Enlightened Islam and the Renaissance

The II International Almaty Forum for the Rapprochement of Eurasian Cultures was held in Kazakhstan on the topic: “Enlightened Islam and the Renaissance: from Farab, Baghdad and Cordoba through European monasteries to a culture of knowledge”. Its organizer was the Center for the Rapprochement of Cultures under the auspices of UNESCO under the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The forum participants were leading scientists, researchers, experts in the field of religion, culture, civilization, heads of diplomatic missions accredited in Almaty, heads of universities and ministries.

The moderator of the forum and plenary session was the writer, director of the Center for the Rapprochement of Cultures, Olzhas Omarovich Suleimenov. Participants were presented with a video address by Major Zaragoza Federico (Spain, Madrid), he was formerly the Director-General of UNESCO (1987-1999), president of the Culture of Peace Foundation (the Foundation was founded in 2000). The audience was also addressed by Piccat Crista, Director of the UNESCO Cluster Office in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, Rector of Al-Farabi KazNU Galymkair Mutanov, Professor from France Albert Fisler, Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies named after R.B.Suleymenova of Kazakhstan Absattar Derbisali, Ohio University professor Petrick James et al.

The forum was conducted in sections, the first section entitled "The Turkic-Arab-Muslim world of the Middle Ages and the West: the relay race of knowledge", was devoted to the issues of "Interaction of the Turkic-Arab-Muslim world of the Middle Ages and the West as an important factor in the development of world civilization." The second section was subtitled “Culture of knowledge is the source of peace and sustainable development”, it discussed issues of peacebuilding - in conceptual, practical meaning, taking into account the precepts of enlightened Islam. The third section was called "Respectful dialogue, the basis for the rapprochement of cultures and the formation of planetary consciousness." Here, the issues of the concept of fruitful intercultural dialogue and its integral ethical component were put at the forefront, using the principles laid down by the representatives of enlightened Islam as an example.

Scientists and cultural figures from India, the USA, the Russian Federation, Egypt, France, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, etc. made presentations in the sections. Doctor of Philology, professor made a presentation and presentation on the “Worldwide Importance of Muslim Culture” in the first section. Department of Social and Political Sciences, University of World Economy and Diplomacy Muminova Fatima Izatullaevna. A wide exchange of views took place, information was reported, the results of many years of research on the works of such scientists of the East as al-Kindi, al-Farabi, Ibn Sina, Beruni, Ibn Rushd, Ibn Khaldun and others, on their contribution to the development and prosperity of the culture of Europe, the European Renaissance .

When summing up the results at the closing plenary session, it was regretted that, despite educational activities, in the educational literature and school books of European countries there is still no fundamental approach to include information on the significance and contribution of oriental scholars, representatives of enlightened Islam in school curricula, textbooks, and educational materials. into world civilization. The participants in the international Almaty forum supported the proposal - to conduct more events, seminars and cover this topic among young people and students in schools and universities in their countries.