Religious Studies Department

Religious studies department is one of the leading departments of the university. It is under the faculty of history and philosophy of Islam. It was established on the 30th of August, 2006.
Purpose and tasks of the department:
to educate highly skilled specialists who learn deeply principles of Islam, role of religion in a society, history of religions and secular sciences and able to solve the theoretical and practical issues of public, state and religious institutions.
Appearance of religious studies as a subject, its history and different schools of religious studies, to analyze religious studies conception and scientific approach of the scholars.
Studying and researching sources of religions which spread and develops in Central Asia.
To prepare plans, text books and handout materials for uninterrupted educational system and general public.

International cooperation and scientific projects.
The department of religious studies cooperates with Russia, America, Germany, France and Egyptian Kuwait, Saudi Arabian, Japanese Universities.
The department is engaged in scientific activities with Washington University in Seattle in making manuals for comparative religious studies.
The teachers of department are taking active part in conference devoted to the problems of religious studies in foreign countries.
Implementing innovative projects in the theme of "Making an Atlas of the history of Islam and spiritual and educational bases".
Is preparing the project of multimedia CD collection "The culture of Islam in Central Asian civilization".
The Subjects taught in the department For bachelors degree:
"Introduction on religious study", "Foundations of religious studies",
"Religious studies",
"The history of world religious",
"The cases history and position of people in Central Asia".

For masters degree:
"The history of Religions (Continental Approach)"
"Jewish and Christian religious resources"
"Islam and modern world"
"Teaching methods of special subjects"
"Comparative religious studies"
"Religious problems in Western Oriental studies".
Academic and methodological activities of the department
The meeting with the representatives of different religious confessions who live in Uzbekistan are held in order to develop religious tolerance in students mentality.
Making excursions to religious organizations as seminaries, synagogues, churches in order to introduce the students with the history and of religions.
Comparative Analyze of the peculiarities of Oriental and Western religious studies.
The department makes scientific researches about the importance of Islamic investigations in religious studies.
To make manuals of religious tasnifs.
Making handouts about the history of religion and preparing rooms decorated with the pictures devoted to every religion.
For the lesson the staff of the department widely uses CD, VCD, DVD, VHS, video and projection devices which narrate about the history and doctrine of different religions.
Holds the seminars, conferences and debates in cooperation with Tashkent State Oriental Institute, Oriental Institute named after Abu Rayhon Beruni, Uzbekistan National University of Scientific Educational Centre named after Imam Bukhari, Tashkent Islamic Institute, Egyption center of science and education, Committee on Religious Affairs under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Activities and researches of the department

Lecturers of the department are carrying out researches on topics such as Dr. Z.Islomov "Scientific heritage of Mahmud Zamahshariy and its place in history of world science", U.Uvatov "Role of scholars of Mavaraunnahr and Hurasan in developing science of hadith", candidate R.Obidov "Importance of versus and tafsirs of Qur'an and hadith in fighting against religious fundamentalism", candidate D.Rahimjonov "Development of hadith science in Samarqand (8-12th centuries)", D.Muratov "Role of sunna in forming direction of hanafiy", A.Abdullayev "Analyze of Bahrul Ilm work of Abu Lays Samarqandiy ", S.Dustmatov "Ethical issues in Maqomat work of Zamahshariy", A.Soliyev "Behaviour of England towards religion (in the example of religious organizations)", A.Gafurov "History of directions in Islam".
Lecturers of the department are giving seminars on topics such as Z.Islomov "Islamic source" and "Practice of reading manuscripts", R.Obidov "Qur'anic studies" and A.Mansurov "principles of Islam".
Lecturers of the department are participating in different innovative projects. They obtained grants to develop "Scientific and theoretical principles of establishing encyclopedic dictionary of terms and idioms on the basis of Islamic sources", "Writing manuals that provide information about religion for continuous education", "Scientific and methodological principles of drawing maps of regional spreading of Islam in the 7-20th centuries" and "Determination, analyzing and publishing of sources of history, philosophy, enlightenment and values of Islam".
Lecturers of the department are carrying out researches on books, course books and manuals about religious studies and Islamic thought that are suitable for continuous education and public. For example, two works of Z.Islomov, dictionary of Muqaddamatul-adab-work of Mahmud az-Zamahshariy and Muqaddamatul-adab (analysis of sourcing) were published. In addition he prepared course manual for Islamic sourcing. "Qur'an, tafsir and mufassirs" and "Holy months and accepted prays" scientific work of R.Obidov, "Scientific horitage of Abul-Mu'in an-Nasafiy" work of U.Uvatov were published. Second edition of "Interpretation of meanings of Holy Qur'an" work of A.Mansurov was published. D.Muratov prepared course manual of "Hadith studies".
Religious studies and Islamic studies department has established cooperative relations with the universities of Egypt, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Turkey, Iran, France. It organizes scientific seminars, conferences and round table discussions together with Tashkent State Institute of Oriental Studies, Oriental Studies Institute named after Abu Rayhon Beruniy, Cultural Center of Egypt, National University of Uzbekistan, Comitte of Religious Affairs under the Cabinet of Ministers of the republic of Uzbekistan, Scientific enlighten Center named after Imam Bukhari and Tashkent Islamic Institute.
Proceeding from the interest of the professors of the development we can cooperate in following directions: "The scientific legacy of Mahmud Zamakhshariy and it's importance in the history of world science", "The development of the science of Hadith in Samarkand", "The role of Sunnah in the development of Khanafiya sect", "The analyse of "Bakhrul-ulum" by Abu Lays Samarkandiy", "The basis of educational Islam (in example of Malaysia)", "The importance of Qur'an verses, tafsirs (interpretations) and Hadiths in the struggle against religious dogmatism", "The role of scholars of Mavaraunnahr and Huroson in the development of Hadith science".