Imam Bukhari’s Legacy Brings International Scholars Together in Samarkand

As part of the 1^st International Islamic Civilization Forum, the First International Conference entitled “Imam Bukhari’s Al-Jami’ as-Sahih: The Book of the Ummah” commenced in Samarkand.

Held at the Hadith Hotel complex, the conference opened with the recitation of verses from the Holy Qur’an, followed by the screening of a special documentary highlighting the life and remarkable scholarly legacy of Imam al-Bukhari. The event was chaired by Professor Shovosil Ziyodov, Director of the Imam Bukhari International Scientific Research Center.

The opening ceremony featured addresses by Muzaffar Komilov, Head of the Department for Religious and Educational Affairs of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan; Sheikh Salih ibn Abdullah ibn Humayd, Chief Imam of Masjid al-Haram in Makkah; Salim Al-Malik, Director-General of ICESCO; Firdavs Abdukhalikov, Director of the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan; Abdurrahman ibn Abdullah Zaid, Deputy Secretary-General of the Muslim World League; Ahmed Toufiq, Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs of the Kingdom of Morocco (online); Sodiqjon Toshboyev, Chairman of the Committee on Religious Affairs; Mufti Nuriddin Kholiqnazar, Chairman of the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan; and Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Board. The speakers emphasized Imam al-Bukhari’s unparalleled scholarly heritage, his invaluable contribution to the intellectual and spiritual development of humanity, and his decisive role in the advancement of Hadith studies.

The first day of the conference featured five plenary sessions devoted to key aspects of Imam al-Bukhari’s life and scholarship. Discussions focused on the factors that shaped his intellectual development, the history of the compilation of Al-Jami’ as-Sahih, the rigorous scholarly criteria employed in its preparation, his methodology for verifying and authenticating Hadith, the rare manuscript copies preserved in libraries around the world, and the contributions of scholars from different countries to the study and promotion of this monumental work.

Presenters underlined that Imam al-Bukhari’s scholarly school has made an enduring contribution not only to the Islamic sciences but also to the broader development of human knowledge. They emphasized that Al-Jami’ as-Sahih has, for centuries, remained one of the most authoritative and reliable sources for the Muslim Ummah. Participants also exchanged views on applying contemporary academic approaches to the study of Imam al-Bukhari’s heritage, researching manuscript and lithographic editions, advancing digitization initiatives, and expanding international scholarly cooperation.

The plenary sessions brought together prominent scholars, researchers, and specialists in Hadith studies from Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Egypt, Morocco, India, Afghanistan, Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Chad, the United Kingdom, and many other countries. The broad international participation once again demonstrated the enduring global significance of Imam al-Bukhari’s scholarly legacy and the continued interest it receives from the international academic community.

At the conclusion of the first day, participants adopted a Final Declaration, outlining key priorities for future cooperation. The declaration called for strengthening international collaboration in the study and promotion of Imam al-Bukhari’s scholarly heritage, expanding global awareness of the academic significance of Al-Jami’ as-Sahih, supporting joint research in the field of Hadith studies, enhancing international academic partnerships, and continuing systematic efforts to preserve and transmit Imam al-Bukhari’s intellectual legacy to future generations.