Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), stated that ongoing scientific research keeps the intellectual legacy of leading figures of the Islamic world alive. He stressed that Al-Farabi’s legacy had reached present-day generations thanks to the painstaking work of scholars: some devoted themselves to manuscripts and scholarly editing, while others translated his works or studied the influence of his ideas. “A thinker’s legacy remains alive through the minds it continues to awaken,” he said.

This came in his address during the Second International Conference on Al-Farabi and His Contributions Throughout Human History, held by ICESCO on Friday, 6 November 2026, in Almaty, Kazakhstan, in partnership with the Kazakh Ministry of Science and Higher Education and Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, under the theme “Philosophy, Virtue, Future”. The Conference was attended by several leading academics, experts and researchers from countries across the Islamic world.
Dr. AlMalik noted that, although more than eleven centuries had passed since Al-Farabi’s death, his questions continued to attract researchers, while his ideas continued to open up new avenues for research and study. He pointed out that this academic gathering built on ICESCO’s first Conference on Islamic Scholars, which was held at the Organization’s headquarters in cooperation with the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Rabat and dedicated to discussing Al-Farabi’s intellectual contributions.

He explained that the first edition of the conference had featured intensive discussions on Al-Farabi’s philosophy and political thought, as well as his artistic contributions. These discussions culminated in the publication by ICESCO of the Conference proceedings, bringing together all the research papers presented and enabling the dialogue to reach readers beyond the conference hall. He called for the publication of an academic volume documenting the proceedings of the current edition, making it available digitally and translating it to support the tracking of developments in research and studies on Al-Farabi’s thought.

The ICESCO Director-General also noted that Kazakhstan held a special place in efforts to introduce the rich legacy of Al-Farabi, as his homeland and a center for the study of his legacy and the extent of his influence. He reaffirmed the Organization’s commitment to supporting these efforts within the framework of its strong partnership with Kazakhstan.

During the Conference, Dr. Kuanysh Yergaliyev, Head of ICESCO’s Science and Environment Sector, delivered a presentation titled “From Al-Farabi’s Scientific Legacy to 21st-Century Innovation: ICESCO’s Role in Advancing Science and Education”, in which he highlighted the connection between Al-Farabi’s legacy and the shared responsibility to advance science and education.