Allahshukur Pashazadeh
Haji Allahshükür Hummat Pashazade (Azerbaijani: Allahşükür Hümmət Paşazadə) is the Sheikh ul-Islam and Grand Mufti of the Caucasus which includes the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Georgia, and Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkaria, Ingushetia, Chechnya, Karachay–Cherkessia, and Adygea in the Russian Federation.[1][2] He is also the chairman of the Religious Council of the Caucasus.[2]
Shaykh al-Islām Allahşükür Paşazadə | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Preceded by | Mirgazanfer Ibragimov |
| Personal | |
| Born | August 26, 1949 |
| Religion | Islam |
| School | Shia |
| Signature |  |
| Muslim leader | |
| Based in | Baku, Azerbaijan |
| Period in office | 1980 – present |
| Predecessor | Haji Mir Gazanfar Mir Alekper oglu Ibrahimov |
| Successor | Incumbent |
| Post | Sheikh ul-Islam and Grand Mufti of the Caucasus |
Biography
Pashazade was born in Cil, Lankaran Rayon, Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic (today the Republic of Azerbaijan) on August 26, 1949 and is of Talysh descent.[3] He got his primary religious education in the city of Lankaran. In 1968 he went to the Uzbekistan Soviet Socialist Republic (today the independent Republic of Uzbekistan) where he entered the Mir-i-Arab Madrasah in Bukhara and later relocated to Tashkent where he finished his religious education in Tashkent State University in 1975.
He returned to Azerbaijan in 1975 and became the acting secretary of the Caucasian Muslims Office, and Akhund and deputy chief of the Taza Pir Mosque in the Azerbaijani capital Baku. In 1980 he was elected chairman of the Caucasian Muslims Office and became Sheikh ul-Islam. After the collapse and dissolution of the Soviet Union and independence of Azerbaijan, in 1992, he was elected chairman of the Supreme Religious Board of Caucasian peoples of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkaria, Ingushetia, Chechnya, Karachay-Cherkessia, and Adygea.
Pashazade is a member of the Management Board of World Islamic Congress and the Management Board of Eurasia Islamic Council, among a number of other international organizations. He was elected co-chair of CIS Interreligious Council in 2004.
On November 21, 2009, he was included in a book called 500 Most Influential Muslims of World.[4][5]
Honors, awards, and decorations
In 1986, he was elected a member of Royal Academy of Jordan.
- “Lenin Order of Friendship Among the Peoples” (1988, USSR)
- “Al-elm va amal” Order (1992, Egypt)
- “Order of Glory” (1994, Egypt)
- “First Rank Order of Independence” (1999, Azerbaijan)
- “Order of St. Vladimir, First class” (2001, Russian Orthodox Church)
- “Order of the Golden Fleece” (2009, Georgia)
See also
References
- Sheikh-ul-islam Haji Allahshukur Pashazadeh marks his 60th birthday Archived 2012-03-11 at the Wayback Machine
- "Broadening Powers of Supreme Mufti of Caucasus". Archived from the original on 2008-05-16. Retrieved 2009-03-03.
- "Is Baku Transforming Azerbaijan from a Shiia to a Sunni Muslim Country? – OpEd". 28 February 2017.
- "Azerbaijani president included in "500 most influential Muslims of world" book". Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2009-11-21.
- Президент Азербайджана вошел в книгу "500 самых влиятельных мусульман мира" Archived 2011-07-06 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)