An Eastern scholar who conquered the UN

Did you know that the phrase inscribed on the pediment of the UN Peace Council building “The children of Adam are limbs of one body, created from the same essence. If one limb is afflicted with pain, the others cannot remain at ease” is taken from Saadi’s Gulistan?

There are works that embody the highest pearls of spirituality and artistic thought, through which a people’s spiritual identity and cultural potential are revealed. One such priceless work is the Kulliyat of Saadi Shirazi, a great figure of Eastern literature, poet, and thinker.

A rare manuscript copy of this famous work, preserved in our country, is kept under inventory number 6108 at the Abu Rayhan Biruni Institute of Manuscripts of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan. Its creation history is remarkable. This copy was transcribed in Bukhara at the end of the 16th century and is recognized as a fine example of the high standards of calligraphy, bookmaking, and artistic culture of that era.

Saadi Shirazi (1203/1210–1292) is known as a thinker who elevated the entire Islamic Eastern culture to great heights through his works Gulistan, Bustan, ghazals, and aphorisms. His Kulliyat is valued as the complete and comprehensive collection of his creative legacy, in which poetry and prose, wisdom and virtue, intellect and heart are harmoniously interwoven.

The melody of Gulistan will now resonate in the Center of Islamic Civilization

The manuscript is not only of literary significance but also an extremely important source from historical, linguistic, calligraphic, and art historical perspectives. Its paper quality, ink colors, headings, and decorations allow us to understand the intellectual environment, bookmaking traditions, and beliefs of that time.

Today, this manuscript is about to be presented to the public by the Center of Islamic Civilization within the framework of the media project “100 Ancient Manuscripts of Uzbekistan.” The main aim of the project is to introduce the unique relics preserved in our country that speak from the past, to cherish our spiritual heritage, and to instill its value in the minds of the younger generation.

Wisdom passed from heart to heart: the manuscript journey of Saadi’s work

In this sense, Saadi’s Kulliyat is not only poetry but also a school promoting life philosophy, human spirituality, and public morality. The fact that the following lines from Gulistan are engraved on the pediment of the UN Peace Council building “The children of Adam are limbs of one body, created from the same essence. If one limb is afflicted with pain, the others cannot remain at ease” demonstrates the universal significance of Saadi’s heritage.

For this reason, in Uzbekistan, the works of scholars like Saadi are passed down from generation to generation, playing an important role in understanding national identity and promoting spirituality and enlightenment. This manuscript copy of the Kulliyat is a jewel of our manuscript treasury, a spiritual monument that speaks not only of the past but also of the future.

In 1958, the 700th anniversary of Gulistan was celebrated internationally by decision of the World Peace Committee. This event once again demonstrated the immense place of Saadi’s creativity in the spiritual life of all humanity. His works remain, to this day, a source of moral, philosophical, and spiritual education. Saadi Shirazi was a magnificent personality who educated hearts with his pen and illuminated life with wisdom.

Durdona Rasulova

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