The Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan is implementing the project "Rare Manuscripts of Uzbekistan in World Collections." The project is aimed at restoring the spiritual wealth and scientific heritage of our people, educating the younger generation in the spirit of respect for national values, as well as demonstrating the enormous contribution of Uzbek civilization to the world community.
Rare manuscripts created by our great scholars are now preserved in museums, libraries, and private collections around the world. Among them are the manuscript "Suvar al-Kawakib," copied during the reign of Mirzo Ulugbek, and the manuscript of Abu Ali ibn Sina's "Canon of Medicine."
Within the framework of the project, research expeditions were organized in more than 20 countries of the world, including Great Britain, France, India, Turkey, Russia, the USA, Germany, Iran, Egypt, Italy, and Ireland.
To date, facsimile copies of such rare works as the "Katta Langar Quran," Mir Haydar Khorezmi's "Mi'rājnāma," Sharafiddin Ali Yazdi's "Zafarnāma," Husayn Bayqara's "Divan," "Temur's Regulations," and Mirkhond's "Ravzatus-safa" have been prepared and presented to scientific institutions in our country.
This project plays an important role not only in the return of historical documents, but also in their scientific research, translation, creation of electronic databases, and presentation to the general public. At the same time, book-albums are being prepared within the framework of the project.
Where is our scientific heritage?
In France
In the French National Library in Paris, there is a manuscript "Suvar al-Kawakib," copied during the reign of Mirzo Ulugbek, on the pages of which are located a table of constellations and stars, as well as a portrait of Mirzo Ulugbek. The manuscript of Abu Ali ibn Sina's "Canon of Medicine" is also kept in this library. This work was translated into Latin in the 12th century and later spread throughout Europe. One of them is also found in the Yale Medical History Library in the USA.
In Russia
One of the first manuscripts of the "Canon of Medicine" is kept at the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts of the Russian Academy of Sciences. This unique work was brought from the Middle East by Jean-Jacques Rousseau's nephew, Jean-Baptiste Louis Rousseau, and in 1819 was donated to the Russian Imperial Academy of Sciences. Unique copies of this work are also kept in the US National Library of Medicine.
In Italy
Two Hebrew translations of the “Canon of Medicine” can also be found in the Bologna University Library in Italy. This book was printed in Italy in the first half of the 15th century and decorated with various illustrations.
In Great Britain
In the Bodleian Library in Oxford (Great Britain), al-Khwarizmi's work "Mukhtasar min hisab al-jabr wa-l-muqabala" is preserved, which is considered the foundation for modern algebra. In this library, a rare copy of Mirzo Ulugbek's work "Zij-i-Jadid Guragani," which is an example of the astronomical school, is also kept. This manuscript was brought to Istanbul by Mirzo Ulugbek's beloved student Ali Kushchi around 1473, and in 1638 it was taken to England by the English scholar John Graves. The manuscript also contains the personal autographs of this scientist.
In conclusion, the project "Rare Manuscripts of Uzbekistan in World Collections" is one of the important and promising steps towards restoring, preserving, and promoting our cultural heritage on a global scale.