SUFISM IN AZERBAIJAN: HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT AND CULTURAL INFLUENCE

Abstract

The article examines the history of the development and cultural influence of Sufism in Azerbaijan, from the early stage of the emergence of the mystical and ascetic trend in Islamic religiosity to its integration into social and cultural life and the modern situation. The initial manifestations of Sufism on the territory of Azerbaijan have been recorded since the 10th century, when figures such as Baba Kuhi Bakuvi and his contemporaries gained considerable authority in the Islamic mystical movement. During the Middle Ages, Sufi brotherhoods (tariqas) such as Khalvatiyya, Suhrawardyya, and later Safavidiyya were formed on the territory of Azerbaijan, influencing not only spiritual life, but also politics, culture, and architecture. Sufism has become an important component of the spiritual and cultural landscape of Azerbaijan: it is reflected in folk poetry, the Ashyghe tradition, the architecture of khanqahs and mausoleums, folklore and literature. For example, the influence of Sufi motifs on the work of Ashik Ashig Alyasgar is being investigated. In the modern context, Sufism is considered as an element of cultural identity and heritage, as well as an object of academic study and cultural policy. From the point of view of methodology, the article uses a historical and philosophical approach, relies on epigraphic and archival sources, as well as on recent research in the field of Sufism in Azerbaijan. The article shows that the Sufi tradition of Azerbaijan reflects the dialectic between mystical individuality and a general religious institution, between transcendent aspiration and cultural expression.