What do the silent witnesses of history testify to?

🔴 Gold-written pages in Uzbekistan’s mega project

🔴 A 500-year-old hadith collection

At the latest meeting of the Academic Council held at the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan, a number of rare exhibits presented by citizens for the Center’s exposition were discussed. The meeting evaluated ancient manuscripts, Qur’an copies, and historical documents from scientific, historical, and aesthetic perspectives.

Among the items presented to the council members, scholars, and experts, a Qur’an copy transcribed in Bukhara, presumably during the reign of Amir Nasrullah, drew particular attention. Usually, only the opening and closing pages of Qur’an copies are decorated, but in this manuscript every page is adorned with unique patterns and gilded with gold. It was decided that this rare work, along with a matching panel, would be sent for expert examination.

Also showcased was a unique 500-year-old hadith collection copied in the city of Khiva. It contains 23 of the most authentic hadiths selected from the works of Imam al-Bukhari and Imam al-Tirmidhi. According to Bahrom Abduhalimov, Vice-President of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, such manuscripts play an important role in enriching the scientific and substantive value of the Center’s exposition.

Among the exhibits were also two textile pieces produced in Cairo in the 19th century, inscribed with religious verses and used as mosque interior decorations. One of them bears the Ayat al-Kursi. These items were accepted for record purposes.

The meeting also reviewed for the first time about 10 other historical documents and sources, which were sent for expert examination. According to the adopted decisions, a strict and scholarly procedure for accepting exhibits has been established at the Center.