TASHKENT, February 21. /Dunyo IA/. On February 19, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, received a delegation led by the Minister of Hajj and Umrah of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

According to the press service of the Center of Islamic Civilization, at the beginning of the meeting, the distinguished guest conveyed the greetings and sincere wishes of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Crown Prince, Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud. The minister also presented President Shavkat Mirziyoyev with a gift from the King – a piece of the Holy Kaaba cover, known as the Kiswa, as a token of goodwill to the multinational people of Uzbekistan.

Following the instructions of the President of Uzbekistan, an inscription under the Kiswa fragment will state that it is a gift from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud, to the multinational people of Uzbekistan.

"The President's decision to place the Kiswa piece in Center of Islamic Civilization is a truly historic and honorable event for us", said Firdaus Abdukhalikov, Director of the Center. "This gift is a vivid example of the deep respect and attention given to our land, which has produced great Islamic scholars, as well as to our people and our President. On the very same day, we announced this joyful news during a meeting with the Center's team. Our scholars and creative staff accepted this momentous news with great appreciation and expressed gratitude to our President for his unwavering support. Our partners are also congratulating us on receiving such a sacred gift through our esteemed President. Without a doubt, the sacred Kiswa fragment will remain one of the most treasured exhibits in the Center. We once again express our sincere gratitude to our respected President for this invaluable gift".

The Minister of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia also visited the grand project initiated by the President of Uzbekistan — the Center of Islamic civilization in Uzbekistan. During his visit, he familiarized himself with the various projects being carried out by the Center.

The delegation emphasized that this Center, built upon the initiative and vision of the President of Uzbekistan, will become not only a significant spiritual hub for the country but also one of the most prominent and exemplary cultural landmarks in Central Asia and the entire Islamic world.

"My impressions are amazing! Center of Islamic civilization in Uzbekistan, implemented under the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, is truly an unparalleled project. The building and its grandeur deserve admiration. If we can contribute, even in a small way, to its further development, we would be delighted. This is exactly how I imagined a Center of Islamic civilization should be. Seeing it with my own eyes left me in awe. It is clear that tremendous work has been done, and great effort has been invested", said Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah.

During the discussions on cooperation between the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia and the Center of Islamic civilization of Uzbekistan, an agreement was reached to create a documentary film on the history and present of Hajj and Umrah in Uzbekistan.

At the end of the meeting, the delegation received a facsimile of the Great Langar Quran, published by the Center of Islamic civilization at the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan, as well as a copy of one of the letters of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), transcribed by calligrapher Habibullo Solih.