Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 22 March, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived in Samarkand and visited the Mausoleum of Imam Bukhari, where verses from the Quran were recited.

"Recently, we celebrated Navruz with our people. And today, in the sacred month of Ramadan, we are in this blessed place. We express our gratitude to the Almighty for the opportunity to witness these great days in peace and tranquility. May peace and prosperity always reign in our country, and may all good initiatives come to life. We are creating this complex worthy of the great merits of our ancestor, Imam Bukhari. Let it become not only a place of pilgrimage but also a center of enlightenment, education, and spiritual guidance," President Mirziyoyev stated.

At the initiative of the head of state, a large-scale memorial complex is being built at this sacred site to accommodate numerous pilgrims. Covering an area of 44 hectares, the project includes a grand mausoleum and a mosque with a capacity of 10,000 worshippers. Four monumental minarets, each 75 meters high, enhance the site’s grandeur. Additionally, a museum, covered galleries, administrative and utility buildings have been constructed.

Currently, finishing work is ongoing, incorporating national architectural traditions and a warm color palette. The facades and walls of the ayvans will feature hadiths from Sahih al-Bukhari. The complex will also include more than 20 hotels with a total capacity of 2,000 guests and pedestrian alleys.

This year, Uzbekistan will widely celebrate the 1,155th anniversary of the birth of Imam Abu Mansur al-Maturidi. According to a presidential decree, his mausoleum in Samarkand will undergo restoration and enhancement.

A new congregational mosque for 1,500 worshippers, an administrative building, a library, a conference hall, an innovative museum, and dedicated facilities for scholars will be built at the site. The complex will also feature parking and ablution areas for pilgrims.

Imam Abu Mansur al-Maturidi lived during a period of theological disputes and the emergence of various movements within the Islamic world. He dedicated his life to defending the true Islamic faith and promoting enlightenment. His works, Tawilat al-Quran and Kitab at-Tawhid, formed the spiritual foundation of Sunni Islam, advocating moderation and tolerance.

The president emphasized the relevance of al-Maturidi’s ideas and instructed scholars to study and promote his legacy while ensuring comfortable conditions for visitors.

Another key project is the development of the Makhdoom Azam shrine in the Akdarya district. This eminent Sufi scholar was one of the leading mentors of the Naqshbandi tariqa. After a lifetime devoted to knowledge and faith, he was laid to rest in the Samarkand region.

The shrine attracts many pilgrims, and for their convenience, a three-story parking facility and an ablution area will be constructed near the mausoleum.

Furthermore, a phased restoration and improvement plan will be implemented for sites linked to other great scholars, thinkers, and saints from Samarkand.