First Edition of Nasirian Ethics in Tajik Language
The translation was commissioned by the IIS, through its Central Asian Studies Unit, to scholars from the Khujand State University, including Professor Nosirjon Salimov, the rector of KSU, and Professor Umeda Ghafforova. The scholars prepared the critical edition of the book with an introduction, commentary and an extensive glossary, which makes this publication accessible to a wide readership.
In her opening speech, Professor Umeda Ghafforova presented an overview of Nasir ud-Din Tusi’s life and work, emphasising his contribution to Muslim philosophical thought and development of the Persian Language. In particular, she pointed out that the practical ethics in Nasirian Ethics, presented in conjunction with political and social issues, enjoins human beings to acquire qualities and ethics that uplift their spirits and enables them to achieve happiness. She also drew attention to the fact that in this remarkable work Tusi touches upon the issues of justice and governance, laying out prerequisites for just governance, which promotes prosperity of all subjects. Professor Ghafforova also presented the titles of chapters of the book and highlighted their main content.
Dr Ramazon Nazariev, the IIS Liaison Officer in Dushanbe, spoke about the essential values of Nasirian Ethics with a particular reference to Tajik society. He highlighted its moral, philosophical, didactic, religious and socio-political values which have not lost their significance in the span of history, inspiring subsequent generations of scholars and philosophers to ponder over the ethical issues discussed by Nasir ad-din Tusi. Dr. Nazariev also noted that Nasirian Ethics served as a testimony to Tusi’s extensive knowledge of philosophical, ethical and social discourses of his time, evident from his references to contemporary and past philosophers and thinkers.
Mr Hakim Elnazarov, Coordinator of the Central Asian Studies at the IIS, commended the commissioned scholars for the quality of the translation and thanked them for their meticulous work. He described the publication of the book as an important milestone in the development of discourse on ethical issues and stressed that in Nasirian Ethics the ethical precepts go beyond the interaction between humans and the society, extending to the origins of human beings and their unique place in God’s creation. Mr Elnazarov also spoke about the goals of the IIS and its Department of Academic Research and Publications, outlining the range of publications and research that are promoted and supported by the IIS.
In his closing remarks, the rector of the KSU, Professor Nosirjon Salimov, noted the role of the IIS as a leading academic institution in Islamic studies in the west and expressed his appreciation for the opportunity of collaboration with the IIS through this edition of Nasirian Ethics. He expressed the hope that the publication of this work will be the beginning of cooperation between the scholars of KSU and the IIS.
The book launch took place in the academic activities auditorium of the Khujand State University and attracted a large number of scholars and students from the university’s faculties of history, philosophy and philology. The launch was followed by the exhibition of IIS sponsored publications in Russian and Tajik languages.
