In a major ceremony held on Monday, June 23, 2025, on the sidelines of the Sixth Session of the Vice Chancellors’ Forum of Universities in the Islamic World, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) released an academic book titled “Al-Farabi and His Contributions Throughout Human History”.

The book features several themes addressing Al-Farabi’s influence on human philosophy, his concept of the utopian state, and modern interpretations of his thought, along with his unique ability to unite the arts and sciences. It was authored by 25 researchers from various countries of the Islamic world.

In his address at the ceremony, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, emphasized that the book serves as an invitation to revive encyclopedic thought and reclaim Islamic philosophy, which has contributed significantly to the development of human civilization and paved the way for the advancement of knowledge in both the East and West. He noted that Al-Farabi left behind a timeless scientific legacy that combined philosophy, logic, music, and politics.

Dr. AlMalik also explained that the book’s four themes aim to highlight the diverse intellectual dimensions of Al-Farabi, including his contributions to the development of a comprehensive philosophical vision, his theories in political and scientific philosophy, and his work in the philosophy of music and the harmonization of art and science.

The Director-General further stressed that this publication marks the first phase of an ambitious project through which ICESCO seeks to revive the legacy of leading thinkers and scientists of the Islamic world, through a series of conferences and academic publications designed to bring their contributions to life.

For her part, Ms. Saulekul Sailaukyzy, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom of Morocco and Kazakhstan’s Permanent Delegate to ICESCO, stated that the book is the result of tireless efforts to honor the legacy of a great thinker who profoundly impacted the spiritual heritage of humanity. She congratulated ICESCO on this outstanding publication, which coincides with the anniversary of Al-Farabi’s birth, and described it as a valuable addition to the intellectual and cultural repositories of the Islamic world’s libraries.

Speaking next, Dr. Zhanseit Tuimebayev, Chairman of the Board of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, highlighted the university’s commitment to reviving Al-Farabi’s legacy on the global intellectual and cultural stage. He noted that the book is the product of international academic collaboration and stands as clear evidence of the growing interest in Al-Farabi’s enduring intellectual contributions.

This publication is a key outcome of the International Conference on Islamic Scholars, organized by ICESCO in October 2023, in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, represented by the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Rabat, and Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in Almaty. The Conference recommended the promotion of Al-Farabi’s rich intellectual legacy across various scientific fields.