Tashkent, November 16, 2025 – The Europe Today: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on November 15 visited the Center of Islamic Civilization in Tashkent, a major cultural and scholarly institution established under the initiative of President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
The foundation stone of the center was laid in 2018 following a presidential decree, and its development brought together hundreds of scientists, scholars, experts, religious leaders, and public figures. The result is a vast complex spanning more than 10 hectares, designed in the architectural traditions of ancient Samarkand and crowned with a 65-meter-high dome.
A Leading Hub of Islamic Scholarship
The Center of Islamic Civilization comprises a wide range of core facilities, including research and publishing units, a library, archival divisions, a manuscript fund, and a national register for rare manuscripts. Its exhibition galleries feature historical artifacts and works presented through modern digital technologies that highlight the intellectual heritage of past generations.
The enormous library housed within the center contains 100,000 manuscripts and more than one million books, alongside offices for international organizations and the center’s own scientific departments.
The museum exposition is arranged across several thematic halls, including:
- Pre-Islamic Civilizations
- The First Renaissance
- The Second Renaissance
- Uzbekistan in the 20th Century
- New Uzbekistan — the Basis of the Third Renaissance
- The Holy Quran
Home to Priceless Islamic Heritage
The spiritual heart of the complex is the Hall of the “Holy Quran”, which preserves the ancient Muskhaf Usman, one of the most treasured relics of the Islamic world. The hall also displays rare historical copies of the Quran produced during the eras of the Samanids, Karakhanids, Khorezmshahs, Uzbeks, and Temurids, along with translations into old Uzbek and extraordinary handwritten manuscripts from around the globe.
In addition to its historical collections, the center implements a variety of religious-educational initiatives and innovative media projects.
Modern Technology Enhancing Cultural Preservation
One of the center’s most notable features is the “Wall of Time”, a massive multimedia installation that uses holography, projection, and digital technologies to present key historical eras, groundbreaking discoveries, and biographies of prominent figures.
The Center of Islamic Civilization also maintains active cooperation with leading international institutions, including UNESCO and ICESCO, as part of its mission to advance global cultural dialogue and scholarship.
President Aliyev’s visit underscored the strong cultural ties between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan and highlighted the center’s growing role as a major hub of Islamic knowledge and heritage in Central Asia.
