Shaykh Muhammad Nazim Adil al-Haqqani, world leader of the Naqshbandi-Haqqani Sufi Order, and Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani were honored to meet with His Excellency President Islam Karimov, Republic of Uzbekistan, last week after the United Nations’ Millenium Summit for world leaders. 

In a private meeting in New York, President Karimov and Uzbek Ambassador Sodyq Safaev met with Islamic Supreme Council of America Honorary Chair, Shaykh Muhammad Nazim Adil, ISCA Chairman Shaykh Hisham Kabbani and ISCA General Secretary, Dr. Hedieh Mirahmadi, to discuss avenues of cooperation for future educational and religious projects.

The meeting was a pleasure for both delegations, as they shared their aspirations for preserving traditional scholarship and values of Islam, in the face of a rising tide of radical movements throughout Central Asia. The two delegations made a strong commitment to emphasize Islam as a religion of peace and moderation, which is tolerant and encourages inter-religious dialogue for the benefit of humanity.

The delegates discussed the important role Uzbekistan will play in restoring peace in the Central Asian region, which was once the seat of Islamic knowledge and heritage. Known as the “nation of two wings,” Uzbekistan is home to both the greatest traditional muhaddiths in Islam, Imam Muhammad bin Ismail al-Bukhari and Imam al-Tirmidhi, on one side, and religious spiritual leaders such as Shah Bahauddin Naqshband, on the other. Uzbekistan’s unique situation, religiously, historically and today on the brink of an economic renaissance, serves to further highlight the importance of the strong relationship between His Excellency President Karimov as head of state, with leaders of the Naqshbandi spiritual order of Islam, Shaykh Muhammad Nazim Adil and Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani.

The shaykhs discussed with the Uzbek delegation issues of human rights, and set forth an agenda opposing all forms of radicalism, whether ideological, cultural or political. Committed to combating abuses of the faith, an agreement was made to coordinate and cooperate on future education endeavors such as co-sponsoring joint conferences, printing and distributing traditional, scholarly literature, and facilitating meetings with other world leaders. 

The meeting concluded with the presentation by His Excellency President Karimov of ceremonial Bukhari robes, traditionally worn by Naqshbandi Shaykhs and scholars of the region, to the two shaykhs, and a gift to Dr. Mirahmadi.

ISCA Chairman Shaykh Hisham Kabbani is currently in Uzbekistan as a guest of the nation, where he is presenting delivering a speech at a UNESCO conference this week.

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