An international forum dedicated to the study and promotion of the rich heritage of thinkers of the Turkic world - Al-Farabi and Mohammed Iqbal - has started at the Al-Farabi Scientific Library.

The forum, organized by the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and the International Turkic University, was held in Almaty. Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, International Turkic Academy, and the Standing Committee on Scientific and Technical Cooperation of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (COMSTEC) aimed at reviving the historical memory and civilization of Turkic and Islamic peoples in the context of Oriental civilization, as well as strengthening long-term cooperation in science and technology among the countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

The large-scale event brought together scholars of the humanities of Turkic countries and members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, representatives of the Presidential Administration of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Education and Science of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, TURKSOY, scientists of the National Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan and the United Nations in Kazakhstan, as well as scientists from Turkey, Russia, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.

During the Forum the honorary guests visited the Al-Farabi Museum, the book exhibition "Al-Farabi - thinker of civilization", as well as the presentation of paintings and calligraphy exhibitions by Pakistani artists.

Opening the forum, Zhanseit Tuimebayev, Chairman of the Board - Rector of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, emphasized the importance of its mission and expressed confidence that it will be a great dialogue platform to exchange experiences. The event paves the way for a study of the work of Muhammad Iqbal, a renowned thinker-philosopher of modern times and "spiritual leader" of Pakistan. "The historic mission of today's forum is to broaden the outlook of the youth through the teachings of Farabi and his followers. Muhammad Iqbal's contribution to the Revival of Islamic culture and spirituality is indeed invaluable! He is a great poet and thinker who led a new Muslim Renaissance at the turn of the 20th century. Muhammad Iqbal's contribution is the preservation and development of Muslim culture. He is a broad-minded thinker educated in prestigious Western universities. He is a model of high spirituality, philosophical depth, and political responsibility.

The forum's moderator - President of International Turkic Academy Darkhan Kydirali highlighted that a large-scale event dedicated to Al-Farabi was organized in Pakistan in 2020 under the auspices of Muhammad Iqbal Chowdary, Coordinating Director of the Standing Committee of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (COMSTECH).

"In accordance with the agreement and instruction of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to strengthen science and technology in the framework of the VIII Summit of Turkic States, today we are organizing the Al-Farabi-Iqbal Forum, which aims to identify the contribution of countries to the history of humanity by considering the continuity of generations within the Turkic-Muslim civilization," said Darkhan Kydirali.

Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Kazakhstan Kuanysh Ergaliev read out a letter from Minister of Education and Science of Kazakhstan Askhat Aimagambetov. "The peoples of Kazakhstan, the whole Turkic world, and Pakistan share civilizational roots that constitute a common historical heritage, material, and spiritual values. The profound thought of the spiritual leader of Pakistan, the brilliant poet Mohammad Iqbal, that "if a man cannot rule his heart and mind himself, others will rule him", encourages humanity to pursue spiritual freedom and virtue. Let our thoughts be free, heart - chaste, consciousness - independent," Minister of Science and Education Askhat Aimagambetov wished success to the forum.

The large-scale event was attended by Chief Coordinator of OIC Standing Committee on Science and Technology (COMSCTECH) Iqbal Chaudhary, TURKSOY Secretary General Sultan Rayev, Director General of Islamic History, Art and Culture Research Centre (IRCICA) Mahmood Erol Klych, Pakistan Senate Resident Representative for Human Rights Chairman Ualid Iqbal, Ambassador Extraordinary, and Plenipotentiary of Kazakhstan to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Kystafin and others.

The reports were delivered by Sajjad Ahmed Sihar, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the Republic of Kazakhstan, and Askar Musinov, Assistant Secretary-General for Science and Technology of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

During the plenary session, the presentation of the book El-Farabi KITABU'L MUSIKA'L-KEBIR and a collection of materials from Al-Farabi Global Forum published in five languages was held.

After completion of the plenary session of the forum Chairman of the Board - Rector of Kazakh National University Zhanseit Tuimebayev awarded the famous scientists with Al-Farabi medal.

The work of the forum will continue in the following thematic sessions: "Iqbal's Philosophy: Past, Present, Future"; "Global Impact of Iqbal's Philosophy and Poetry: Challenges of the XXI Century and Technology".

Press Service of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University