Presentation of the book "Cultural History of Islam and Yasawiya in Kazakhstan and Central Asia Translation from English into Kazakh" held in Istanbul | National Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve «Aziret Sultan»

In line with the instruction of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to widely promote the spiritual legacy of the prominent thinker Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, the Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan organized in May 2025 the International Symposium “The Legacy of the Yasawi in the Dialogue of Times and Cultures: Humanistic Landmarks and Contemporary Challenges”.

As a continuation of this important scientific and cultural initiative, on October 3, 2025, the headquarters of the Research Center for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA) in Istanbul hosted the presentation of the Kazakh translation of Professor Devin DeWeese’s work “Cultural History of Islam and Yasawiya in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. Translation from English into Kazakh”.

This event was held within the Memorandum of Understanding between IRCICA and the National Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve “Azret Sultan”. In recent years, this cooperation has successfully developed through international symposium, scientific conferences, round tables, and training programs for scholars. The book presentation became yet another fruitful outcome of this partnership.

A number of distinguished guests addressed the audience during the event. Director General of IRCICA, Professor Dr. Mahmud Erol Kılıç, emphasized the importance of this work for the study of Sufi traditions and Islamic culture in Central Asia, highlighting the special significance of its publication in the Kazakh language.

The Acting Director of the National Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve “Azret Sultan”, Nurlan Dukenbayev, highly appreciated the role of project in strengthening academic and cultural cooperation between Kazakhstan and Turkey and expressed confidence in the growth of such joint initiatives in the future.

Among the speakers were Dr. Reshide Yüksel, the first female physician of Kazakh origin in Turkey, Eldar Imankulov, Counselor of the Consulate General of Kazakhstan in Istanbul, and Professor Dr. Abdülvahap Kara, Head of the Department of History at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University. They particularly emphasized the importance of this work in strengthening cultural ties between the two countries and its scientific value.

Professor Devin DeWeese’s book is a fundamental scientific study that comprehensively examines the historical and spiritual significance of Islamic culture and Sufi teachings in Central Asia, with particular attention to the legacy of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi. It provides an in-depth analysis of the formation of the Yasawiyya order and its influence on the spiritual and cultural identity of Turkic Muslim communities.

The translation of this work into Kazakh and its accessibility to a wider readership is a great achievement for national humanitarian science. The scientific methods and analytical approaches applied by Professor Devin DeWeese will undoubtedly provide a fresh impetus for Kazakh researchers and pave the way for the development of new research directions.

This presentation is not only a clear result of international scholarly cooperation but also an important step in preserving and promoting national spiritual heritage. It is anticipated that such meaningful projects will continue to expand the horizons of Kazakhstani scholarship and deepen ties with the global academic community.