The Caucasus Muslims Board (CMB) is a historic and authoritative religious center that regulates the activities of Islamic communities in the Caucasus region, particularly in Azerbaijan. It provides them with spiritual guidance and plays a vital role in state-religion relations. The historical roots of this institution trace back to the Transcaucasian Muslim Spiritual Board created in 1872, but during the years of independence, it has built its activities on entirely new, national, and modern principles.
In 2026, the CMB is not just a structure engaged in performing religious rituals, but also a key participant in ensuring the ideological security of the country, combating radicalism, and promoting multiculturalism on a global scale.
Since 1980, the board has been led by the supreme spiritual leader of the peoples of the Caucasus—Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazadeh. His long-standing work is highly valued not only within Azerbaijan but throughout the Islamic world and in international organizations.
As of the spring of 2026, the CMB leadership successfully continues to act as a mediator in international peace processes, especially in cooperation with religious leaders of the CIS countries and in interfaith dialogue with European structures. The board, headquartered in the historic Taza Pir Mosque complex in Baku, serves as a guarantor of peace and religious tolerance in the Caucasus.
Responding to modern challenges, the CMB harmoniously combines traditional religious values with modern technologies in its activities.
Direction of Activity Priorities and Innovations for 2026 Hajj and Umrah Full implementation of the "Electronic Queue" system for document submission and quota distribution; direct digital integration with Saudi Arabian authorities. Revival of Karabakh Appointment of professional imams and akhunds to restored and newly built mosques in the liberated territories (Aghdam, Shusha, Fuzuli), formation of healthy religious communities. Calendar and Fatwas Announcement to the public by the Council of Qazis of accurate calendars for the start of Ramadan, the month of Muharram, and other religious dates based on strict astronomical calculations. International Relations Expansion of the activities of the Council of Muslim Religious Leaders to promote shared spiritual and cultural values within the Organization of Turkic States (OTS).The CMB works in close coordination with the State Committee on Religious Associations of the Republic of Azerbaijan. In 2026, in countering religious extremism targeting youth on global networks (especially on TikTok and Telegram), the focus is heavily placed on "soft power" tactics and active education.
The official clerics of the board work continuously to convey the true peaceful essence of Islam to society and prevent the penetration of sectarian ideologies exported from abroad. The "unity prayers" (joint prayers of Sunnis and Shias), which are unique to Azerbaijan, continue to be encouraged by the CMB today as one of the best examples of Islamic solidarity in the world.
The Baku Islamic University, operating under the CMB, and other specialized educational institutions play a crucial role in training local specialists. The main goal is to ensure that mosques are served not by individuals who have received dubious education abroad, but by highly educated religious figures wholly committed to the national and spiritual values of Azerbaijan and who actively support the model of a secular state.
In 2026, the Caucasus Muslims Board is not just a historical legacy, but a dynamic and modern institution that protects the spiritual health of Azerbaijani society and supports the multicultural policy of the state. The structure steadfastly maintains its global authority as a reliable guarantor of peace and peaceful coexistence in the region.
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