Biography
Early Life
Born 26 August 1949 in the village of Cil, Lankaran Rayon, Azerbaijan.
Allahshukur Hummat Pashazade (born 26 August 1949 in Cil, Lankaran Rayon, Azerbaijan) is the Sheikh-ul-Islam of the Caucasus, the most senior Islamic religious authority overseeing Muslims in Azerbaijan, Georgia, and parts of the Russian North Caucasus including Dagestan, Chechnya, and Kabardino-Balkaria.
He began his religious education in 1968 at the Mir-i Arab Madrasah in Bukhara and completed advanced studies in Tashkent in 1975. In 1978 he was appointed akhund (imam) of Baku's Taza Pir Mosque and became Deputy Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Board, rising to the position of Sheikh-ul-Islam around 1980, a post he has held for more than four decades.
Pashazade is notable as the world's only Grand Mufti recognized by both Sunni and Shia communities, issuing religious rulings for each group according to its own legal tradition — reflecting Azerbaijan's mixed Sunni-Shia Muslim population. He has been active in interfaith dialogue efforts internationally.
Education & Training
Mir-i Arab Madrasah, Bukhara (from 1968)
Tashkent Islamic Institute / Tashkent State University (completed religious education, 1975)
Positions & Achievements
Akhund (imam), Taza Pir Mosque, Baku (from 1978)
Deputy Chairman, Caucasus Muslims Board
Sheikh-ul-Islam, Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Board (from 1980-present)
Books & Works
Sheikh-ul-Islam of the Caucasus for over four decades, overseeing Muslims across Azerbaijan, Georgia, and parts of the North Caucasus; noted as the world's only religious authority issuing fatwas for both Sunni and Shia communities according to their respective madhhabs.
