Dr. AlMalik: The Conference Addresses Attempts to Cast Doubt on the Spiritual and Civilizational Foundations of the Islamic World

The International Scientific Conference “Al-Jami’ al-Musnad al-Sahih by Imam al-Bukhari: The Book of an Ummah” kicked off on Thursday, 9 July 2026, in Samarkand, Republic of Uzbekistan. The conference is organized by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in partnership with the Center of Islamic Civilization in Tashkent and the Imam Bukhari International Scientific Research Center, under the patronage of His Excellency President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of the Republic of Uzbekistan, with the participation of prominent scholars, researchers, and representatives of religious and academic institutions from several countries across the Islamic world.

The conference commenced with a recitation from the Holy Quran, followed by an address by Dr. Muzaffar Kamilov, Head of the Department for Religious and Educational Affairs within the Presidential Administration of Uzbekistan, who emphasized that the legacy of Imam Al-Bukhari is no longer a symbolic heritage belonging solely to Uzbekistan, but has become a shared legacy of the Islamic Ummah and humanity at large, requiring strengthened international cooperation in its study, preservation, and transmission to future generations.

Following this, Sheikh Dr. Saleh bin Abdullah bin Humaid, Advisor at the Royal Court of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Member of the Council of Senior Scholars of Saudi Arabia, and Imam and Preacher of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, stated that Imam Al-Bukhari represents a distinguished model in the service of the Prophetic Sunnah. Honoring him, he noted, lies in preserving his scholarly legacy and educating future generations to follow his scientific and ethical approach. He also commended Uzbekistan’s efforts, under the leadership of H.E. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, in safeguarding and promoting this heritage in a manner befitting its status.

For his part, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of ICESCO, affirmed that the conference embodies scholarly fidelity to an imam who devoted 16 years of his life to compiling a single work, traveling extensively and selecting from among 600,000 hadiths to produce a refined body of knowledge that has become a guiding beacon for the Ummah. He stressed that the life of Imam Al-Bukhari is not merely a luminous chapter in the history of hadith sciences, but a unique model of dedication to knowledge and the pursuit of truth.

Dr. AlMalik added that convening the event reflects the need to address attempts to cast doubt on the spiritual and civilizational foundations of the Ummah by reviving the legacy of great scholars. He noted that ICESCO is honored to undertake the scientific coordination of the conference, proposing the organization of an annual conference on the Prophetic Hadith, along with the establishment of an annual award dedicated to hadith studies and the preservation of its legacy.

The conference also featured the screening of a video titled “The Story of Al-Bukhari: A Prodigy in the Science of Hadith,” prepared by Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General of ICESCO, and produced by the Organization’s Media and Communication Sector using advanced artificial intelligence technologies.

For his part, Mr. Sodiq Donaqulovich Toshboyev, Chairman of the Religious Affairs Committee of Uzbekistan, highlighted that the comprehensive study of the intellectual heritage of the Ummah’s predecessors is among his country’s key priorities. He shed light on efforts to publish and translate Imam Al-Bukhari’s works and adopt modern scholarly methodologies for their study.

Moreover, Mufti Nuriddin Khaliqnazarov, Chairman of the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan, underlined that the significance of Sahih al-Bukhari extends beyond its religious and scholarly value to its role in reinforcing the unity of the Ummah and preserving its heritage. Meanwhile, Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, Chairman of the Caucasus Muslim Board, noted that greater global awareness of Imam Al-Bukhari would further enhance the standing of Samarkand and its scholarly environment.

The opening session concluded with the honoring of researchers and specialists who presented outstanding papers on the conference themes. These contributions were published in a book supervised by ICESCO under the title “Al-Jami’ al-Musnad al-Sahih by Imam al-Bukhari: The Book of an Ummah,” as part of efforts to document the conference’s scientific discussions and extend the benefit of its outcomes.