Lean on Asian saint’s teachings to tackle terror

Even as India is planning to host a high-level international conference on countering radicalization, Central Asian country Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on Sunday  proposed to establish the Imam Bukhari International Research Center in Samarkand—after the name of ninth century saint and scholar to provide effective intellectual tools to contest extremism and misinterpreting religious texts.

Addressing a security conference on Central Asia under the auspices of the United Nations, which was also attended by an Indian delegation led by Minister of State for External Affairs General (rtd) V K Singh, President Mirziyoyev said his country was also establishing the Center for Islamic Civilization in the historic city of Tashkent.

In the Indian context, a Centre in the name of Saint scholar Muhammad ibn Ismail al-Bukhari holds significance as most of religious texts  and curricula in Indian madrasas originate from his scholarly works. Commonly referred to as Imam Bukhari, he authored the hadith collection known as Sahih al-Bukhari, regarded by Sunni Muslims as one of the most authentic collections. After Quran Hadith is important source of Islamic teachings, based on record of the traditions or sayings of the Prophet Muhammad. The Uzbek President, the main goal is to turn Central Asia into a stable and economically developed region by joint efforts.

‘EDUCATION IS KEY’

• One of the effective tools for countering extremism is education, said Mirziyoyev
   
• He said people should be explained the humanistic essence of Islam and the true values of Islamic culture