Will the rare manuscripts related to Uzbekistan, discovered in more than 20 countries, be returned to the homeland?

The Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan has organized scientific research expeditions in more than twenty countries including the United Kingdom, France, India, Turkey, Russia, the United States, Germany, Iran, Egypt, Italy, and Ireland within the framework of the project “Rare Manuscripts Related to Uzbekistan in Global Collections”. These expeditions have identified rare manuscripts connected to Uzbekistan. Among them are works such as the manuscript Suwar al-Kawakib, copied during the era of Mirzo Ulugbek, and Abu Ali ibn Sina’s The Canon of Medicine.

The rich spiritual heritage, culture, and contributions of the Uzbek people to the development of science and knowledge are being deeply studied by scholars around the world. In particular, the rare manuscript works created by our great scholars are preserved today in museums, libraries, and private collections across various corners of the globe as exemplary scientific achievements.

The priceless works created by our ancestors not only hold historical significance but also immense spiritual and scientific value today. Therefore, under the initiatives of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, extensive efforts are being carried out to search for, study, and transmit this scholarly treasure to future generations through a series of decrees and resolutions.

Notably, the 2017 Presidential Decree “On Further Improving the Preservation, Study, and Promotion of Ancient Written Sources” and the resolution on “Establishing the Center for the Study of Cultural Monuments Related to Uzbekistan Abroad under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan” have elevated work in this field to a new level.

Rare Manuscripts Related to Uzbekistan in Global Collections

The project “Rare Manuscripts Related to Uzbekistan in Global Collections” plays a key role in fulfilling these noble objectives. It aims to restore the spiritual wealth and scholarly heritage of our nation, to raise younger generations with respect for national values, and to showcase the significant contributions of Uzbek civilization to the global community.

Within the framework of this project, scientific research expeditions have been organized in over twenty countries including the United Kingdom, France, India, Turkey, Russia, the United States, Germany, Iran, Egypt, Italy, and Ireland. During these expeditions, partnerships were established with numerous libraries, museums, and research centers, and agreements were signed to bring facsimile copies of rare manuscripts to Uzbekistan.

So far, facsimile editions of such rare works as the Great Langar Qur’an, Mir Haydar Khwarazmi’s Mi’rajnama, Sharafuddin Ali Yazdi’s Zafarnama, Husayn Bayqara’s Divan, Tuzuks of Timur, and Mirkhwand’s Rawzat al-Safa have been prepared and presented to academic institutions in Uzbekistan.

This project not only facilitates the return of historical documents but also plays a vital role in their academic study, translation, creation of digital databases, and public dissemination. Additionally, the book-albums produced under the project offer readers not only knowledge but also spiritual enrichment.

A Comprehensive Approach to Restoring Historical Justice

It is worth noting that today, Uzbekistan’s manuscript heritage encompasses not only works by figures directly connected to Uzbek literature or history but also manuscripts historically circulated within the territory of our country regardless of their linguistic or ethnic origin that were preserved and cherished by our people. Such a broad and inclusive approach serves to restore historical justice and fully reflect our nation’s contribution to world civilization.

The Islamic Renaissance that emerged in the Muslim East between the 9th and 11th centuries, as well as the Timurid Renaissance initiated in the second half of the 14th century by Amir Temur, gave rise to numerous great scholars from the lands of present-day Uzbekistan. The scholarly works produced by these luminaries laid the foundation for the advancement of global science, were translated into various languages, and received considerable recognition from the international academic community.

Our great ancestors produced unparalleled works in numerous fields including mathematics, geography, astronomy, geodesy, mineralogy, pharmacology, medicine, and the social sciences. These works were studied for centuries in Eastern madrasas and Western universities, and many of them are still preserved today in the world’s largest libraries and scientific institutions.

In France

For instance, the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris houses a manuscript of Suwar al-Kawakib copied during the era of Mirzo Ulughbek. Its pages feature star charts, constellations, and even a portrait of Mirzo Ulughbek. The same library also preserves a manuscript of Abu Ali ibn Sina’s Canon of Medicine. This work was translated into Latin in the 12th century and later spread throughout Europe. One such copy is also held at the Yale Medical Historical Library in the United States.

In Russia

One of the earliest manuscripts of the Canon of Medicine is preserved at the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts of the Russian Academy of Sciences. This rare work was brought from the Middle East by Jean-Baptiste Louis Rousseau, the nephew of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and gifted to the Russian Imperial Academy of Sciences in 1819. Unique copies of this manuscript are also preserved at the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

In Italy

At the University of Bologna Library in Italy, two Hebrew translations of the Canon of Medicine can be found. These editions were published in the first half of the 15th century in Italy and are richly illustrated. In February 2025, a delegation from the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan visited this library and announced the discovery of several other manuscripts related to Uzbekistan. An agreement was reached to send qualified specialists from Uzbekistan to study this heritage.

In the United Kingdom

At the Bodleian Library in Oxford, al-Khwarizmi’s Mukhtasar fi Hisab al-Jabr wa-l-Muqabala is preserved a foundational text for the science of modern algebra. The library also houses a rare copy of Zij-i Jadid-i Kuragani, a work representing the Ulughbek astronomical school. This manuscript was reportedly brought to Istanbul around 1473 by Ulughbek’s favorite student, Ali Qushji, and was later taken to England in 1638 by English scholar John Greaves. The manuscript still contains his personal handwritten notes.

In Conclusion

The project “Rare Manuscripts Related to Uzbekistan in Global Collections” is a vital and forward-looking initiative aimed at restoring, preserving, and promoting Uzbekistan’s cultural heritage on a global scale.

Durdona Rasulova

P.S.: The article may be used with a reference and a link to the official website of the center.