Rich historical and cultural heritage, geostrategic position further enhances the importance of Nakhchivan as the center of Islamic culture

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Published on Thursday, 26 October 2017 11:48

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Today, significant projects are being implemented to ensure solidarity and unity among the countries which are the bearers of Islamic culture connecting many nations, covering a vast geography. Announcing this year “Year of Islamic Solidarity” in the Republic of Azerbaijan, initiated by these initiatives, having an important historical significance, has been welcomed as an initiative aimed at forming this solidarity.  In a few months our country will continue its leadership on this issue in a foremost stage in the example of ancient Nakhchivan. Historically, our ancient land, which is one of the main centers of Islamic civilization, playing an important role in the spread of Islam and at the same time the emergence of Muslim Renaissance, will carry out another important historical mission of that year - Nakhchivan will be the capital of Islamic culture, Nakhchivan will become a cultural supporter of Islamic world, with a strong potential in the global arena for one year.

It should be noted that some important points in the election of Nakhchivan’s capital of Islamic culture have played a substantial role.  Each of these points attracts attention both individually and generally, as a whole, and in fact complements each other. This is the miracle of Nakhchivan: the chain of causes creates miraculous synergy and turn   home of geniuses into the center of Islamic culture.  Although it is not so easy to list them, it is possible to clarify some issues by paying attention to historical processes in chronological sequence. The important points that leading Nakhchivan to the capital of Islamic culture are, in our opinion, the following:

Nakhchivan is the land of Prophet Noah, the second father of the humanity

As it is known, Nakhchivan, the gate of East is not only one of the ancient settlements of Azerbaijan, Turkic-Islamic world but also the whole world. The fact that during World storm Prophet Noah’s ark and his followers in it landed in Nakhchivan  and people’s living here were reflected in the researches of   world-renowned scientists. The fact that the information on that event is reflected in the Holy “Kuran” and “Bible”, as well as in “Bilghamis” epos, in the Gamigaya rock writings and paintings in the territory of the Ordubad region of the autonomous republic.

These issues were especially emphasized in the Order of the Chairman of the Supreme Majlis of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic Mr. Vasif Talibov “On establishment of Nakhchivan Salt Museum” dated 12 September 2017. This decree, which is of great importance for the propaganda of Nakhchivan, says: “The connection of Nakhchivan with Prophet Noah has attracted attention from the ancient times, Greek scholar Claudia Ptolemy reminded Nakhchivan for the first time as the residence of Prophet Noah in the second century of our era, a prominent Arab scientist, geographer of the sixteenth century, Al-Sharif, gave detailed information about the remains of the Prophet’s grave and even the remains of the ship in Nakhchivan.

The Russian researcher Konstantin Nikitin published an article titled “Nakhchivan region and Nakhchivan city” published in Tbilisi in 1882 in the “Material collection for the description of Caucasian country and tribes”, it is said that Prophet Noah was the first employee in the salt mines and taught people to extract salt. Studies show that in this area, the basis of salt mining has been established since the Eneolithic era. It has had a strong impact on the formation of the 5,000-year-old Nakhchivan city culture”.

All this once again confirms that Nakhchivan is considered not only for the Islamic world, but also as the second place of humanity for all peoples of the world, which makes it a center of attraction. That is why, according to many experts, today Nakhchivan deserves to be the capital of the Islamic culture and deserves to be the center of world culture, as well as being the ideal center for dialogue between civilizations.

Nakhchivan has historically been a center of science and culture

As historians say, Nakhchivan city which has had a great development for centuries, has been known a major economic, cultural and administrative center since the very beginning of our era. It was the capital of a number of important states in history. Nakhchivan city is located on the Great Silk Road connecting Europe and Asia. Relations of ancient land among the Lesser Asia, Middle East and Transcaucasia have been particularly intense. Before the spread of Islamic religion in Nakhchivan, great culture, science and literature had developed here.

Mr. Vasif Talibov, Chairman of the Supreme Majlis of  Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, spoke at the International Conference on “Nakhchivan’s Turkish-Islamic Culture Monuments: History and Present” at Nakhchivan University on July 7, said: “Since ancient times Nakhchivan has brought Turkish culture to the present day. The rare pearls of the Neolithic, Eneolithic, Kur-Araz and Painted Cookware culture, the first urban culture created five thousand years ago, the Gamigaya monuments, the first written expression of human thought, the epic “Kitabi-Dada Gorgud, which turned into a testimony to our national identity are the examples of culture before the Islamic religion in Nakhchivan. After 653, this culture developed in unity with the Islamic culture ....”

Nakhchivan has given great scholars to the Islamic world and an Islamic school of architecture has been established

The recognition of this land as a cradle of science and culture is also related to the fact that it is the homeland of scholars who make invaluable contributions to the development of these fields. After the spread of Islam in Azerbaijan, a great science and culture treasury was opened in Nakhchivan to the Islamic world. This treasure has played the role of locomotive in shaping a joint Islamic culture. After the adoption of the Islamic religion in Nakhchivan, this region made significant contributions to the development of the Islamic world through poets, scientists, philosophers, thinkers, artists and popular culture examples. It is enough to emphasize some of them to confirm what is said.

Baba Nematullah Nakhchivani, who was the first scholar to comment on the “Kuran” in the Sufi style, gave the honor and dignity of the Islamic world and made invaluable contributions to the study of Islamic religion from the scientific point of view. Religious figures of Nematullah Nakhchivani school played a substantial role in strengthening this religion and preventing ignorance on all sides of the Islamic world.

Nasireddin Tusi, another scientist of the ancient land, called “The great genius of the East”, was deeply interested in various fields of science and wrote works devoted to astronomy, mathematics, physics, medicine, philosophy, ethics, logic and other areas of science. His works on astronomy and math studies occupy a special place in his creativity.

Architect Ajami Nakhchivani   made revolutionary innovations in the development of architecture in Turkic-Islamic world with his masterpieces of his centuries-old experience. His immortal monuments like Momuna Khatun,  Usif Kusseir oghlu tombs reflect the history. According to researchers, Maraga monuments reflect the most important features of the Nakhchivan school of Azerbaijani architecture. In addition, Usif Kuseir oghlu tomb is the same as the tomb of Melik Gazi in Erzinjan, Momuna Khatun tomb is the same as the Gilinj Arslan Tomb in Konya, the Tomb of Gulustan is the same as Kayseri, Nigde, Erzurum and Amasya tombs, the Garabagh tomb is the same as Guduk Minara in Sivas. This once again confirms that the Nakhchivan architectural school, founded by Memar Ajami, had a significant impact on the development of Turkish-Islamic architecture.

Historical monuments in Nakhchivan, including Islamic culture examples are surrounded with great care and attention

There are numerous historical and architectural monuments reflecting the Islamic culture in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. Among these important material and spiritual resources, Imamzadehs, where son of prophets were buried in different regions of the autonomous republic have a special place. These valuable monuments embodying the period of Nakhchivan more than thirteen centuries   are not only the memory of our country, but also the ancient mastery of the Muslim East, especially the traditions of architecture, centuries-old history.  

There are three imamzadehs in the territory of the ancient land. These are Imamzadeh of Nakhchivan city located in the capital of autonomous republic, imamzadehs of Nehram village, Babak region and (Parchi) Khanligar village, Sharur region. Two of them have been restored at the highest level and the one is being restored.

A tomb has been erected in Nakhchivan for hundreds of years in honor of Prophet Noah, who is well-known in the “Kuran”. This destroyed tomb  has been restored in recent years as a result of the attention and care of the Chairman of the Supreme Majlis of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. The Ashabi-Kahf Sanctuary mentioned in our holy book, can also be compared to the sanctuaries in the holy cities of Islam today. It should be noted that at present there are 211 mosques and 26 religious sanctuaries in the autonomous republic. Over the past 22 years, new mosques have been built in Nakhchivan city, district centers and rural settlements, and existing mosques have been repaired and renovated. Construction of a mosque in Nakhchivan, where 2,000 people can pray simultaneously, continues.

The richly designed baths, which once were built in the autonomous republic, are one of the most important examples of Turkish-Islamic culture. Today, those historical and architectural monuments are among the rare masterpieces of our culture. Ismayilkhan bath of XVIII century located in Dada Gorgud Square in Nakhchivan city, Yengija bath in Yengija village of Sharur region, bath in Shahtakhti village of Kangarli region, as well as baths in Vanand, Nusnus, Yukhari Aylis, Duylun and other villages located in Ordubad district, and baths in other villages are of great importance as historical and architectural as well as cultural monuments. Reconstruction works are being continued in the Yengija bathhouse. It is worth noting that many historical monuments dating to the period following the spread of Islam in Nakhchivan have been restored.

Yes, the reason why the city of Nakhchivan was proclaimed as the capital of Islamic culture in 2018, in addition to other factors, restoration of sanctuaries and religious and cultural monuments in the autonomous republic are kept in the focus.

To be elected capital, not only past but also future development prospects and existing infrastructure plays a significant role

In the selection of the capital of the Islamic culture, the city’s contributions to history, culture, literature and science, as well as contributions to these areas in the following years, are especially highlighted. In other words, success in the past is not enough to become the capital of Islamic culture. Present days of these cities based on the historical and cultural existence of the cities with the same quality, play a key role in this issue. Because, the goal is to create both the present and the future based on the values of Islamic civilization.

That is not the end. According to the project, in order to announce any city the capital of Islamic culture, this capital should have scientific research and archaeological training centers in the country and region level, cultural institutions that organize cultural events individually and collectively, a perfect infrastructure. Today, the large-scale infrastructure projects implemented in the autonomous republic, including Nakhchivan city, have turned our ancient city into a paradise. The ancient and classic style of Nakhchivan city is harmoniously combined with modern architectural achievements. All this contributes to Nakhchivan to strengthen its place among the most beautiful cities in the region. Today, as a result of the projects implemented in Nakhchivan city, a modern image of the capital of the autonomous republic has been created, new places have been set up for the organization of high-level rest for the residents and guests of the city, and the existing ones have been upgraded at the modern level. The capital of the autonomous republic, as noted by the guests and influential scholars visited this ancient land, was rebuilt in a short time. The brick and network elements that are featured in the town-building feature the use of Eastern architectural traditions, glass and metal constructions, while maintaining Western building technologies in natural coexistence. Contemporary Nakhchivan embodies the unique aura of the East and the main trends of Western development.

At the end

All this gives rise to the fact that the city of Nakhchivan is a beautiful place to be the capital of Islamic culture with its ancient and modernity. This event coincides with the time when mankind is experiencing today’s despair, confusion and chaos in mutual respect, within cultural diversity and full compliance with the principles of international law - a new phase of stability, security and peace based on justice and equality. All these factors will be presented to the world and the Islamic world in 2018 in the example of Nakhchivan. It will direct the attention of the international community to our country, will lead to the formation of the global public position and will contribute to the further strengthening of the international position of our republic.

Rauf KANGERLY

“Sharg gapisi” (the gate of the East) Newspaper

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