Uzbekistan - April 14

	April 14 Saturday marked the beginning of the end of our tour of Uzbekistan. It would be the last day before returning to Tashkent and parting our ways. Boarding the buses for a quick sightseeing tour, the tourists were surprised to meet Mawlana Shaykh Nazim at our first stop: a monument to the great Hanafi jurist Burhanuddin Marghalani, author of the voluminous "al-Hidaya". This is one of the many recent monuments to the country's historic past.
	Having surprised two separate wedding parties taking place that day, the shaykh was warmly welcomed by hundreds of locals and the ubiquitous media crews that tracked his every move.
	Shaykh Nazim reviews the immense monument to the Shaykh, a stone sculpture of "Al-Hidaya" inscribed with Allah's Name in Arabic and Uzbek.

The eager crowd listened in as Shaykh Nazim spoke to a TV reporter on the importance of upholding traditional Islam, and knowing that Islam is like a tree with many leaves and flowers, and not barren and dry as the Wahabis would make it.		Our next stop was near the University of Ferghana, at the monument to the famous cosmologist Al-Khawarizmi. Walking toward the monument, Shaykh Nazim commented that with the end of communism, Islam in Uzbekistan now has so much potential to grow... Its only impediment, the Shaykh noted, giving a practical example from the flora growing in the park, is the apearance of Wahabi "scholars" and their fanatical followers, who like mushrooms are of no value. Like mushrooms the Shaykh said, "they have no roots; they have no leaves, they have no flowers and they have no fruits. They are colorless and tasteless."

	Our official delegation was then whisked away to a lunch with the government of Ferghana, in nearby administrative facilities.
	The meeting was prefaced by Duha prayers by the two Shaykhs.

Shaykh Nazim's lightness of heart touched the officials as they discussed the future of their region.
	They then honored our shuyukh with gifts of appreciation - traditional Uzbek robes, usually granted to prize fighters and wrestlers.
Sultan Babur Museum

After lunch, we moved to Andijan for prayers, and stopped at a newly-built museum in honor Sultan Babur, a great grandson of Amir Timur, Moghul (Mongol) Conqueror of India, born in the Andijan area. There Mawlana Shaykh Nazim got an "assist" from Dr. Fozilqori and others to climb the many stairs.
	The monument featured an enormous, intricately tiled dome and detailed miniatures, blown up to fill entire walls. An enlarged "miniature" of Sultan Babur.
	Fisheye views...
	The monument's keepers requested that Mawlana Shaykh make an entry in their guestbook.
	As in every visit to an historic site the mushrif (keeper) lavished Mawlana Shaykh Nazim and Mawlana Shaykh Hisham with gifts.
	Namangan Central Mosque
	Next stop was at the Central Mosque and Naqshbandi Zawiya of Andijan, where several thousand people came to visit the shuyukh.
	The shaykhs are greeted by the officials of the region upon their arrival in the courtyard of the Zawiya.
	Naqshbandi elders and ulama bear traditional dress according to the Sunna of the Prophet, peace be upon him, as their ancestors did hundreds of years before.
	The Grandshaykh of this Naqshbandi zawiya. Known as Abdur-Rauf al-Yamani among the Naqshbandiyya, this esteemed wali of Allah has a large following in Ferghana.
	People rush to the door to meet the Shaykhs as they enter the mosque.

	Shaykh Nazim gives a short but extremely powerful talk to the listening crowd. Then Salat al-Maghrib is observed.

Afterwards, it is the usual scene - hundreds of persons receiving initiation on the Naqshbandi-Haqqani Sufi Order from the Shaykh.	Young students of Deen discuss the visit of the shaykhs with great avidity.	As the shaykhs exit, they are accorded full honor and respect from the attending mureeds.
Dinner with Mayor of Ferghana
	Shaykh Nazim, Shaykh Hisham and our official delegation attend dinner on one last invitation in which traditional Uzbek hospitality was lavished on all.
	before concluding the visit with 'Isha prayers outside at the hotel that evening. Shaykh Nazim then gave a talk for the last time to the gathered mureeds: Farewell Suhba: The Key is Intention \| Transcript

April 13		April 15

The Naqshbandi Eastern World Tour 2001 is presented by
the Islamic Supreme Council of America and its Chairman, Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani.
1400 Sixteenth Street NW, #B112, Washington DC 20036 USA

Members of the media, public sector, research and interfaith groups
are encouraged to contact our Washington offices for more information.
Please email dilshad@islamicsupremecouncil.org