We are now proposing that a Soekarno Memorial Library be developed close to this place. It will be a library (dedicated to) Soekarno to commemorate his contribution to finding the grave.
Samarkand, Uzbekistan (ANTARA) - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin on Thursday visited the graves of Muslim scholars Imam Al-Bukhari and Imam Mansur Al-Maturidi during a working visit to Samarkand City in the Central Asian country of Uzbekistan.

"Today, I am visiting Samarkand. This is an old city, and as I read, it was founded in 390 BCE by Iskandar Zulkarnain," Amin stated here, referring to the figure known in Islam who some scholars believe to be Alexander the Great.

The Vice President noted that in the 8th century, Samarkand was under the control of the Muslim Abbasid Caliphate, hence, many Muslim scholars and ulemas thrived in the city.

Al-Maturidi was a Muslim scholar renowned for his efforts to rectify the diverging Islamic thought prevailing during his life to orthodoxy -- the Islam of Prophet Muhammad and his companions, he explained.

Al-Bukhari, another Muslim scholar, was renowned as the most important hadith scholar in Islam, he added.

"Imam Al-Bukhari was the scholar who collected authentic hadiths, and (his hadith) was among the most authentic besides Muslim (Ibn Al-Hajjaj's), but Al-Bukhari’s takes precedence," he expounded.

He also highlighted national founder and first president Soekarno's past contribution to finding and suggesting the restoration of Imam Al-Bukhari's grave.

"We are now proposing that a Soekarno Memorial Library be developed close to this place. It will be a library (dedicated to) Soekarno to commemorate his contribution to finding the grave," Amin said.

Earlier, Vice Presidential Spokesperson Masduki Baidlowi informed that Amin's visit to the graves of Muslim scholars in Uzbekistan aimed to bolster religious tourism cooperation with the Central Asian country.

Several Indonesian entrepreneurs in the travel industry expect Indonesian tourists to add Uzbekistan to their itinerary while making the Umrah pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, he added.

"Why not? For instance, they can embark (on a visit) to Uzbekistan, to Samarkand, to several historical places there before continuing their journey to Medina for the Umrah pilgrimage," Baidlowi said.

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Translator: Rangga Pandu AJ, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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