DOI: https://doi.org/10.36719/2789-6919/47/20-25
Zahra Islamova
Baku State University
PhD in History
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9530-4263
zahraislamova@bsu.edu.az
Foundation Properties of the Middle Ages in Baku and its Surroundings
Abstract
This article investigates the religious, social and economic functions of foundation properties in Baku and its surroundings from the 13th to the 17th centuries. It analyzes the institutional role of the foundation system during the Shirvanshahs and the Safavis periods, focusing on sacred sites such as the Alibaba, Nardaran, Pirshaghi, and Mardakan shrines, and the tombs and mosques of Abu Said Abdal Bakuvi, Sayyid Yahya Bakuvi and Shaykh Molla Yusif Muskuri. Rooted in Islamic legal tradition, foundation institutions were widely used by the Shirvanshahs to consolidate religious legitimacy and provide public welfare. Based on historical decrees and epigraphic sources, the study shows that foundation assets included land, gardens, water sources, donations and even oil wells. The article highlights the hereditary nature of the mutawalli (custodian) system and provides a detailed case study of Abu Said’s foundation, funded by oil revenues and marked by its religious and social autonomy. In contrast, the foundation of Sayyid Yahya and Shaykh Molla Yusif were primarily oriented toward religious education and Sufi practice. The article also assesses the current state of these shrines, emphasizing state-led restoration efforts and tourism potential. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the historical foundations of Shia identity and Islamic culture in Azerbaijan, shedding light on the regional characteristics of waqf institutions in the medieval Caucasus.
Keywords: foundation, the Shirvanshahs, the Safavids, Islamic culture, religious architecture