A delegation led by the Director of the Center for Islamic Civilization of Uzbekistan, Firdavs Abdukholikov, visited the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies.
The meeting with representatives and scholars of the center 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 Ziyadov, Director of the International Scientific-Research Center named after Imam Bukhari; Muzaffarkhon Janiyev, Director of the International Scientific-Research Center named after Imam Termizi; Jamoliddin Karimov, Director of the International Scientific-Research Center named after Imam Maturidi; and other participants.
In New Uzbekistan, presentations were made about the work being carried out to preserve, study, and popularize cultural heritage, current scientific research, and the development of international cooperation in this field.
In turn, representatives of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies presented the project "Atlas of the History of the Islamic World," implemented in cooperation with several countries. The project examines the contribution of each global region to the development of Islamic civilization, significant discoveries, the lives and activities of scholars, and the contribution of Islamic civilization to world science.
During the negotiations, an agreement was reached to combine the efforts of both sides to create a volume within this project dedicated to the role of Central Asia in the development of Islamic civilization.
The meeting concluded with the signing of memorandums of cooperation between the Center for Islamic Civilization of Uzbekistan, international research centers, and the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies.
As part of the event, an exhibition of books and albums published in recent years was organized.
The Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies was presented with a facsimile of the Katta Langar Quran, as well as books and albums from the series "Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan in World Collections."
"Uzbekistan is an ancient country with a rich history and unique cultural heritage," noted Farhan Nizami, Director of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies. "I have visited Uzbekistan many times. However, in recent years, your country's connections with the outside world have been significantly expanding. The leadership of New Uzbekistan emphasizes that doors are open to all foreign partners, including us, scholars, and international researchers. I am confident that the negotiations conducted by the Center for Islamic Civilization of Uzbekistan in collaboration with the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies will yield the expected results and contribute to the development of mutually beneficial cooperation."
After that, representatives of the Uzbek delegation visited one of the oldest libraries in the world, the Bodleian Library in Oxford, where they familiarized themselves with rare manuscripts related to Uzbekistan.
"Uzbekistan is a country of great scholars, poets, and thinkers," said Nicholas Contovas, curator of the Eastern Manuscripts Department of the Bodleian Library. "In particular, manuscripts copied during the lifetime of the great Alisher Navoi are among the precious treasures of our library. Such invaluable works can rightfully be called the heritage of all humanity."
In the library, Uzbek scholars reviewed more than ten manuscripts related to Uzbekistan's cultural heritage. The manuscript of "Khamsa" with Alisher Navoi's personal signature left a particularly strong impression.
The work of Mirzo Ulugbek, "Zij-i Koraniy," also has a unique history. About three centuries ago, it was acquired by Oxford scholar John Graves, who left golden notes in the margins of the book. The pages of the manuscript also contain inscriptions in Ottoman Turkish.
The scientific delegation from Uzbekistan continues its visit to the United Kingdom.