Imam Bukhari Center Researchers Participate in International Conference in Afghanistan

An international conference dedicated to the memory and scholarly legacy of the eminent Hanafi jurist Burhan al-Din al-Marghinani was held in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, from October 3 to 7.

The conference, entitled “The Role and Significance of Imam Burhan al-Din al-Marghinani’s Scholarly Legacy in Contemporary Islamic Studies,” brought together scholars and specialists to explore the enduring contributions of the distinguished Islamic jurist to Islamic legal thought and contemporary scholarship.

Among the participants were Shukurillo Umarov and Mehrojiddin Amonov, research fellows of the Imam Bukhari International Scientific Research Center, who attended as members of a delegation representing Uzbekistan’s religious and educational institutions.

During the conference’s plenary session, speakers highlighted the remarkable scholarly achievements of Burhan al-Din al-Marghinani, who devoted his life to the systematic study, interpretation, and development of Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh).

Particular attention was given to his major works, including Bidayat al-Mubtadi, his extensive but unfinished commentary Kifayat al-Muntahi, which reportedly exceeded 80 volumes, and his celebrated masterpiece Al-Hidayah, a landmark treatise refined over a period of 13 years.

Participants emphasized that the preservation of these invaluable works represents an outstanding intellectual achievement and an enduring contribution to the scholarly heritage of the Muslim world.

In his presentation, Shukurillo Umarov provided an in-depth overview of the life and scholarly legacy of the distinguished Hanafi jurist from Transoxiana (Mawarannahr). He paid particular attention to the academic analysis of the renowned commentaries (shuruh) and marginal annotations (hawashi) written on Al-Hidayah throughout the centuries.

The researcher also explored the work’s continuing relevance not only within Eastern Islamic scholarly traditions but also in Western academic and legal studies, particularly in the fields of comparative law and Islamic finance.

Meanwhile, Mehrojiddin Amonov focused on the significance of Burhan al-Din al-Marghinani’s intellectual legacy for the development of Islamic jurisprudence and the scholarly activities of successive generations of Muslim jurists.

He also emphasized the importance of preserving, studying, and transmitting the scholar’s rich intellectual heritage to younger generations, ensuring its continued relevance in contemporary Islamic education and legal scholarship.

The conference also provided an opportunity to discuss practical proposals aimed at expanding academic cooperation with the Kalimat Research Center in Kabul.

In particular, discussions focused on establishing closer institutional ties, jointly organizing international academic conferences, conducting comprehensive studies of Imam al-Bukhari’s scholarly legacy, and launching collaborative research under the theme “From Bukhara to Balkh: The History of Islam.”

Speakers at the conference underscored the importance of further developing the longstanding historical, intellectual, and spiritual ties connecting the peoples of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. They emphasized the need to deepen research into their shared cultural and scholarly heritage while strengthening bilateral academic cooperation.

Participants also welcomed the recent expansion of cooperation between the two countries. In particular, they expressed appreciation for initiatives advanced by the President of Uzbekistan to support peace and stability in Afghanistan, as well as the construction of a major Imam Bukhari Madrasa in Balkh Province, describing these efforts as meaningful contributions to educational development and closer relations between the neighboring nations.

As part of the conference program, participants were presented with newly published books dedicated to the life, scholarly achievements, and rich intellectual legacy of Burhan al-Din al-Marghinani.

During their visit to Afghanistan, members of the Uzbek delegation also toured the Kalimat Research Center and the National Museum in Kabul, gaining firsthand insight into the country’s academic, cultural, and educational environment.

The delegation additionally visited the historic garden and mausoleum of Zahir al-Din Muhammad Babur, as well as the mausoleums of Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni and the renowned polymath Abu Rayhan al-Biruni, paying tribute to the memory and enduring legacy of these distinguished historical figures.

The conference and accompanying visits provided valuable opportunities to promote the shared Islamic intellectual heritage of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, foster scholarly dialogue, and identify new avenues for long-term cooperation between academic and research institutions of the two countries.