Chief editor writes ✍️
Since the dawn of history, Uzbekistan has played a pivotal role in shaping Islamic identity and spreading the values of knowledge and enlightenment. It is the land that gave the world towering scholars whose legacy endures across centuries—Imam al-Bukhari, al-Zamakhshari, al-Khwarizmi, Ibn Sina, al-Biruni, and many others who left indelible marks in jurisprudence, philosophy, medicine, mathematics, and astronomy.
Reviving this immense heritage is not a mere glance back at the past, but a strategic national project championed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, aiming to reconnect the present with the glory of the ancestors and to craft a new renaissance rising from the same roots that gave birth to Uzbekistan’s first and second golden ages.
From Vision to Monumental Reality
The Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan began construction in 2017 within the renowned Hazrat Imam complex in the heart of Tashkent, sprawling across 10 hectares. It stands as one of the most ambitious cultural centers in the world, marked by its majestic design, a turquoise dome soaring 65 meters high, and architectural proportions that rival the grandest museums worldwide.
But the Center is more than a museum. It is a living encyclopedia of Islamic memory. Its halls chronicle civilizations before Islam, the flourishing of the first and second Renaissances, the dynasties of the Uzbek khanates, the transformations of the 20th century, and the dawn of New Uzbekistan—A New Renaissance.
A Universal Message Beyond Borders
The project does not merely preserve local heritage—it extends a hand to the world. Partnerships have been established with more than 100 international institutes, museums, and libraries, including Turkey’s Süleymaniye Library, the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, Malaysia’s Museum of Islamic Art, and the University of Bologna in Italy.
This network transforms the Center into a bridge between Uzbekistan and the global cultural sphere. Scholars and specialists from dozens of countries are actively involved in curating its exhibitions, earning it international recognition long before its official inauguration. Prestigious institutions have already announced plans to present exclusive displays within its walls, recalling the courts of al-Ma’mun and Timur, where Central Asia once gathered the brightest minds of the age.
Restoring the Lost Treasures
Perhaps the most remarkable achievement lies in the shift from heritage theft to heritage restoration. For decades, manuscripts and artifacts were smuggled out of Uzbekistan. Today, however, more than 580 priceless items have been reclaimed—purchased at world-renowned auctions such as Sotheby’s and Christie’s in London, as well as through acquisitions from major collectors.
Among them are fragments of the colossal Baysunghur Qur’an commissioned by Timur, Mughal swords and daggers, Safavid and Mughal miniatures, golden ornaments from the Golden Horde, a manuscript of Rumi’s Masnavi, a folio from Hafiz Abru’s Majmaʿ al-Tawarikh, and rare ceramics and silverware from the Sogdian, Qarakhanid, and Seljuk eras.
Toward a New Renaissance
The true significance of this project lies not only in its scale or its treasures, but in its symbolism. It stands as a declaration that Uzbekistan is reclaiming its natural place as one of the great centers of Islamic civilization. It is a bridge connecting past and present, and a pathway toward the future—through knowledge, culture, and openness to the world.
The Center of Islamic Civilization in Tashkent is not simply a monumental building; it is the memory of a nation and the gateway to its third renaissance—a living testament that identity is not confined to history, but is the very force propelling a brighter tomorrow.
