The symbol of Sufism – khirqa and dervish garments in the exhibition of the Center of Islamic Civilization

In the museum exhibition of the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan, the arrival of Islam in Transoxiana, the teachings of Sufism, and the spiritual heritage of Sufi scholars are presented. The central idea of the exhibition is to depict the path of striving for spiritual perfection through the symbol of the khirqa in Sufism and to convey historical traditions and religious-educational ideas to the public in a modern museum format.

A recent meeting of the Working Group on improving the museum exhibitions was held at the Center of Islamic Civilization in Tashkent. This session focused on the section dedicated to the “First Renaissance Period”. Officials of the Center, representatives of Italy’s Magistr Art design company, as well as historians and scholars participated.

In this section, the aim is to highlight the arrival of Islam in Transoxiana, the emergence of Sufi teachings, and the spiritual legacy of Sufi scholars through exhibition design. The first three capsules of the display are dedicated to the spread of Islam, the rise of Sufi knowledge, and its achievements in the intellectual and educational spheres.

The place of Sufi clothing in the exhibition

During the meeting, Doctor of Philosophy in History Ibrahim Usmonov presented the results of his research. Senior researchers of the Center, Shaykh Abdulaziz Mansur and Habibulloh Solih, also provided information about sources on Sufism and the history of garments.

As Shaykh Abdulaziz Mansur emphasized, the khirqa is a symbolic sign of the Sufi spiritual path, whose appearance reflects simplicity and conveys a spiritual meaning directed toward disciplining the self. The colors and styles of the khirqa varied across regions, but they all shared the principle of being free from ornamentation, embodying humility.

Habibulloh Solih added that every element of the dervish attire carried specific spiritual significance. Therefore, it was noted that their historical and spiritual essence should be represented in the museum exhibition on a scholarly basis.

Presentation of Visual Projects

At the conclusion of the meeting, representatives of Italy’s Magistr Art design company presented specially prepared models and visual layouts. It was also agreed that sketches of khirqa and headwear would be displayed at the next discussion.

Conclusion

This initiative of the Center of Islamic Civilization is aimed at scientifically presenting the historical and spiritual heritage of Sufism. In doing so, it contributes to a deeper understanding of national identity and to the education of the younger generation in the spirit of enlightenment and tolerance.