DAY 6 - Monday, September 18, 2000

Imam Bukhari

Shaykh Hisham visited Sayyidina Shah Naqshband’s (q ) maqam, learning center, museum. Taken to mosque where Mufti of Bukhara His Eminence Imam Abdul Ghafur is imam.  Related that in this madrasa Imam Bukhari used to teach 100,000 students all at same time. Shaykh Hisham said Imam Bukhari was granted secret of making 100,000 people fit in an area that could physically accommodate only 5,000 people standing (maximum). When asked how this could be by a fellow guest Shaykh Hisham replied, “don’t be materialistic, be spiritual, and you will understand.”

 UNESCO Symposium

Symposium on Sufism held same day at New Bukhara Hotel. Papers presented by over a dozen different Muslim Sufi leaders from around the world. Symposium seen by UNESCO as contribution to an open and tolerant society by highlighting revival of Sufism, “the mystical and tolerant stream of Central Asian Islam, a spiritual dimension which is shared with other regions of the Muslim world from China to the Maghreb.”

Speakers, in addition to ISCA Chairman Shaykh Kabbani included Haji Shamsuddin Mahmud, Vice-President of China Islamic Association, Abdelwahab Tazi Saoud, Ex-Rector, Qarouiyne University of Fez, Member of Ulema Council of Fez (Morocco), Aziza Bennani, Ambassador, Permanent Delegate to UNESCO (Morocco), SheikhAwad el-Bouhaissi, of the Al-Alawi Mosque of Mostaganem, Algeria, Shaykh Adlen Khaled Bentounes, of the Alawiyya Sufi Tariqat Algeria, Shaykh Abdul Aziz Bukhari, Naqshbandi Shaykh from Jerusalem, Iba Der Thieam, former member of the UNESCO Executive Council, Dr. Isenbike Togan, of the Hocatepe University, Ankara Turkey, Dr. Jean During, Director of the Education, School of High Education in Social Sciences, France, Dr. Ali Kianfar, of the Uwaysi Sufi Order of Iran and other professors and teachers of Tasawwuf.

Shaykh’s formal presentation for Symposium noted Islam spread throughout Central Asia not by force of arms, but under gentle, compassionate instruction of great Sufi masters. “Many of them are buried not far from where this symposium is being held: Shah Bahauddin Naqshband, Yusuf Hamadani and Sa`ad al-Din Kashgari, and others were keys to spreading the Islamic message - which is tolerance, which is peace, which is love for every human being.” Shaykh contrasted this, “with the approach of radical elements today. Without authorization of Quran or the Prophet’s Sunna, they seek to impose their ways by force and by violence. This is contrary to both the letter and the spirit of Islam as brought by Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, whose title was ‘Mercy to all the worlds.’”

Bukhara Governor holds Reception

Symposium followed by reception and dinner, extremely sumptuous and delicious.  

UNESCO CONFERENCE INFORMATION - OFFICIAL WEBPAGE