Muhsin Hakimzadeh ( Azerbaijani: Mirmöhsün Həkimzadə, 1882–1967) is the 9th

Shaykh al-Islam Sheikh ( , , , , ''shuyūkh'' ) is an honorific title in the Arabic language, literally meaning " elder". It commonly designates a tribal chief or a Muslim scholar. Though this title generally refers to men, there are also a small number of ...

and the chairman of the

Religious Council of the Caucasus Religious Council of the Caucasus (until 1992 — "The spiritual administration of the Muslims of South Caucasus, Transcaucasia") is the highest spiritual and administrative organ of the Muslims of the countries of the Transcaucasian region locate ...

Biography

Early years

Mirmuhsin was born in the family of

sheikh Sheikh ( , , , , ''shuyūkh'' ) is an honorific title in the Arabic language, literally meaning "elder (administrative title), elder". It commonly designates a tribal chief or a Muslim ulama, scholar. Though this title generally refers to me ...

Ali in 1882 in the city of

Shamakhi Shamakhi (, ) is a city in Azerbaijan and the administrative centre of the Shamakhi District. The city's estimated population was 31,704. It is famous for its traditional dancers, the Shamakhi Dancers, and also for perhaps giving its name to th ...

. He received his first primary education in his father's house, later he was sent to the cities of

Mashhad Mashhad ( ; ), historically also known as Mashad, Meshhed, or Meshed in English, is the List of Iranian cities by population, second-most-populous city in Iran, located in the relatively remote north-east of the country about from Tehran. ...

and

Najaf Najaf is the capital city of the Najaf Governorate in central Iraq, about 160 km (99 mi) south of Baghdad. Its estimated population in 2024 is about 1.41 million people. It is widely considered amongst the holiest cities of Shia Islam an ...

to continue his education. After seven years of excellent education in Mashhad, he was awarded the title of

akhund Akhund () is a Persian language, Persian title or surname for Islamic scholars, common in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Azerbaijan. Other names for similar Muslim Scholar include Sheikh and Mullah. The Standard Chin ...

and then sheikh. After completing his education in 1914, Mirmukhsin Hakimzade returned to Shamakhi and became the closest assistant to his father. By order of the Sheikh al-Islam of Transcaucasia he was appointed akhund of the Imamli mosque in the city of Shamakhi.

Soviet period

In 1928, inspections were carried out in the house of Mirmuhsin. His jewelry was confiscated and he himself was taken to

Baku Baku (, ; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Azerbaijan, largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and in the Caucasus region. Baku is below sea level, which makes it the List of capital ci ...

where he was kept in prison for 6 months, after which he was found not guilty and released, but his writings, which were taken with him in Baku were burned. After this incident Mirmuhsin permanently moved to Baku and began working as a laborer in some places, fleeing repression. After the establishment of the spiritual administration in 1943, akhunds who had escaped the repressions of 1937 were invited here, then akhund Mirmuhsin was elected deputy of the chairman of the

Career

After the death of the past Sheikh al-Islam Agha-Alizadeh in 1954 a congress of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Transcaucasia was convened and sheikh Mirmuhsin Hakimzadeh, who had been in office for 12 years was elected chairman of it. During his tenure Hakimzade managed to open new mosques, build

minaret A minaret is a type of tower typically built into or adjacent to mosques. Minarets are generally used to project the Muslim call to prayer (''adhan'') from a muezzin, but they also served as landmarks and symbols of Islam's presence. They can h ...

s in many mosques and build new

madrasa Madrasa (, also , ; Arabic: مدرسة , ), sometimes Romanization of Arabic, romanized as madrasah or madrassa, is the Arabic word for any Educational institution, type of educational institution, secular or religious (of any religion), whet ...

s. He died on 15 September 1967, at the age of 85 in

and after him the post of

was taken by Ali-Agha Suleymanzadeh.

References

{{Religious Council of the Caucasus 1882 births 1967 deaths Azerbaijani religious leaders Azerbaijani Shia clerics Azerbaijani Shia Muslims Shaykh al-Islams of the Religious Council of the Caucasus Muslims from the Russian Empire Shia clerics from the Russian Empire

Biography

Early years

Soviet period

Career

See also

References