Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim! Dear compatriots, esteemed brothers and sisters!

I wholeheartedly congratulate you on the occasion of Novruz, our people's ancient and beautiful spring holiday, which is the symbol of the new day and rebirth, and I wish you all happiness and prosperity, and a blessed and prosperous life from Almighty Allah.

On March 19, the Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Board (CMB), Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, hosted an Iftar feast at his residence on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan. Novruz is one of the holidays with a special place and national importance in the centuries-old history of the Azerbaijani people. Celebrated for thousands of years, the blessed Novruz has embodied the awakening of the earth, the renewal of nature, and the renaissance of mankind. The divine meaning of this revival is explained in the Holy Qur'an as: "Allah sends down rain of mercy from the sky, and revives the earth again." During Novruz, wars stopped, those who were estranged reconciled, and people shared their joy and hopes for the future with one another.
This year's Novruz is even more valuable and remarkable for us as it coincides with the arrival of Ramadan, the Sultan of Eleven Months, which is dear to the Islamic world. We are very grateful to Allah that every new Novruz holiday contributes to the successful development of our state and nation, the continuation of our path to Victory, and our Great Return to liberated Karabakh. Our people see the guarantee of this progress in the victorious state policy pursued by our esteemed head of state, President Ilham Aliyev, with determination and strong will, in the wise reforms, and in the construction of a prosperous life in Karabakh, and they appreciate this successful path of development. Our head of state’s respectful attitude towards our national-spiritual values, our Islamic heritage, and universal culture finds its highest manifestation today in the magnificent construction work in the field of restoring our religious and cultural monuments liberated from captivity in Karabakh. The sounds of the Azan (call to prayer) rising from our cultural capital Shusha and the minarets of the liberated Karabakh mosques celebrate the restoration of historical and divine justice. We express endless praise and gratitude to the Almighty Creator for granting us and all our people the joy of this holiday with the Novruz bonfires lit today in all liberated areas of Karabakh, including the center of Khankendi, the former separatist nest, and we express our deep gratitude to the victorious commander of our people and our heroic army!
Victory was always in the prayers of our believers and every Azerbaijani. However, for the sake of the Victory we longed for, our children sacrificed their lives in the path of Allah, for the freedom of the Motherland and the nation, and entrusted the Freedom they won with their blood to future generations. We owe a debt of gratitude to each one of them. It is our duty, on these dear Novruz and Ramadan days, to remember our heroic children who were martyred for the Motherland with prayers for mercy, to offer condolences to their families and relatives, and to wish our veterans and wounded recovery and happiness from Almighty Allah. We ask Allah for mercy for every martyr who gave their life for the Azerbaijani flag waving in Karabakh, and we wish healing to our veterans.
Dear compatriots! This year, the arrival of spring to Azerbaijan will coincide with March 20, at 13:01:25 Baku time, and the year will turn on the sign of the Snake. The festive evening will be on March 20, and the blessed Novruz holiday will be celebrated on March 21. I once again congratulate our people who step into Novruz with praise to the Almighty Creator, prayers for good blessings on the tables, and gratitude for bounties, and I wish happiness to every family, and prosperity and peace to every home. My prayer to Allah is that He establishes His Great Mercy and Generosity upon our people, rewards our head of state with great victories, always raises our flag to high positions, and makes our army strong and victorious! May the arrival of Novruz be blessed and lead to goodness for our people! AMEN!

Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur PASHAZADE