An exhibition titled 'Radiance of Islam' was organized as part of the 'International Forum of Islamic Civilization: The Path of Peace, Tolerance, and Knowledge'.
Policy and Development Goals
In recent years, under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, a state policy has been established to deeply study the scientific and spiritual heritage of the great thinkers of our ancestors, reveal its global significance, and convey the true humanistic essence of Islamic civilization to the world community.
Conveying the Islamic ideas of peace, tolerance, and knowledge to the entire world is a common task not only for a specific state but for the entire Muslim world. Uzbekistan is acting as an initiator of such international cooperation.
Exhibition Content
The main goal of the 'Radiance of Islam' exhibition, opened in the Quran Hall, which is the heart of the Center for Islamic Civilization of Uzbekistan, is to demonstrate the invaluable contribution of Islamic civilization to the development of world science, culture, and spirituality.
Muzaffar Komilov, Rector of the Academy of Islamic Studies of Uzbekistan and Head of the Department for Religious and Educational Issues of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as Firdavs Abdukholikov, Chairman of the Uzbekistan-Saudi Arabia Friendship Society and Director of the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan, emphasized that significant efforts have been made in the country over the last decade to preserve and widely promote spiritual heritage, and these efforts are yielding positive results.
Through this exhibition, rich Islamic artifacts formed on the territory of Uzbekistan, the scientific and spiritual heritage of great scholars, rare manuscripts, copies of the Quran, as well as samples of calligraphy, miniature and applied decorative arts, and cultural treasures are presented using modern museum technologies.
Themes and Exhibits
The exhibition, based on the idea that 'Islam is a religion of knowledge, enlightenment, and peace', introduces visitors to the formation of Islamic civilization, its influence on world civilization, and the role of Central Asia, particularly Uzbekistan, in this process.
Among the exhibits were the Kiswa (covering) of part of the Kaaba and panels with the inscriptions 'Allah' and 'Muhammad', dating from the 19th–20th centuries, as well as a calligraphic panel taken from the Kiswa of the Kaaba. This further emphasizes the significance and greatness of the Quran Hall.
Large burial caskets made of green silk taken from the tombs of the Prophet (peace be upon him and blessings of Allah), dated 1900, and a 'Mahmil' from the 19th century were also displayed.
The entrance section of the Quran Hall, opposite the Kokand Portal, also featured photographs dedicated to the history of the arrival of the 'Uthmanic Mushaf' at the Center for Islamic Civilization of Uzbekistan, specifically in the 'Quran Hall'.
International Collections
Furthermore, many unique manuscripts, books, exhibits, and cultural heritage items related to the history of Islam, which were specially brought for this exhibition from the 'Islamic Art' Museum located in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, attracted the attention of visitors.
A special impression on guests was made by prayer books dedicated to 'Prayers of Muhammad (peace be upon him and blessings of Allah)', containing excerpts from the Quran, as well as works by Imamzoda al-Haj Muhammad 'Dalail al-Khairat' and 'Al-Khizb al-Azam'. Pages from Quranic manuscripts of the Seljuk era (12th century), a fragment of the Quran with the writing of verses 70–71 of Surah 'Tawbah', a fragment of the Quran copied in Thuluth style, a fragment of the Quran copied in Kufic style, a printed edition of the 'Great Langar Quran' from the 7th century, a fragment written in Kalami Sharif, a fragment written in Surah 'Ibrahim' verse 40, a calligraphic plaque written in Gubur, and a sample signed by Muhammad Taki ibn Muhammad Ali Davlatobodi in 1670, and a 17th-century edition of the book Tabarruk were also presented.
Artifacts related to Islamic art were also displayed, such as samples of architecture, applied arts, calligraphy, miniatures, jewelry, and pottery, including ancient locks and keys, as well as copper plates used in the enclosure of Masjid al-Haram in Mecca.
The 'Radiance of Islam' exhibition represents a prestigious international cultural project that demonstrates the rich scientific and cultural heritage of Islamic civilization through a modern museum exposition, thereby enriching the forum's theme of 'The Path of Peace, Tolerance, and Knowledge.'