Allahshukur Pashazade
Encyclopedia
Haji Allahshükür Hummat Pashazade Sheikh ul-Islam
and Grand Mufti
of the Caucasus
which includes his native Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Georgia, and Dagestan
, Kabardino-Balkaria
, Ingushetia
, Chechnya
, Karachay-Cherkessia
, and Adygea
in the Russian Federation. He is also the current chairman of the Religious Council of the Caucasus.
Allahshükür Pashazade was born in Cil
, Lankaran Rayon, Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic (today the Republic of Azerbaijan) on August 26, 1949. He got his primary religious education from the local religious clergy 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.
Finally returning to Azerbaijan in 1975, he 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.
Although he is himself a Shiite Muslim and originally a Shia cleric, he is also the world's only Sunni-Shia Grand Mufti (The title of Grand Mufti actually refers and is normally reserved to the highest official of religious law in a Sunni Muslim country), giving each group fatwa
s according to their relevant madhab, reflecting Azerbaijan's
Sunni-Shia mix.
Allahshükür Pashazade is the member of the Management Board of World Islamic Congress
, the Management Board of Eurasia Islamic Council and 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 500 Most Influential Muslims of World book
Sheikh ul-Islam
Shaykh al-Islām is a title of superior authority in the issues of Islam....
and Grand Mufti
Grand Mufti
The title of Grand Mufti refers to the highest official of religious law in a Sunni or Ibadi Muslim country. The Grand Mufti issues legal opinions and edicts, fatwā, on interpretations of Islamic law for private clients or to assist judges in deciding cases...
of the Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
which includes his native Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Georgia, and Dagestan
Dagestan
The Republic of Dagestan is a federal subject of Russia, located in the North Caucasus region. Its capital and the largest city is Makhachkala, located at the center of Dagestan on the Caspian Sea...
, Kabardino-Balkaria
Kabardino-Balkaria
The Kabardino-Balkar Republic , or Kabardino-Balkaria , is a federal subject of Russia located in the North Caucasus. Population: -Geography:The republic is situated in the North Caucasus mountains, with plains in the northern part....
, Ingushetia
Ingushetia
The Republic of Ingushetia is a federal subject of Russia , located in the North Caucasus region with its capital at Magas. In terms of area, the republic is the smallest of Russia's federal subjects except for the two federal cities, Moscow and Saint Petersburg...
, Chechnya
Chechnya
The Chechen Republic , commonly referred to as Chechnya , also spelled Chechnia or Chechenia, sometimes referred to as Ichkeria , is a federal subject of Russia . It is located in the southeastern part of Europe in the Northern Caucasus mountains. The capital of the republic is the city of Grozny...
, Karachay-Cherkessia
Karachay-Cherkessia
The Karachay-Cherkess Republic , or Karachay-Cherkessia is a federal subject of Russia . Population: -Geography:*Area: *Borders:**internal: Krasnodar Krai , Kabardino-Balkar Republic , Stavropol Krai ....
, and Adygea
Adygea
The Republic of Adygea is a federal subject of Russia enclaved within Krasnodar Krai. Its area is with a population of 440,388 . Its capital is Maykop.-Geography:...
in the Russian Federation. He is also the current chairman of the Religious Council of the Caucasus.
Allahshükür Pashazade was born in Cil
Cil, Azerbaijan
Cil is a village and municipality in the Lankaran Rayon of Azerbaijan. It had a population of 2,279 as of 2007.- Notable natives:* Allahshukur Pashazadeh, Sheikh ul-Islam and Grand Mufti of the Caucasus....
, Lankaran Rayon, Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic (today the Republic of Azerbaijan) on August 26, 1949. He got his primary religious education from the local religious clergy in the city of Lankaran
Lankaran
-History:The city was built on a swamp along the northern bank of the river bearing the city's name. There are remains of human settlements in the area dating back to the Neolithic period as well as ruins of fortified villages from the Bronze and Iron Ages. Lankaran's history is rather recent,...
. 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
Bukhara
Bukhara , from the Soghdian βuxārak , is the capital of the Bukhara Province of Uzbekistan. The nation's fifth-largest city, it has a population of 263,400 . The region around Bukhara has been inhabited for at least five millennia, and the city has existed for half that time...
and later relocated to Tashkent
Tashkent
Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan and of the Tashkent Province. The officially registered population of the city in 2008 was about 2.2 million. Unofficial sources estimate the actual population may be as much as 4.45 million.-Early Islamic History:...
where he finished his religious education in Tashkent State University in 1975.
Finally returning to Azerbaijan in 1975, he became the acting secretary of the Caucasian Muslims Office, and Akhund and deputy chief of the Taza Pir Mosque
Taza Pir Mosque
Taza Pir Mosque is a mosque in Baku, Azerbaijan. It was finished in 1914 and built in honour of the philanthropist.-History:...
in the Azerbaijani capital Baku
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
. 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
Dissolution of the Soviet Union
The dissolution of the Soviet Union was the disintegration of the federal political structures and central government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , resulting in the independence of all fifteen republics of the Soviet Union between March 11, 1990 and December 25, 1991...
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.
Although he is himself a Shiite Muslim and originally a Shia cleric, he is also the world's only Sunni-Shia Grand Mufti (The title of Grand Mufti actually refers and is normally reserved to the highest official of religious law in a Sunni Muslim country), giving each group fatwa
Fatwa
A fatwā in the Islamic faith is a juristic ruling concerning Islamic law issued by an Islamic scholar. In Sunni Islam any fatwā is non-binding, whereas in Shia Islam it could be considered by an individual as binding, depending on his or her relation to the scholar. The person who issues a fatwā...
s according to their relevant madhab, reflecting Azerbaijan's
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
Sunni-Shia mix.
Allahshükür Pashazade is the member of the Management Board of World Islamic Congress
World Islamic Congress
The World Islamic Congress convened in Jerusalem from the 7 December until 1:30 p.m. on the 17 December 1931. It was attended by 130 delegates from 22 Muslim countries...
, the Management Board of Eurasia Islamic Council and a number of other international organizations. He was elected co-chair of CIS Interreligious Council
CIS
CIS usually refers to the Commonwealth of Independent States, a modern political entity consisting of eleven former Soviet Union republics.The acronym CIS may also refer to:-Organizations:...
in 2004.
On November 21, 2009, he was included in a 500 Most Influential Muslims of World book
Honors, awards, and decorations
In 1986, he was elected member of Royal Academy of Jordan.- “Lenin Order of Friendship Among the Peoples” (1988, USSR)
- “Al-elm va amal” Order (1992, EgyptEgyptEgypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
) - “Order of Glory” (1994, Egypt)
- “First Rank Order of Independence” (1999, AzerbaijanAzerbaijanAzerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
) - “Order of St. Vladimir - First classOrder of St. VladimirThe Cross of Saint Vladimir was an Imperial Russian Order established in 1782 by Empress Catherine II in memory of the deeds of Saint Vladimir, the Grand Prince and the Baptizer of the Kievan Rus....
” (2001, Russian Orthodox ChurchRussian Orthodox ChurchThe Russian Orthodox Church or, alternatively, the Moscow Patriarchate The ROC is often said to be the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches in the world; including all the autocephalous churches under its umbrella, its adherents number over 150 million worldwide—about half of the 300 million...
) - “Order of Honor” (2001, GeorgiaGeorgia (country)Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
)
See also
- State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations of Azerbaijan Republic
- Islam in AzerbaijanIslam in AzerbaijanApproximately 99.2 percent of the population of Azerbaijan is Muslim according to a 2009 Pew Research center report. The rest of the population adheres to other faiths or are non-religious, although they are not officially represented...