― 4 августа 2019 г.

Inauguration of the Al-Farabi Museum in Istanbul

With the contribution of TURKSOY and in cooperation with Istanbul Culture Ltd. and the Al-Farabi Kazak National University, the Abu Nasr Al-Farabi was inaugurated in the Topkapı Culture Park Museum in Istanbul.

The opening ceremony gathered, TURKSOY Secretary General Dusen Kasseinov, the Rector of the Al Farabi Kazak National University Prof. Dr. Galim Mutanov, the Consul General Kazakhstan in Istanbul Baurzhan Abdrakhmanov, the Consul General of Uzbekistan in Istanbul Alisher Botirof, the Consul of Azerbaijan M. Mammedov, the Consul the TRNC Cahit Kayıarslan, the Deputy Secretary General of the Metropolitan Municipality of Istanbul Şengül Altan Arslan, the Director General of the Culture Ltd Company of the Metropolitan Municipality of Istanbul, the Deputy Director General of the Metropolitan Municipality of Istanbul for Cultural Affairs Mümin Yıldızdaş, the Director of the Anatolian Press Agency for Istanbul Hüseyin Altınalan and the Rector of the Istanbul University Prof. Dr. Mahmut along with representatives of diplomatic missions as well as scholars and dıstinguished guests.

The museum located in the Cultural District of the Turkic World was built in commemoration of the 1150th anniversary of the birthday of the famous philosopher, scholar and wiseman Ebu Nasr Muhammed ibn Muhammed ibn Tarhan ibn Uzlag El Farabi et Turki (870).

The opening ceremony of ther museum started with the national anthems of Turkey and Kazakhstan.
In the speech he delivered at the ceremony, TURKSOY Secretary General Dusen Kasseinov said that many of  Farabi's works actually paved the way to modern science and that this museum will play a key role in preserving the precious legacy of Al-Farabi. Secretary General Kasseinov further stressed that the historical and scientific heritage of the Turkic World must be preserved and transmitted to future generations.

The Rector of the Al-Farabi Kazak National University Prof. Dr. Galim Mutanov who also delivered a speech at the  ceremony drew attention to the fact that this museum in Istanbul named after Ai-Farabi, the “Second teacher of humanity" and “Aristotle of the Eastern World”  will play a key role for the Turkic World.

Prof. Dr. Mutanov who expressed his happiness as to the opening of this museum  further said: "Al-Farabi was a scholar, he was the shining star of Islamic Philosophy and one of great philosophers of the world. His works have drawn attention worldwide. He is a legendary philosopher of human civilization. Indeed, his comprehensive scientific research covered all fields of science which existed then . Hence, his work has been a precious contribution to the scientific advancement and evolution of the world."

Prof. Dr. Mutanov also said that besides the cultural heritage of Muslims, Al-Farabi also made great contributions to European Renaissance and its philosophical currents.
With paintings, miniatures, sculptures, manuscripts, books and various items from the region where Al-Farabi was born and lived which is now located in Kazakhstan, the "Abu Nasr Al-Farabi Museum"  will help introduce this great Turkic scholar to amateurs of history and culture.

Who is Al-Farabi?
Al-Farabi whose birthday will be commemorated by UNESCO in 2020 on the occasion of its 1150th anniversary  was born in 870 in the ancient city of Farab which is presently located in Otyrar, Kazakhstan. After completing his primary education here, Al-Farabi  pursued his studies at the Library of Otyrar which disappeared with the Mongolian invasion. This library is  known as the second richest library  after the library of Alexandria in terms of the number of its books and manuscripts. Later on, Al-Farabi pursued his studies in Bukhara and Samarkand before moving to Bagdad, Al Cairo, Aleppo and Damascus where he put forth various theories in many fields of sciences such as  mathematics, astronomy, linguistics, chemistry, biology, philosophy, medicine, logic, sociology, politics, law and ethics amongst others. Al-Farabi's work has played a key role in the development of science in terms of systematization  and structuring.
Al-Farabi, the Turkic scholar  who is refered to worldwide as the “Second Teacher of Humanity” after Aristotle passed away in 950 in Damascus.