Some Famous Sufi Leaders

By Michael van der Galien, "Religion in Azerbaijan" - Poli Gazette - The Netherlands
Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Azerbaijanis are tolerant and untraditional Muslims. Secularism has changed society profoundly.

When one talks about Azerbaijan with a Westerner, the latter will almost always say that he knows that Azerbaijanis are Muslim.

A slightly more informed Westerner may be concerned about extremism here. The reality is the opposite; most Azerbaijanis consider themselves to be Muslim by culture and tradition, but their views are not orthodox much less extreme.

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After insisting to talk a bit more about the subject of religion and especially about Azerbaijan’s version of Islam - a topic about which the official was more than willing to talk - the topic changed to the Sufi mystics and their influence.

Azerbaijan was the home of quite some famous Sufi leaders. One of them the guide recalled, Seyyid Ali Imadaddin Nesimi, was killed in the 15th century.

He had, according to religious authorities, committed blasphemy by saying “I am God.”

More than anything else his execution resulted in more Azerbaijanis revering him.

He and other prominent Sufis have, like in Turkey, influenced Azerbaijani Islam considerably. Part of why Muslims in this country are so tolerant, the official explained, is because of this religious tradition.

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[Picture: Statue of Imadeddin Nesimi in Baku, Azerbaijan. Photo from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasimi].