The Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Board, Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazade, gave an interview to "THE DESERET NEWS" newspaper, the press organ of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, during his visit to the USA. We present the interview below.

Muslim leader: Our religion has many commonalities with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazade met with President Dallin H. Oaks before participating in the general conference.

October 8, 2025

Author: Caitlin Keith

KEY POINTS

Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazade visited Utah to attend the general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Pashazade supported the registration of The Church of Jesus Christ in Azerbaijan in 2024.

Members of the delegation expressed gratitude for the heartfelt hospitality they encountered in Salt Lake City.

On Sunday, Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazade stated that it is a great honor to "enter this huge invited gathering in Islamic attire" - the general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "I consider this a sign of respect for my country, my people, and our religion."

Pashazade is a well-known Muslim leader of the Republic of Azerbaijan and gave an interview to Deseret News through a translator after attending the global faith conference held in Salt Lake City on Sunday.

As the Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Board and the Chairman of the Council of Qadis, he works to support the unity of all traditional branches of Islam. He encourages Shia and Sunni Muslims to come together and pray together in the same mosque and strives to promote peace throughout the world.

His Eminence is a Doctor of Historical Sciences, a professor of theology, and is known as the first historian of Islamic studies in Azerbaijan.

He visited Salt Lake City with his family, as well as other representatives of his country: Javanshir Pashazade, a member of the Azerbaijani National Assembly (Milli Məclis), and Ravan Hasanov, the Executive Director of the Baku International Multiculturalism Centre.

His Eminence Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazade shared the highlights of his Salt Lake City visit with us.

Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazade gave the interview after attending the 195th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, October 5, 2025.

As part of his visit to Salt Lake City, he met on Thursday with President Dallin H. Oaks, the Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, as well as other representatives of the state of Utah, including Utah Senate President Stuart Adams.

The Sheikhulislam said: "It was a great honor for us to be received by President Oaks and to have the rare opportunity to offer condolences regarding the passing of President Nelson."

The delegation's visit aligns with his efforts to strengthen interreligious and international relations worldwide. "The main purpose of us traveling this great distance to come here is to strengthen, develop, and improve our good cooperation ties."

He also spoke about his participation in the general conference session.

Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazade attended the 195th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, October 5, 2025. "I am still under the influence of the very meaningful speeches by President Oaks, Elder (David A.) Bednar, and others. This convinced me more than ever that there are many common thoughts, approaches, ideas, and principles between The Church of Jesus Christ and Muslims."

This is not His Eminence's first visit to Salt Lake City. He first came here in the winter of 2023 and recalled that it was snowing at the time, and he enjoyed it. "I still recall it with pleasure because it was excellent." "Autumn is also a very beautiful season in Utah, but witnessing the snow was different for me, so I hope to come back here again in the winter."

The Azerbaijani delegation particularly noted how warmly they were welcomed in Utah. Javanshir Pashazade said that he really liked the state of Utah, mentioned how beautiful the city of Salt Lake City is, and emphasized how kind and cheerful the people were and how big-hearted the hospitality was. "After the conference ended, we were walking through the rows toward the exit, and at that moment I saw that the people standing on both sides were looking at us, smiling; they knew from the turban on the head of His Eminence the Sheikh, who was walking ahead of us, that he was a Muslim, and their positive attitude towards us, knowing this, was very remarkable."

The turban (əmmamə) is a special type of traditional headwear for Islamic religious figures.

The Member of Parliament also stated that the general conference was "outstanding." "No one forced those people to come, participate, or listen—they came by the calling of their own hearts."

Ravan Hasanov has also visited Utah before and met with Church leaders. Speaking, he said, "I thank my friends living here, Elder (Jack N.) Gerard, Elder Bednar, and others."

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