President visits Imam Bukhari mausoleum

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited Samarkand on May 3, according to the presidential press service.

In line with national traditions, the visit began with a pilgrimage to the Imam Bukhari Complex. Verses from the Qur’an were recited and prayers were offered at the mausoleum of the renowned hadith scholar Imam Bukhari.

The site, rebuilt on the initiative of the head of state, reflects Imam Bukhari’s prominent status in the Islamic world and his rich spiritual legacy. The complex offers comprehensive facilities for visitors. On the eve of Eid al-Fitr this year, it reopened to pilgrims, and more than 60,000 domestic and international visitors performed Eid prayers at the site.

Following large-scale reconstruction, the Imam Bukhari Complex has significantly expanded its capacity. Previously able to serve up to 12,000 visitors per day, it can now accommodate as many as 65,000 pilgrims daily.

According to available data, more than one million local and foreign visitors have visited the mausoleum within the first month after its reopening.

During the visit, the president instructed officials to further improve conditions for visitors, ensuring greater convenience for worship and expanding opportunities to learn about the scholar’s legacy.

He also emphasized the need to expand parking facilities, further develop landscaped areas for visitors, and create a comfortable and natural environment for recreation. Officials were tasked with continuously monitoring these efforts, reviewing conditions at the complex every six months, and implementing additional measures as needed. The importance of inviting imams from across the country to the complex for professional development was also noted.

The president highlighted the importance of promoting a culture of pilgrimage, maintaining sacred sites and burial places, and creating appropriate conditions for visitors. He stressed that fostering respect for the memory of ancestors plays a significant role in shaping the identity and spiritual development of younger generations.

It should be noted that on May 3–4, Shavkat Mirziyoyev is expected to take part in events of the 59th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank, which will be held in Samarkand.