Culture is the memory of civilisation — a legacy that crosses borders, survives political change, and unites generations and nations.
This idea framed discussions at the Center of Islamic Civilisation in Uzbekistan, where scholars, historians, political leaders and cultural figures from across Central Asia and Azerbaijan gathered for the International Congress ‘Central Asia: Common Spiritual and Educational Heritage – Common Future’.
Delegates met in Tashkent to highlight the region’s centuries-old enlightenment traditions and their continued relevance today, a message formalised in the congress’s final declaration.
A regional identity rooted in shared heritage
Against a backdrop of rising geopolitical tensions, international disagreements and cross-border conflicts, participants underlined the cultural foundations connecting nearly 100 million people across Central Asia and Azerbaijan.
The significance of the gathering was marked by the installation of the Qur’an of Uthman in the centre’s main hall – one of the world’s oldest and most revered handwritten copies of the Qur’an. Delegates described the moment as deeply symbolic, grounding the congress in a shared heritage.
In an opening letter read at the ceremony, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, emphasised:
“In today’s extremely challenging time, when confrontations and conflicts are intensifying in various parts of the world, the most urgent task for all of us remains the preservation of peace and stability. We must draw lessons and approach every matter guided by knowledge and enlightenment, strengthen harmony among different people, and expand dialogue between cultures and civilisations.”
Diplomatic weight and cultural cooperation
President Mirziyoyev delivered his message on the eve of the Summit of the Heads of State of Central Asia and Azerbaijan, where he called for support for a United Nations special resolution recognising the collective contribution of Central Asia and Azerbaijan to global education, science and culture.
This timing gave the congress additional political weight, reinforcing the idea that cultural cooperation is a key instrument for strengthening trust and regional engagement, with Uzbekistan playing a leading role in these efforts.
A historical contribution to world civilisation
Speakers also reflected on the role of Central Asia and Azerbaijan in shaping global civilisation. During the Islamic Golden Age between the 8th and 13th centuries, the lands of modern-day Central Asia and Azerbaijan were among the world’s most influential centres of scientific and intellectual discovery.
Figures such as al-Biruni, Ibn Sina (Avicenna), al-Farabi, Alisher Navoi, Imam al-Bukhari and Mirzo Ulugbek advanced mathematics, astronomy, philosophy, medicine, theology and literature in ways that transformed human understanding.
Reflecting on these achievements, Dr Firdavs Abdukhalikov, Director of the Center and Chair of WOSCU, told delegates: “Central Asia is not simply a region. It is a cradle of great ideas and creativity. The initiative of the President of Uzbekistan revives, preserves and celebrates the cultural and historical heritage not only of Uzbekistan but of the entire region and the Islamic world. Our Center will create all the conditions necessary to realise this noble goal.”
The Center of Islamic Civilisation
The Center of Islamic Civilisation, initiated by the President of Uzbekistan in 2017 and due to open in March 2026, stands beside the historic Hazrati Imam complex in the spiritual heart of Tashkent. The Qur’an of Uthman now occupies a central position in its main hall beneath a 65-metre dome, surrounded by artefacts and treasures reflecting the region’s intellectual and artistic heritage.
Its exhibitions chart Central Asia’s story from its earliest civilisations through the great scholars of the First and Second Islamic Renaissances and into the modern reforms shaping education, science and research today. Delegates described the centre as a vast cultural and educational space where history and contemporary identity not only meet but help generate new meanings, ideas and a shared vision of the future.
Unity across borders
That sense of unity resonated throughout the congress. Representatives from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan spoke about the deep cultural ties that long pre-date contemporary political borders.
Beyond cultural dialogue, the congress also underscored Uzbekistan’s wider effort to revive scientific and educational traditions across the region. Hundreds of new schools have opened in recent years, the number of universities has more than doubled and new research institutions dedicated to scholars such as Imam Bukhari and Imam Maturidi have been created.
Central Asia and Azerbaijan, in coming together within Uzbekistan’s revived spiritual centre, not only can reaffirm their shared cultural legacy, but further establish create a platform for lasting collaboration and regional growth.
