First International Islamic Forum, "Islamic Civilization: The Path of Peace, Tolerance and Enlightenment" (7–11 July 2026)

In the Name of Allah the Almighty!

Your Excellency Mr. Salim AlMalik, esteemed Director-General of ICESCO!

Esteemed Mr. Firdavs Abdukhalikov, Director of the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan!

His Eminence Nuriddin Kholiknazar, esteemed Mufti of Uzbekistan!

Mr. Erol Kılıç, Director-General of IRCICA!

Distinguished participants of the First International Islamic Forum!

It gives me great pleasure to greet you — the venerable figures of the Islamic world, distinguished religious, academic, and public leaders — today on this ancient Uzbek soil, at a magnificent venue and event worthy of the name of our sacred religion, and to convey the warmest wishes and blessings of His Excellency President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan to the participants of the Forum. May Allah the Almighty grant success to the work of this blessed gathering, which serves the loftiest of aims!

(The same greeting was then delivered in Uzbek: "Sizlarni — Islom olamining mo'tabar shaxslarini, taniqli din arboblari, olimlar va jamoatchilik vakillarini bugun qadimiy o'zbek zaminida... Alloh taolo oliy maqsadlarga xizmat qilayotgan ushbu muborak anjumanimiz faoliyatiga baraka ato etsin!")

Today is an important historic day for the Islamic world. Allah the Almighty has granted us the good fortune of taking part in the first gathering of the 21st century's new international humanitarian platform — the International Islamic Forum. May the First Islamic Forum bring benefit and success to our Ummah and to all humanity, insha'Allah!

On the occasion of the realization of this esteemed event — which serves the fulfillment of ideas pleasing to our Almighty Creator, such as the strengthening of a culture of peace, mutual respect, dialogue among civilizations, and international humanitarian cooperation — I sincerely congratulate and express my deep gratitude to my esteemed brother Mr. Salim AlMalik, Director-General of ICESCO, and to the esteemed Mr. Firdavs Abdukhalikov, Director of the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan is one of the great lands that Allah the Almighty has honored with His Grace. The fame and honor of the Uzbek land — which for centuries was the lamp of Islamic wisdom and, in the most difficult of times, never allowed its light to be extinguished — has become the stuff of legend. Today, in modern Uzbekistan, which is living through the brilliant era of its Third Renaissance, tremendous work is being carried out under the leadership of His Excellency Shavkat Mirziyoyev toward the academic-level study of the religion of Islam and the promotion of its humanist, universal essence. May Allah the Almighty grant success to the deeds of the leader of Uzbekistan, who is doing unmatched work in the study and promotion of our sacred religion on scientific foundations, and who is making extraordinary efforts to introduce to the whole world such treasured figures of Islamic civilization as Imam Bukhari, Imam Tirmidhi, Imam Maturidi, Naqshbandi, and others!

The Center for Islamic Civilization where we have gathered today is a temple of science and religion of global standing — a museum center where the contributions Islamic culture has bestowed upon humanity are displayed at the highest, most modern technological level; a place that exemplifies the use of the possibilities of artificial intelligence and has been entered into the book of records. The visionary and creator of the Center for Islamic Civilization is a man of profound political thought and an outstanding figure distinguished by his deep reverence for the universally significant, moderate values of our sacred religion — a wise state leader, His Excellency President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Likewise, in Azerbaijan, our head of state — His Excellency President Ilham Aliyev — who values the universal significance and peace-loving essence of the religion of Islam, which lies at the foundation of our national and spiritual values, and who makes practical efforts toward the ideas of universal human solidarity, is a wise political leader who consistently defends the interests of Islam and of the Ummah from the world's most authoritative rostrums and demonstrates a resolute stance against manifestations of Islamophobia. I am confident that through the magnificent political will and spiritual resolve of our heads of state, our brotherly countries — Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan — will create new marvels, and that our peoples will enjoy an even brighter future.

Distinguished participants of the Forum! I always recall with sincere blessings my teachers and fellow students at the Mir-i Arab Madrasa and the Tashkent Islamic Institute, where I received my higher religious education in Uzbekistan. As someone who has known this land since his youth, I am closely acquainted with the creative, constructive spirit of the Uzbek people. The greatest contribution that Uzbekistan — which for centuries raised high the torch of Islamic enlightenment and drew seekers of knowledge and wisdom from the most diverse corners of the world to this place — has bestowed upon the world's science of hadith is Imam Bukhari and his legacy. We are honored to express our deep respect and gratitude to His Excellency Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who has exquisitely transformed Bukhari's mausoleum into a magnificent complex worthy of his greatness and sanctity, and who has created there a center for Islamic scholarly research worthy of Imam Bukhari's name. It is thanks to him that the fundamental work Uzbekistan is carrying out is acclaimed on the international stage, and the legacy of Islamic thinkers is promoted from the rostrum of the United Nations. In particular, through the efforts of ICESCO, Uzbekistan and the unparalleled contributions it has bestowed upon the Islamic world are being presented to humanity with great reverence as a universal treasure.

As Muslim religious leaders within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States, we take pleasure in contributing to the realization of all the efforts and deeds of our esteemed heads of state in the cultural and spiritual sphere. Our next, seventh, meeting will take place in Baku this September, insha'Allah. During that meeting, we intend to hold an international conference on the legacy of yet another Islamic thinker — Seyyid Yahya Bakuvi.

Distinguished participants of the Forum! Allah the Almighty commands in our Holy Book, the Qur'an:

"Invite (people) to the way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful counsel" (An-Nahl, 125).

It is gratifying that the work being carried out in Uzbekistan in the field of religious enlightenment is bearing beautiful fruit. In this regard, the valuable services and commendable activity of Uzbekistan's religious center deserve special emphasis. In particular, under the leadership of my dear brother, His Eminence Mufti Nuriddin Kholiknazar, the ties of the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan have expanded and diversified even further. Today, addressing all my brothers taking part here, at the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan, in the historically significant First International Islamic Forum, I call upon you: for the sake of the continuation of the human race and the salvation of the Earth, let us unite our efforts, and let us never stray from the path of guidance of Islam — the religion of peace and humanism! May Allah be our helper! AMIN!