Azerbaijan's Secular Identity: Exploring Religious Diversity

Azerbaijan is a secular country that constitutionally allows freedom of religion to its citizens. While Islam is the predominant faith, religious affiliation is largely nominal, and the country is considered one of the most irreligious in the Muslim world. The importance of religion in everyday life remains low, and the practice of religious rituals is uncommon. However, the degree of religiosity varies among individuals, with some adhering to certain beliefs and practices while not considering themselves religious.

Azerbaijan is a secular country

The religious landscape of Azerbaijan is diverse, with Islam being the most common religion. About 93% of the total population adheres to one of the two principal forms of Islam - Sunni and Shia. Shia Islam is the leading religious belief, with 80% of the country's population adhering to the faith, making Azerbaijan home to the second-largest Shia population in the world. Sunni Islam is the second-leading religious belief, with 13% of the total population following this branch.

Despite the predominance of Islam, Azerbaijan is considered one of the most irreligious Muslim countries, with most people attaching little direct importance to religion in their daily lives. This phenomenon has been attributed to the country's secular nature and its history of Soviet atheist policies. While the majority of Azerbaijan's population identifies nominally with Islam, studies show that Azerbaijani society has remained relatively secular since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The role of Islam in politics and everyday life in Azerbaijan is relatively small. Surveys in the late Soviet and early post-Soviet eras found that although most Azerbaijanis identify as Muslims, less than a quarter of those had a basic understanding of the pillars of Islam. For many, their association with Islam tends towards a more ethnic or nationalistic identity rather than a purely religious one.

Azerbaijan's secularism is further evidenced by the diversity of religious minorities in the country, including Orthodox Christianity, atheism, agnosticism, other Christian denominations, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, and Baha'i, all of which make up about 1% of the population.

Shia Islam is the predominant faith in Azerbaijan

The enforcement of Shia Islam as the state religion during this period created conflict between Shia and Sunni Muslims, eventually leading to the migration of Sunnis in the 19th century. As a result, Shia Islam became the largest Muslim belief in the country, with Sunni Islam as the second-largest group, comprising around 13% of the total population.

Shia Islam is prevalent in the western, central, and southern regions of Azerbaijan, with villages around Baku and the Lankaran region considered traditional Shia strongholds. The Ja'fari school of Shia Islam is the most common tradition followed by Shia Muslims in the country.

While Azerbaijan is a secular state that upholds freedom of religion, the role of Islam in politics and everyday life remains relatively small. Surveys have indicated that religious affiliation is nominal, and the importance of religion in daily life is low for a large portion of the population. However, it is important to note that the association with Islam for many Azerbaijanis tends to be more ethnic and nationalistic rather than purely religious.

Atheism and agnosticism are attributed to the country's secular nature

Azerbaijan is considered one of the most irreligious Muslim countries, with most of its people attaching little importance to religion. While the country is predominantly Muslim, with estimates ranging from 93% to 99.2% of the population identifying as Muslim, the importance of religion in everyday life remains low. This is reflected in the low attendance rates at religious services and the small role of Islam in politics and daily life.

The secular nature of Azerbaijan can be attributed to its history. During the Soviet era, Azerbaijan was subject to atheist policies, with mosques being destroyed and the Museum of the History of Atheism being established. While the country gained independence in 1991, the period of forced abandonment of faith left a lasting impact on the perception of religion among the population.

The separation of state and religion is enshrined in Azerbaijan's constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion for all citizens. The country's education system has also been secularized, further contributing to the secular nature of the country.

While the exact number of atheists and agnostics in Azerbaijan is difficult to quantify as they are not officially counted in the country's census, it is estimated that approximately 1% of the population identifies as atheist or agnostic and practices no form of worship. This low percentage of atheists and agnostics in the country may be due to the cultural and historical association with Islam, as well as the social and familial expectations that come with it. Nonetheless, the relatively high number of irreligious individuals in Azerbaijan compared to other Muslim countries can be attributed to the country's secular nature and history.

Religious affiliation is largely cultural and ethnic rather than religious

While Islam is the predominant religion in Azerbaijan, with around 93-99% of the population identifying as Muslim, the country is considered to be the most secular in the Muslim world. This is largely due to its history as part of the Soviet Union, which imposed an atheist state ideology, destroying mosques and suppressing religious activities.

As a result, many Azerbaijanis associate with Islam more as an ethnic or nationalistic identity than a purely religious one. This is reflected in the fact that, while the vast majority identify as Muslim, only a small percentage consider themselves to be ardent believers or have a good understanding of Islamic teachings.

For example, while 90% of people may say they believe in God, the Prophet Muhammad, and the Quran, far fewer actually practise the religion. Many women choose not to wear the hijab, drinking alcohol is common, and mosque attendance is low. However, it is also important to note that many of these same people may still engage in certain religious rituals or follow some Islamic rules, such as fasting during Ramadan, not eating pork, or visiting shrines.

Therefore, while Azerbaijan cannot be considered an atheist or irreligious country, the religious affiliation of its people is largely cultural and ethnic rather than a reflection of devout religious practice.

The role of Islam in everyday life remains relatively small

While Islam is the predominant faith in Azerbaijan, the role of Islam in everyday life remains relatively small. The country is considered to be the most secular in the Muslim world, with a 2013 Gallup Poll indicating that about 53% of respondents reported the importance of religion in their life as little or none.

The small role of Islam in everyday life can be attributed to the country's Soviet past and secular government. During the Soviet era, mosques were destroyed and atheism was an important part of the state ideology. This period of forced abandonment of faith has played a role in the perception of religiosity by the population. While 90% of the population identify as Muslim, this identification is largely cultural and ethnic rather than religious. For many, association with Islam is tied to a more ethnic/nationalistic identity than a purely religious one.

The importance of religion in everyday life is reflected in the low attendance rates at religious services. While 77% of respondents in a 2010 survey noted that religion is an extremely or rather important part of their life, only 2% attend religious services every day, and 3% attend more than once a week. A 1998 poll estimated that only 20% of the population were ardent believers.

While the majority of the population identifies with Islam, the practices of the religion are not widely followed. For example, while the country is majority Shia, the differences between the Shia and Sunni branches of Islam are not sharply defined in Azerbaijan. The practices of the religion are also not widely enforced, with drinking alcohol and not wearing a hijab being common.

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