Sufi Orders Established in Transoxiana Under the Focus of International Scholarly Attention

As previously reported, the Director of the Imam Bukhari International Scientific Research Center, Shovosil Ziyodov, along with researchers Shukrullo Umarov and Sadulla Bobokhodjaev, are on a scientific mission in the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria. The Center’s scholars participated in the official opening ceremony of an international scientific symposium held within the framework of the XII International Sufi Melodies Cultural Festival at the Center for Islamic Sciences and Civilization Studies in Laghouat.

The event, which began with the recitation of the Holy Qur’an and the national anthem of Algeria, brought together distinguished Islamic scholars, researchers, and cultural figures from more than twenty countries. Opening the symposium with an introductory speech, Dr. Ahmad bin Saghir, Director of the Center for Islamic Sciences and Civilization Studies in Algeria, emphasized the significance of this initiative carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture. He highlighted that the works of Sufi masters, scholars of gnosis, and representatives of divine love – such as Ibn Arabi, Jalal al-Din Rumi, and al-Qushayri – serve as profound sources of reflection. He further noted that the event, by integrating spiritual education, philosophical contemplation, and artistic expression, contributes to uniting representatives of different cultures around the love of God.

At the plenary session of the international conference, Shovosil Ziyodov, Director of the Imam Bukhari International Scientific Research Center, delivered a comprehensive presentation on “The Development and Prospects of Scientific and Practical Cooperation between Uzbekistan and Algeria.” In his address, he highlighted the Center’s role in studying the rich intellectual heritage of great scholars from Transoxiana such as Imam al-Bukhari, Imam al-Tirmidhi, Bahauddin Naqshband, and Hakim al-Tirmidhi, all of whom made immense contributions to the flourishing of Islamic civilization. He noted that the activities envisaged in the cooperation memorandum signed with the Center for Islamic Sciences and Civilization Studies in Laghouat are being implemented consistently, and emphasized that the visit of the Algerian delegation led by Dr. Ahmad bin Saghir to Uzbekistan in April of this year was highly beneficial for both sides. He also highly appreciated the fact that Sufi teachings in Algeria are currently being utilized as a powerful means of social cohesion and moral upliftment, and extended an invitation to Algerian scholars to visit the historic cities of Bukhara, Samarkand, and Tashkent.

During the scientific sessions of the symposium, researchers from the Imam Bukhari International Scientific Research Center delivered presentations in Arabic. Shukrullo Umarov discussed the historical role of the Kubrawiyya Sufi order in spiritual education and the cultivation of a perfect human being, while Sadulla Bobokhodjaev highlighted the spread of the Yasawiyya order in the Turkish world and its contemporary scholarly and educational significance. The opening ceremony and sessions, held at a high academic level, were rich in questions and discussions, representing a vivid example of fruitful scholarly discourse in the Islamic world and a meaningful spiritual dialogue inspired by the Qur’anic ethos.

Imam Bukhari International Scientific Research Center
Press Service