economic, investment, cultural-humanitarian, scientific-educational and tourism sectors.
At the meeting, the Chairman of the Board of Muslims of Uzbekistan, Mufti Nuriddin Domla Khaliqnazarov stated that the people performing Hajj and Umrah are the guests of Allah Almighty, and the person who helps them and eases their burden will achieve a great reward.
He also emphasized that the number of Hajj pilgrims this year has exceeded 12,000, and the number of Umrah pilgrims has exceeded 40,000.
His Highness the Mufti come up with some suggestions regarding further improvement of the quality of services for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims, preparation more comfortable conditions for them in order to pray in the valleys of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifa, as well as cooperation in scientific and research works, to hold conferences with the participation of religious scholars, organizing pilgrimages of Saudi Arabia citizens to ancient cities of Uzbekistan such as Samarkand, Bukhara, Termiz.
Yusuf Salih al-Utaybi, the ambassador of Saudi Arabia in Uzbekistan, said that today's historic meeting will enrich the cooperation with such practical results, and the introduction of visa-free regime for citizens of Saudi Arabia will be one of the important steps in the development of pilgrimage tourism.
During the talks, it was recognized that the state program "Nigoh-2030" is being successfully implemented in Saudi Arabia, that many approaches of the two countries are similar, and that they always support each other in the international arena.
At the meeting, a gratitude was expressed to His Highness the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, His Highness the King of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Highness the Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman, the employee of the Two Holy Mosques, who prepared the ground for such cooperation.
The issue of drafting a Memorandum between the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Committee on Religious Affairs under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan was discussed in the dialogue.
During the visit of the delegation of Saudi Arabia, it is planned to hold talks with the heads of a number of interested ministries and departments, to get acquainted with the activities of educational institutions, scientific research centers, and to visit holy places in our country.
Muslims Board of Uzbekistan
The Muslim World League
The Muslim World League (MWL) is an independent international organization comprising members from various Islamic countries and sects. Headquartered in Makkah, its mission is to clarify the true image of Islam and foster friendship among peoples.
Establishment:
The MWL was established by a resolution issued by the General Islamic Conference held in Makkah on May 18, 1962 (corresponding to 14 Dhu al-Hijjah 1381 AH).
The MWL Serves as a Member in:
- United Nations (UN): The MWL serves as an observer member in the Economic and Social Council, among international non-governmental organizations holding consultative status.
- Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC): The MWL serves as an observer, participating in summit conferences, meetings of foreign ministers, and all other conferences convened by the organization.
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO): The MWL serves as a member.
- United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF): The MWL serves as a member.
Its Charter:
We, the members of the Muslim World League, representing the MWL with faith and conviction, pledge to Almighty Allah to:
- Call upon all nations to work toward achieving the happiness and welfare of humanity, ensuring social justice for all, and fostering the best possible human society.
- Bear witness before Allah that we do not seek to harm or interfere in the affairs of others, nor do we desire to dominate or exert control over anyone.
- Strive to unify Muslims and eliminate the causes of division within Islamic societies across the world.
- Promote and encourage all forms of benevolence.
- Declare that Islam does not endorse populism or racism.
- Unite our efforts to achieve these goals in a constructive and principled manner.
- Utilize all available spiritual, material, and moral means to fulfill the aspirations outlined in this charter.
The MWL’s Objectives and Methods of Implementation:
The MWL pursues its goals through means that fully comply with Islamic law, including the following:
- Introduce Islam and its tolerant values as presented in the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah.
- Consolidate the principles of centrism and moderation within the consciousness of the Muslim Ummah.
- Address and resolve issues facing the Muslim Ummah and prevent factors that cause conflict and discord.
- Emphasize civilizational rapprochement and promote a culture of dialogue.
- Address the concerns of Muslim minorities and resolve their issues in accordance with the constitutions and legal frameworks of the countries in which they reside.
- Utilize the Hajj season as an opportunity to facilitate meetings among scholars, intellectuals, and organizational leaders to provide scientific and practical solutions for raising the standards of Muslims worldwide.
- Preserve the Islamic identity of the Ummah, strengthen its global standing, and enhance its unity.
Financial Management:
The Muslim World League relies on its endowments for financial management.
Investments derived from these endowments constitute a major source of funding for the organization.
The General Secretariat:
The General Secretariat of the Muslim World League serves as the executive arm of the organization. It oversees the day-to-day operations of the League and implements the policies and resolutions adopted by the Supreme Council. This is carried out under the leadership of the Secretary-General, with the support of assistant secretaries and the general administrative staff.
Headquarters:
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Makkah, Al-Aqaba District
P.O. Box 537
Tel: +966-12-5309444
Fax: +966-12-5601319 / +966-12-5601267