Shia Population In Azerbaijan: What's The Number?

Azerbaijan is a secular country with a majority Muslim population. Shia Muslims make up the majority of the Muslim population, with estimates ranging from 55% to 80%. The country has a long history of religious diversity, with Islam co-existing alongside other faiths such as Zoroastrianism and Christianity. The capital, Baku, is known for its religious tolerance, with both Sunni and Shia Muslims praying together in the Heydar Mosque every Friday. Despite the predominance of Shia Islam, the country maintains a secular character, with a separation between religion and state enshrined in its constitution.

Shia Islam is the predominant religion in Azerbaijan

Historically, Islam arrived in Azerbaijan with the Arabs in the seventh century, gradually supplanting Christianity and pagan cults. The establishment of Shi'a Islam as the state religion in the sixteenth century by the Safavid Dynasty further solidified its prevalence in the region. Today, Shia Islam is prevalent in the western, central, and southern regions of the country, with villages around Baku and the Lankaran region considered Shia strongholds.

The majority of Shia Muslims in Azerbaijan follow the Ja'fari school of Shia Islam. However, due to the country's secular nature, the differences between Shia and Sunni Islam are not sharply defined, and both groups have lived together harmoniously for centuries in Baku. This is exemplified by the Heydar Mosque in Baku, where Sunni and Shia Muslims come together every Friday for prayers, serving as a symbol of peace, tolerance, and unity.

While Azerbaijan maintains a secular stance, with Article 7 of the Azerbaijani constitution declaring the country secular and Article 18 emphasizing the separation of religion and state, the influence of Shia Islam cannot be overlooked. The country's religious landscape is shaped by its historical context, cultural influences, and the interplay between secularism and religious expression.

Sunni Islam is a significant minority

While the Shia-Sunni divide is prevalent in the Middle East, in Azerbaijan, both groups have lived together in harmony for centuries in Baku. In the Heydar Mosque in Baku, the largest mosque in Azerbaijan and the entire Caucasus, Sunni and Shia Muslims pray together every Friday.

"Our mosque — the Heydar Mosque is unique, everyone here is equal — there is no difference — Sunni or Shia," says Arif Novruzov, a Sunni Muslim who prays at the mosque. This sentiment is echoed by Rufar Garayev, a Shia Muslim who also attends the mosque: "I am a Shia Muslim. That's my choice. But we also have Sunni Muslims in Azerbaijan and we see them as our brothers. This is our lifestyle, it's always been and always will be. Unlike other countries, there's stability in our country."

Historically, the differences between the two branches of Islam have not been sharply defined in Azerbaijan. The country has been influenced by various civilisations and was once a part of the Persian Empire, which practised Zoroastrianism. In the seventh century, Islam arrived in Azerbaijan with the Arabs, gradually supplanting Zoroastrianism and Christianity. In the sixteenth century, the Safavid Dynasty established Shi'a Islam as the state religion, although a portion of the population remained Sunni.

Today, Azerbaijan is a secular state, and the role of Islam in politics and everyday life remains relatively small. Most Shia Muslims in the country follow the Ja'fari school of Shia Islam, while Sunni Muslims typically adhere to either the Hanafi or Shafi'i school. Due to the country's history of Soviet atheist policy, religious affiliation in Azerbaijan is often nominal and based more on culture and ethnicity than on religion.

Azerbaijan is a secular state

The majority of the population in Azerbaijan is Muslim, with estimates ranging from 93-99%. Of these, the majority belong to the Shia branch (55-65%), while a significant minority (35-40%) are Sunni. However, the differences between these two branches of Islam are not sharply defined in the country. The role of Islam in politics and everyday life remains relatively small, with a 1998 poll estimating that only 20% of the population were ardent believers.

Azerbaijan is considered the most secular country in the Muslim world, with its society remaining relatively secular following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The secular nature of the state is reflected in its educational system, with a ban on hijabs in schools enforced in 2010. Additionally, the country has introduced several intensely secular amendments to its Religion Law and Administrative Code.

While Islam is the majority religion, there are also followers of other faiths in Azerbaijan, including Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, and Zoroastrianism. These religious groups are tolerated and sometimes financially supported by the general public, particularly those considered "traditional" minority groups such as Jews, Russian Orthodox, and Catholics.

Shia Muslims and Sunni Muslims pray together in Heydar Mosque

Heydar Mosque in Azerbaijan is the largest mosque in the country and the entire Caucasus region. It was built five years ago in Baku and has become a symbol of peace, tolerance, and unity.

Both Sunni and Shia Muslims come together every Friday for prayers at Heydar Mosque, defying the divide between the two major denominations in Islam, which is prevalent, especially in the Middle East.

Arif Novruzov, a Sunni Muslim who prays at the mosque, says:

> Our mosque — the Heydar Mosque is unique, everyone here is equal — there is no difference — Sunni or Shia.

Rufar Garayev, a Shia Muslim who also attends the mosque, agrees:

> I am a Shia Muslim. That's my choice. But we also have Sunni Muslims in Azerbaijan and we see them as our brothers. This is our lifestyle, it's always been and always will be. Unlike other countries, there's stability in our country.

Azerbaijan is a Muslim-majority country where Shia Muslims make up the majority, while less than 15% are Sunni. Members of both sects have lived together in harmony for centuries in Baku.

Shia Muslims make up 55-65% of the population

Shia Muslims make up the majority of the population in Azerbaijan, with estimates ranging from 55% to 65% (or even 80% according to one source). The country is considered the most secular in the Muslim world, with religion often being more of a cultural and ethnic affiliation than a religious one. This is due in part to the many decades of Soviet atheist policy that previously governed the region.

Shia Islam is prevalent in the western, central, and southern regions of the country, with villages around Baku and the Lankaran region considered Shia strongholds. In contrast, Sunni Islam is dominant in the northern regions. Most Shia Muslims in Azerbaijan follow the Ja'fari school of Shia Islam, while Sunni Muslims typically adhere to the Hanafi or Shafi'i school.

While the differences between these two branches of Islam have traditionally not been sharply defined in Azerbaijan, there have been instances of conflict and contention between the two groups. For example, in the nineteenth century, many Sunni Muslims emigrated from Russian-controlled Azerbaijan due to Russia's wars with the ruling Sunnis of the neighbouring Ottoman Empire. However, antagonism between Sunnis and Shias diminished in the late nineteenth century as Azerbaijani nationalism began to emphasize a common Turkic heritage and opposition to Iranian religious influences.

Today, Azerbaijan maintains a secular position, with Article 7 of the Azerbaijani constitution officially declaring the country a secular state, and Article 18 declaring the separation of religion and state, as well as the equality of all religions before the law. Despite the country's secularism, religion still plays a role in politics and everyday life. For example, the government has banned the public display of religious paraphernalia, flags, and slogans, except in places of worship, religious centres, and offices. Additionally, Ashura commemorations in public have also been prohibited.

While the majority of Azerbaijan's population identifies with Islam, the importance of religion in everyday life remains low for many. A 1998 poll estimated that only about 20% of the population were ardent believers, while another survey found that only half of Azerbaijanis considered religion an important part of their daily life.

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