The site is working in test mode!
02 February, 2026   |   14 Sha‘bān, 1447
search icon
Previous site
ЎЗ O`Z РУ AR

Tashkent city
Fajr
06:13
Sunrise
07:34
Dhuhr
12:42
Asr
15:59
Maghrib
17:44
Isha
18:59
Bismillah
02 February, 2026, 14 Sha‘bān, 1447
Previous site
#search
 YouTube

Press release

05.10.2022   71823   6 min.
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

Other posts

Artificial Intelligence: Between Technical Evolution and Shari’a Responsibility ​A Contemporary Islamic Vision

29.01.2026   13771   6 min.
Artificial Intelligence: Between Technical Evolution and Shari’a Responsibility ​A Contemporary Islamic Vision

The world is currently witnessing rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies, to the extent that these tools have become integral to various aspects of life—particularly in economics, education, culture, media, and public services. 

In the face of this profound transformation, there is an urgent need to examine the dimensions of AI from an ethical and religious perspective that balances leveraging modern achievements with preserving human values and Shari’a (Islamic law) regulations.

​In this context, scholars and specialists affirm that AI is a product of human intellect and creativity, falling under the divine indication: "And He creates that which you do not know" (Surah An-Nahl: 8). This verse alludes to emerging scientific and technical innovations that were previously unknown. 

Today, AI has become the foundation for many modern applications, such as e-government, smart cities, autonomous vehicles, drones, and other technologies that contribute to facilitating human life.

​However, regardless of its significant benefits, this evolution is not without difficulties and potential risks. Therefore, there is a necessity to regulate, control, and monitor the use of AI, taking the required measures to mitigate its negative impacts—especially in sensitive fields related to religion and Fatwa (legal rulings), where this issue must be given special attention.

 

​Artificial Intelligence and Shari’a Fatwa

 

​Scholars and researchers in jurisprudence academies and scientific conferences have reached a consensus that AI can serve as a supportive tool for gathering, analyzing, and classifying Shari’a information, as well as facilitating access to it. However, it is impermissible to rely on it independently to derive Shari’a rulings or issue Fatwas.

​Fatwa issuance requires the direct presence of a qualified jurist (faqih), as rulings vary based on the seeker’s circumstances, time, place, customs, and socio-economic conditions. These nuanced human considerations cannot be independently comprehended by AI. Furthermore, a prerequisite for a Mufti in Islamic Shari’a is to be a legally accountable person (mukallaf), a condition that cannot be fulfilled by technical systems.

​Consequently, the role of AI in the field of Ifta (issuing rulings) remains supportive rather than substitutive, in application of the verse: "So ask the people of the message if you do not know" (Surah An-Nahl: 43). Trustworthy scholars remain the ultimate reference in issuing rulings and bearing Shari’a responsibility.

 

​Areas of Practical Application for AI

 

​Practical experience, including that of the Fatwa Center under the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan, has proven that AI can be employed in several fields, most notably:

• ​Analyzing and Classifying Inquiries: Categorizing incoming Shari’a questions by topic and region and identifying the most frequent ones.

• ​Speech-to-Text Conversion: Transforming audio questions and answers into written text and storing them in organized databases.

• ​Supporting Fatwa Experts: Suggesting previously archived answers to experts, which are only sent to the inquirer after review and approval by specialists.

• ​Enhancing Community Security: Through smart, digital, and safe city projects.

• ​Combating Corruption: By reducing human intervention in administrative procedures.

• ​Operating in Hazardous Environments: Utilizing smart technologies in environments that are dangerous or harmful to human health.

• ​Dawah and Education: Facilitating access to Islamic knowledge, lessons, and sermons, and developing educational content that serves the Muslim Ummah.

• ​Humanity at the Center of Technical Evolution

​Specialists emphasize that humans must remain at the heart of the AI development process, and that these technologies must be managed based on a solid ethical and value-based foundation. Technology is not an end in itself, but a means to serve humanity and facilitate its affairs; it should not become a substitute for man or a tool that controls his destiny.

​In this framework, the real challenge lies in reconciling AI with religious requirements, legal standards, and national values, ensuring the achievement of cognitive and technical development without compromising Shari’a and human responsibility.

​In conclusion, AI, if used with wisdom and clear regulations, can be a great aid to humanity across various fields. Religious and scientific institutions in the Islamic world—including the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan—affirm their permanent readiness to actively participate in employing these modern technologies to spread Islamic knowledge, foster dialogue between religion and science, and contribute to finding solutions for contemporary global challenges. 

The ultimate goal remains to harness the blessings of science and technology for the betterment of humanity, in a manner that pleases Allah the Almighty and reinforces the moral values that are the foundation of stability and progress.

Sheikh Nuriddin Khaliqnazar