DUSHANBE, October 8, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- An international two-day conference formally titled “Inter-civilization Accord and Global Dialogue: the Past and the Present” opened at the Center for Strategic Studies in Dushanbe today morning. 

The conference has brought together more than 20 researchers and experts from the CIS states, Iran and Afghanistan to discuss issues related to maintenance of inter-civilization dialogue, which is now among the most important tasks of the world community. 

The conference, which is held under support of the Cultural Attaché, the Iranian Embassy in Dushanbe, is dedicated to the 950th anniversary of birthday of prominent Muslim jurist, thinker and philosopher Abu Hamid Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Ghazali.

Abu Hamid Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Ghazali (1058-1111) was born and died in Tus, the Khorasan province of Persia (modern day Iran). He was a Muslim theologian, jurist, philosopher, cosmologist, physician, psychologist, and mystic, and remains one of the most celebrated scholars in the history of Sufi Islamic thought.  He is considered a pioneer of the methods of doubt and skepticism.

Ghazali contributed significantly to the development of a systematic view of Sufism and its integration and acceptance in mainstream Islam.  He was a scholar of orthodox Islam, belonging to the Shafii school of Islamic jurisprudence and to the Asharite school of theology.  Ghazali received many titles such as Sharaful A''emma, Zainuddin, Hujatul Islam, meaning "Proof of Islam."