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| Agha Musa Naghiyev (1849–1919) |
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Baku became one of the most important oil cities in the world. Among the wealthy people who shaped this city, Agha Musa Naghiyev (1849–1919) stands out. He was born into a poor family and started life as a cargo carrier, but through hard work and smart business moves, he became one of the richest men in Baku—second only to the Nobel brothers. He owned more than 200 buildings and became the city’s largest landlord.
But Naghiyev is remembered not just for his wealth. He became famous for his charitable work, especially toward the Muslim community of Baku.
A Life of Muslim Philanthropy
Naghiyev funded the building of the Ismailiyya Palace, modeled after Venice’s Doge’s Palace, and gave it to the Baku Muslim Charity Society. He also financed Baku’s largest hospital, which opened in 1912 and still serves patients today. He supported education, including the Real College (now Azerbaijan State Economic University).
Naghiyev’s attachment to Islam was strong. He funded the construction of a mosque, donated to Muslim charities, and clearly expressed his wish to be buried in Karbala, one of the holiest cities in Islam. When he died, his funeral followed Muslim customs: his body was washed, prayers were recited, and he was buried as a Muslim.
Wikipedia and the Bahá’í Claims
However, the story of his religious identity is made more complicated when looking at Wikipedia and other modern sources.
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The Wikipedia page on Musa Naghiyev states that he “was an adherent of the Bahá’í Faith and served on the Spiritual Assembly of the Baháʼís of Baku.”
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The Wikipedia page on Baháʼí Faith in Azerbaijan also mentions him. But it notes that some sources say he was Muslim while others call him Baháʼí.
When the Talk Page of Baháʼí Faith in Azerbaijan article was checked, it showed that Bahá’í editors are relying mostly on self-published sources to claim that he was a Bahá’í. Self-published sources are not considered strong evidence in historical or academic research.
Soli Shahvar’s Role
A major academic source often cited by Bahá’ís is a research paper by Dr. Soli Shahvar, a professor at the Department of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at the University of Haifa, Israel. Dr. Shahvar is known to be a close friend of the Bahá’ís in Israel.
In his paper, he tries very strongly to prove that Musa Naghiyev was Bahá’í. He argues that Naghiyev not only supported Muslim institutions but also helped the Bahá’ís financially. Shahvar claims that Naghiyev chaired a committee for a Bahá’í building called “Ruhanie” in Baku.
Historical Context: Early Bahá’í Identity Was Not Clear
It’s important to remember the historical context. During the time of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (early 20th century), the definition of a Bahá’í was not clearly fixed. Many people in Muslim countries, including Palestine and Azerbaijan, did not see Bahá’í as a separate religion. Instead, they saw it as a movement (Tariqat) inside Islam that promoted unity, love, and peace.
Because of this, some Muslims were in contact with Bahá’ís, supported their projects, or even attended their gatherings—without actually accepting Bahá’u’lláh as a “Manifestation of God” or leaving Islam. This historical fact is crucial when interpreting claims about Naghiyev’s religious identity.
Weighing the Evidence
After reading both Muslim and Bahá’í sources, including academic articles, Wikipedia pages, and historical records, here is what seems most reasonable:
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Musa Naghiyev was born Muslim.
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His charitable work, funeral, and will clearly reflect a Muslim identity.
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He was in contact with Bahá’ís and may have supported their activities.
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Bahá’í authors and editors rely on self-published or friendly sources to claim he was Bahá’í.
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In the early 1900s, being “connected” to Bahá’ís did not always mean being a committed believer.
It seems that in Southern Caucasus the practice of regarding the Baha’is as an Islamic sect, seems to have been continued even up to the first decade of the twentieth century. For example, even as late as 1909, when the Baha’is of Baku city wanted to establish the ‘Ruhanie’—the local Baha’i Spiritual Assembly in that city—they asked the Baku authorities to approve its statute, as the regulations demanded. To deal with that request, in October 1909 the Baku authorities opened a special file titled “About the request … to approve the statute of ‘Ruhanie’—the Baha’i Muslim organization of Baku”. This is a clear indication that the Baha’is, even as late as 1909, were still regarded by the highest Russian local authorities in Southern Caucasus as Muslims.
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