OXFORD TREASURES RELATING TO UZBEKISTAN

Members of a delegation led by Firdavs Abdukhalikov, Director of the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan, visited the Oxford Center for Islamic Studies, a truly world-class academic center, in the United Kingdom.

The meeting with representatives and scholars of the Oxford Center for Islamic Studies was attended by Ravshan Usmanov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uygun Gafurov, Rector of the International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan, Shovosil Ziyodov, Director of the Imam Bukhari International Scientific Research Center, Muzaffarkhon Joniev, Director of the Imam Termizi International Scientific Research Center, Jamoliddin Karimov, Director of the Imam Maturidi International Scientific Research Center, and others.

Presentations were made on the work being carried out in the new Uzbekistan to preserve, study and popularize cultural heritage, current scientific research, as well as the active development of international cooperation in this area.

In turn, representatives of the Oxford Center for Islamic Studies also presented the project “Historical Atlas of the Islamic World”, which is being implemented in collaboration with a number of countries. The project examines the role of each region of the world in the development of Islamic civilization, important discoveries, the life and work of scientists, as well as the contribution of Muslim civilization to world science. During the negotiations, an agreement was reached to combine the efforts of the two sides to create a volume dedicated to the role of Central Asia in the development of Islamic civilization within the framework of this project.

The meeting further strengthened the legal basis of cooperation. A memorandum of understanding was signed between the Imam Bukhari International Scientific Research Center and the Oxford Center for Islamic Studies, agreeing to further strengthen mutually beneficial research and analysis between the two parties. Based on this memorandum, a number of projects aimed at developing academic ties between the two centers, cooperation in the study of science and cultural heritage will be implemented.

An exhibition of books and albums published in recent years was organized as part of the event. A facsimile of the Great Langar Quran, as well as books and albums from the “Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan” series, were donated to the Oxford Center for Islamic Studies.

“Uzbekistan is an ancient country with a rich history and unique cultural heritage,” said Farhan Nizami, director of the Oxford Center for Islamic Studies. “I have been to Uzbekistan many times. But in recent years, your country’s relations with the outside world have begun to expand. The leader of the new Uzbekistan says that the doors are open to us, scientists and foreign researchers, along with all foreign partners. In particular, I believe that the negotiations conducted by the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan together with the Oxford Center for Islamic Studies on the development of mutually beneficial cooperation will yield the expected results.”

After that, representatives of the Uzbek delegation visited the Bodleian Library in Oxford, one of the oldest libraries in the world, where they got acquainted with rare manuscripts related to Uzbekistan.

“Uzbekistan is a land of great scholars, poets and thinkers,” says Nicholas Kontovas, curator of the Oriental Manuscripts Department at the Bodleian Library. In particular, the manuscripts of Hazrat Alisher Navoi, copied during his lifetime, are among the rare gems of our library’s collection. Such priceless works can easily be called the treasure of all humanity.”

In the library, Uzbek scholars got acquainted with more than a dozen manuscripts related to the cultural heritage of Uzbekistan. The manuscript “Khamsa”, which bears the personal signature of Alisher Navoi, made a special impression. Mirzo Ulugbek’s work “Zizhi Koragoniy” also has its own history. It was purchased by Oxford scholar John Gaves almost three centuries ago and made gilded notes in the margins of the book. The pages of the book also contain inscriptions in Ottoman Turkish.

The visit of the Uzbek scientific delegation to the United Kingdom continues.