Hidayat Charitable Society

The Hidayat Charitable Society was a civic and religious-intellectual organization established in Baku in 1904. Its stated purpose was to protect residents from robbers, murderers, hooligans, and other individuals regarded by its members as threats to public order. It also sought to resist religious fanaticism and practices that the society believed caused social harm. The organization brought together figures from Azerbaijan’s clergy and intelligentsia, reflecting the reformist concerns of Baku’s urban society during the late Russian imperial period. The society’s activities combined social vigilance, public advocacy, and cooperation with government authorities. Members investigated people accused of robbery, street harassment, violence, or insulting women, and passed their names to the governor-general for possible punitive action. The organization therefore operated not simply as a conventional charitable body, but as a civic reform association concerned with morality, security, and the modernization of public life. A board of approximately ten members included prominent philanthropist Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev, Isa-bey Hajinsky, Mirmuhammed Kerim Bakuvi, Molla Ruhulla Mammadzade, Ahmed-bey Aghaoglu, and Mustafa-bey Alibeyov. Ahmed-bey Aghaoglu prepared the society’s charter. Hidayat was particularly critical of religious fanaticism and of the shahsey-vakhsey rite, a mourning practice associated with commemorations of Imam Hussein that could include self-flagellation. Through public appeals and newspaper writing, members urged people to abandon rituals they considered physically harmful and socially disruptive. These positions provoked hostility from religious radicals. Members and supporters were threatened, demands were reportedly made for the killing of Mirmuhammed Kerim Bakuvi and Mustafa-bey Alibeyov, and the door of Bakuvi’s house was set on fire. Alibeyov temporarily avoided leaving his home because of the danger. The society’s reformist agenda also extended into economic nationalism. Its secretary, Mustafa-bey Alibeyov, proposed establishing an oil company called Hidayati-Islamiya under the society’s auspices. The proposed enterprise was intended to reduce the dominance of foreign capital in Baku’s oil industry and direct oil wealth toward public benefit. The available historical account identifies a 27-point charter for the planned company, but does not establish whether the enterprise became operational. Hidayat’s history also illustrates the risks faced by civic activists in early twentieth-century Baku. On 17 November 1906, action was taken against several robbers and hooligans with the society’s assistance. Years later, on 16 January 1912, Meshadi Haji oglu, identified in the historical account as one of those previously targeted, killed society member Molla Ruhulla Mammadzade at Mammadzade’s home. Alibeyov later participated in the 1913 trial concerning the killing. The surviving account does not provide sufficient information about the society’s later institutional history, dissolution, membership after 1913, or present-day existence.

Hidayat was founded in Baku in 1904 by representatives of the clergy and intelligentsia. Its creation reflected concerns about urban crime, personal safety, public morality, and the role of religious reform in Azerbaijani society. Rather than limiting itself to relief work, the society pursued a broad civic program. It identified alleged robbers, murderers, hooligans, and men accused of harassing or insulting women in public, then submitted their names to the governor-general for possible official action. The organization’s board included several prominent figures, among them Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev, Isa-bey Hajinsky, Mirmuhammed Kerim Bakuvi, Molla Ruhulla Mammadzade, Ahmed-bey Aghaoglu, and Mustafa-bey Alibeyov. The society reportedly had about ten members. Aghaoglu drafted its charter, while Alibeyov served as secretary and became one of its most active public voices. Religious reform was central to Hidayat’s identity. The society opposed religious fanaticism and criticized the shahsey-vakhsey mourning rite, particularly forms involving self-flagellation. It appealed to the public to abandon practices it viewed as harmful. Alibeyov also published an article on the issue in the newspaper Irshad. These interventions generated a hostile response from religious radicals. Threats were made against Bakuvi and Alibeyov, including demands for their deaths, and Bakuvi’s house door was set on fire. Alibeyov reportedly remained at home for a period to reduce the risk of attack. Hidayat’s social reform program was linked to economic nationalism. Alibeyov initiated plans for an oil company named Hidayati-Islamiya, intended to operate under the society and help free Baku’s oil sector from foreign-capital monopolies. The proposed company’s charter contained 27 points and envisioned using oil-related activity for public benefit. The available record does not establish whether the company was launched or how long it operated. The society’s anti-crime activities also exposed members to retaliation. On 17 November 1906, action was taken against several alleged robbers and hooligans with the society’s assistance. On 16 January 1912, Meshadi Haji oglu killed member Molla Ruhulla Mammadzade in Mammadzade’s house. Mustafa-bey Alibeyov later participated in the trial held in 1913. Information about Hidayat after this case is limited. The available sources do not document a definite dissolution date, later leadership, legal successor, or continuing modern organization.

• 1913

  Murder trial

  [1]Hidayat Charitable Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Secretary Mustafa-bey Alibeyov participated in the trial concerning Mammadzade’s killing.

• 1912

  Murder of member Molla Ruhulla Mammadzade

  [1]Hidayat Charitable Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Molla Ruhulla Mammadzade was killed at home on 16 January by Meshadi Haji oglu, reportedly in retaliation for earlier action involving the society.

• 1906

  Action taken against alleged robbers and hooligans

  [1]Hidayat Charitable Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The society assisted measures taken on 17 November against several people identified in the historical account as robbers and hooligans.

• 1904

  Society founded in Baku

  [1]Hidayat Charitable Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Hidayat was established by members of the Azerbaijani clergy and intelligentsia to address violent crime and oppose religious fanaticism.

A reformist Azerbaijani civic society combining charitable identity, public-order advocacy, anti-fanaticism campaigning, and proposals for locally controlled economic development.

• Anti-crime and public-order campaign

  Baku

  Hidayat investigated alleged robbers, murderers, hooligans, and street harassers and referred their names to the governor-general for possible punitive action.

  Outcome. The campaign was associated with official measures against several alleged offenders in November 1906, although its overall scope and results are not documented.

  Source
• Opposition to religious fanaticism

  Baku · Azerbaijan

  The society publicly criticized religious fanaticism and the shahsey-vakhsey rite, urging people to abandon forms of ritual practice that members considered harmful.

  Outcome. The campaign attracted strong hostility from religious radicals, including threats against members and an arson attack on Mirmuhammed Kerim Bakuvi’s home.

  Source

• Proposal for the Hidayati-Islamiya oil companyStrategy

  Background

  Secretary Mustafa-bey Alibeyov sought to challenge foreign dominance in Baku’s oil industry and channel oil-related benefits toward the local population.

  Action taken

  He prepared a 27-point charter for an oil company called Hidayati-Islamiya to be established under the society.

  Aftermath

  The available historical material does not confirm whether the proposed company began operations.

  Source

1. 1Hidayat Charitable Societyen.wikipedia.org