Scholarly Legacy of Transoxiana’s Great Hadith Scholars Showcased on the International Stage in Geneva

On October 22, 2026, an international scientific conference entitled “Islamic Civilization: The Great Spiritual and Intellectual Heritage of Transoxiana and the Horizons of Enlightenment” was held at the United Nations Office in Geneva, Switzerland. The conference focused on Uzbekistan’s rich intellectual and spiritual heritage, the contributions of eminent scholars from Transoxiana to the development of world civilization, and the enduring relevance of their scholarly ideas in the contemporary world.
It is worth recalling that, during the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed an initiative to widely promote the rich intellectual and spiritual legacy of Imam al-Bukhari, Imam al-Tirmidhi, and Imam al-Maturidi at prestigious international platforms, including the United Nations. Following the international presentation held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on October 7, 2026, the Geneva conference marked another important step in the consistent implementation of this initiative.

The conference featured presentations by Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva; Eldor Toshmatov, Permanent Representative of Uzbekistan to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva; Firdavs Abdukhalikov, Director of the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan; Akmal Saidov, Director of the National Center for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan; Robert Blum, Chairman of the Geneva Diplomatic Center; Bahrom Abduhalimov, Vice-President of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan; Davronbek Mahsudov, First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Religious Affairs; Komiljon Shermukhamedov, Director of the Imam Maturidi International Scientific Research Center; and Otabek Mukhammadiev, Deputy Director of the Imam Bukhari International Scientific Research Center. The event also brought together local and international scholars, as well as representatives of international organizations.

As part of the conference, Otabek Mukhammadiev, Deputy Director of the Imam Bukhari International Scientific Research Center, delivered a presentation entitled “Two Great Hadith Scholars of Transoxiana: The Scholarly Legacy of Imam al-Bukhari and Imam al-Tirmidhi.” His presentation highlighted the outstanding contributions of these two eminent scholars to the development of hadith studies, focusing on their scholarly endeavors and methodological approaches to collecting, examining, and verifying hadith narrations. The presentation also explored the rich scholarly traditions that emerged in Transoxiana through the intellectual legacy of Imam al-Bukhari and Imam al-Tirmidhi, emphasizing their pivotal role in the advancement of Islamic civilization and their lasting significance for contemporary generations.

It was particularly emphasized that the scholarly legacy of Imam al-Bukhari and Imam al-Tirmidhi has retained its relevance throughout the centuries. Their rigorous approaches to examining sources, verifying the authenticity of narrations, and upholding objectivity and intellectual integrity in scholarly inquiry continue to offer valuable principles for modern academic research.

The conference program included scholarly presentations, video screenings, and discussions dedicated to Islamic civilization and the intellectual heritage of its great scholars. Particular attention was devoted to promoting wider international awareness of the exceptional contributions made by thinkers from Transoxiana to the advancement of global knowledge, science, and spiritual development. The discussions also highlighted the importance of presenting Uzbekistan’s initiatives, rooted in the principles of peace, enlightenment, and mutual understanding, to the international community.

The international conference in Geneva represented a significant step toward promoting Uzbekistan’s centuries-old historical, intellectual, and spiritual heritage worldwide, strengthening international academic and cultural cooperation, and fostering dialogue among civilizations. At the same time, the event served as a continuation of ongoing efforts to implement the initiatives put forward by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, aimed at showcasing the legacy of Uzbekistan’s great scholars on prestigious international platforms and advancing the universal values of enlightenment, tolerance, and mutual understanding.