At the meeting with representatives of the center and scholars, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Ravshan Usmanov, the rector of Uzbekistan's International Islamic Academy Uygun Gafurov, the director of the Imam Bukhari International Scientific Research Center Shovosil Ziyodov, the director of the Imam Tirmidhi International Scientific Research Center Muzaffarkhon Joneyev, the director of the Imam Maturidi International Scientific Research Center Jamoliddin Karimov, and others participated.
The presentations were heard on the work being carried out in New Uzbekistan regarding the preservation, study, and popularization of cultural heritage, about topical scientific research, and also on actively developing international cooperation in this area.
In turn, the representatives of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies also presented the "Atlas of the History of the Muslim World" project, which is being carried out in collaboration with several countries. The project discusses the role of each region of the world in the development of Islamic civilization, important discoveries, the lives and work of scholars, and the contribution of Islamic civilization to world science. During the talks, an agreement was reached on unifying the efforts of both parties to create a volume dedicated to the role of Central Asia in the development of Islamic civilization within this project series. The meeting concluded with the signing of memoranda of cooperation between the Islamic Civilization Center of Uzbekistan, international research centers, and the Islamic Studies Center in Oxford. An exhibition of books and albums published in recent years was organized as part of the event.
The Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies was presented with a facsimile of the Big Langar Quran, as well as books and albums from the series "The Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan in World Collections".
"Uzbekistan is an ancient country with a rich history and a unique cultural heritage," said Farhan Nizami, the director of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies. — "I have visited Uzbekistan many times. However, in recent years, your country's contacts with the outside world have begun to expand significantly. The new leader of Uzbekistan declares that the doors are open to all foreign partners, including us scholars, and foreign researchers. In particular, I believe that the negotiations conducted by the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan with the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies on developing mutually beneficial cooperation will yield the expected results."
Following this, the representatives of the Uzbekistan delegation visited the Bodleian Library in Oxford, one of the oldest libraries in the world, where they were introduced to rare manuscripts related to Uzbekistan.
"Uzbekistan is the land of great scholars, poets, and thinkers," says Nicholas Kontovas, curator of the Eastern Manuscripts department at the Bodleian Library. — "Among them, manuscripts copied during the lifetime of the great Alisher Navoiy are considered rare jewels in our library's collection. These invaluable works can truly be called the treasure of all humankind."
Uzbekistani scholars were introduced to more than ten manuscripts related to the cultural heritage of Uzbekistan at the library. Particularly, the "Khamsa" manuscript with Alisher Navoiy's personal annotations made a significant impression. The "Zij-i Kuragoni" by Mirzo Ulugbek also has its unique history. Nearly three centuries ago, it was purchased by the Oxford scholar John Greaves, who made marginal notes in gold on the book's pages. The book's pages also contain notes in the Ottoman Turkish language.
The visit of the Uzbekistan scientific delegation to Great Britain continues.
