Mr. Ahmed Toufiq, Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs of the Kingdom of Morocco, participated in the First International Forum on Islamic Civilization in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and the International Scientific Conference “Al-Jami’ al-Musnad al-Sahih by Imam al-Bukhari: The Book of an Ummah” in Samarkand. The two events were organized in partnership between the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Center of Islamic Civilization, under the patronage of His Excellency President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and brought together more than 300 speakers from 40 countries, including ministers, scholars, and religious and cultural figures.

In a recorded address presented during the opening session of the forum, held from 7 to 11 July 2026, Mr. Ahmed Toufiq stressed that discussion of Islamic civilization should not be limited to thought, sciences, and the arts, but should also encompass the system of good governance it developed, which offered a civilizational model that the Muslim world continues to draw inspiration from and seek renewal.

The Moroccan minister noted that the concept known in the Islamic heritage as the Five Higher Objectives of Islamic Shariah (Al-Kulliyat al-Khamsah)—namely, the preservation of religion, life, intellect, property, and progeny—represents one of the most advanced intellectual formulations reflecting the comprehensive Islamic vision for building individuals, society, and the state.

In his address to the opening session of the international conference dedicated to Imam Al-Bukhari, delivered on his behalf by Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General of ICESCO, the Moroccan Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs highlighted the scholarly and spiritual status of Sahih al-Bukhari in the Kingdom of Morocco, noting the great attention devoted to its memorization, study, commentary, and teaching in traditional schools and Sufi institutions.

Mr. Ahmed Toufiq explained that the most prominent manifestation of this interest is the annual royal religious vigil marking Laylat Al-Qadr, during which the completion of the reading of Sahih al-Bukhari constitutes the scholarly and spiritual culmination of the assembly. This reflects Morocco’s deep attachment to the legacy of Imam Al-Bukhari and its commitment to preserving and transmitting the sciences of the Prophetic Hadith across generations.