The first attempt to create a State Anthem in Azerbaijan was made during the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.

In addition to other attributes of statehood, the government of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic has taken certain steps and decided to create our state anthem. Although the draft of the anthem of the independent Republic of Azerbaijan was prepared in 1919-20, historical and political events of that period did not allow it to be adopted at the legislative level. Thus, in the issue of the Azerbaijan newspaper, the official organ of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, dated November 14, 1919, it is reported that the Ministry of Public Education submitted official proposals to the government on the issue of organizing the preparation of the state anthem and the state emblem. The information also states that the Ministry of Public Education considered it expedient to announce a competition for the creation of an anthem, submit projects for an anthem to the competition by February 1, 1920, and award a prize of 15,000 rubles for the best anthem. On January 30, 1920, the Council of Ministers of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, having considered the proposal of the Ministry of Education, adopted a resolution “Preparation of drafts of state anthem, coat of arms and seal, military orders”. By decision of the government, the announcement of a competition for the preparation of the state anthem, state emblem and seal were entrusted to the Ministry of Public Education, and for military orders - to the Ministry of War. Also, by decision of the government, 50 thousand rubles were allocated to the winner of the competition for the creation of the state anthem. Based on this decision, the Ministry of Public Education on February 19, 1920 announced a competition for the preparation of the state anthem, state emblem and seal in the Azerbaijan newspaper. According to the terms of the competition, the participants of the competition submitted to the office of the Ministry of Public Education on May 1, 1920, a draft of the state anthem (as well as the state emblem and seal) with a detailed description of the historical, national-spiritual and political factors underlying the presented project. These attributes were to be adopted at the legislative level by the second anniversary of the Independence of Azerbaijan (May 28, 1920). However, the occupation of Azerbaijan by Soviet Russia on April 27, 1920 and the fall of national statehood did not allow the adoption of the state anthem of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.

Although the constitutions of the Azerbaijan SSR of 1921, 1927 and 1937 had articles on the flag and coat of arms, there was no article on the anthem.

The state anthem of the Azerbaijan SSR was adopted only in 1944. The music of the anthem belonged to Uzeyir Hajibeyli, and the words to Samed Vurgun and Suleyman Rustam. In 1978, when the new Constitution of the Azerbaijan SSR was adopted, Huseyn Arif made some changes to the text of the anthem, and Niyazi edited the music. According to Article 182 of the 1978 Constitution, the approval of the State Anthem of the Azerbaijan SSR by the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Azerbaijan SSR was determined.

After the restoration of Azerbaijan's state independence in 1991, a historical need arose to adopt a new state anthem. Although at that time there was an initiative to create a new state anthem, everyone recognized the historical fact that the “Azerbaijan March”, composed by Uzeyir Hajibeyli during the ADR period, is an irreplaceable work of art in this regard.

The Supreme Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan discussed this march at its meeting, adopted the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan of May 27, 1992 “On State anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan” and approved the “Azerbaijan March” (music by Uzeyir Hajibeyli, text by Ahmad Javad) as the State Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The “Regulations on the State anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan” was approved by the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan No. 525 of March 2, 1993.

The state anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan is one of the main attributes of statehood and is a sacred symbol of the state independence of our Motherland and the national unity of our country. The state anthem as a sacred symbol and attribute of state independence, expressed in music and words, is always performed standing, with great enthusiasm and national pride, on national and state holidays, historical days, official ceremonies, international events, educational institutions and other occasions, determined by current legislation.

Recommended literature:

1. Mərdanov, Misir Cumayıl oğlu. Azərbaycan Respublikasının Dövlət rəmzləri / M. C. Mərdanov, Ə. Q. Quliyev ; elmi red. R. Ə. Mehdiyev. - Bakı : Çaşıoğlu, 2001. - 272 s.
2. Abbas, İlham. Himnimizin müəllifi... / İ. Abbas ; red. Ə. V. Tanrıverdiyev. - Bakı : Elm və təhsil, 2015. - 100 s.
3. Əliyev, İqrar Həbib oğlu. Azərbaycan Respublikasının Dövlət rəmzləri / İ. H. Əliyev, E. Ə. Məhərrəmov ; red. Y. M. Mahmudov ; AMEA A.A. Bakıxanov adına Tarix İnstitutu, AMEA Arxeologiya və Etnoqrafiya İnstitutu. - Yenidən işlənilmiş nəşri. - Bakı : Nurlan, 2008. - 56 s.