On December 16, 2024, the national competition for philosophical and mystical stories and essays, announced by Khazar University's "Literature Travelers" (klv.az) website on the occasion of the 530th birth anniversary of the great Azerbaijani poet Muhammad Fuzuli, concluded. The award ceremony was attended by university faculty and students, representatives from NAB Holding and the Mevlana Literary-Philosophical Research Institute (MLFRI) who sponsored the competition, as well as admirers of Fuzuli's poetry.

The event, held in Khazar University's Marble Hall, began with performances by Khazar University's Chamber Orchestra and student choir. Nearly 100 students from the Schools of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences, Natural Sciences and Engineering demonstrated their boundless love for Fuzuli's poetry by performing his ghazal beginning with "Don't surrender to love's grief, for love is the soul's affliction" in chorus to the "Shur" mugham. J. Jahangirov's "Fuzuli" cantata, excerpts from "Leyli and Majnun" opera including "Arazbari," and the romance "Vatanimdir" set to Fuzuli's words performed by university student Elvin Aliyev were met with applause.

Minakhanim Gasimova, a third-year student from the School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences, and Aytaj Miriyeva, a first-year student from the School of Natural Sciences and Engineering, performed Fuzuli's ghazals in their unique styles.

Speaking at the event, Prof. Acad. Hamlet Isakhanli, founder of Khazar University, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Trustees, and founder of the "Literature Travelers" website, discussed Fuzuli's role in Azerbaijani and world literature, noting that his poetic world is rich with deep philosophical and mystical meanings. He emphasized that Fuzuli's works should be evaluated not only as literary texts but also as a search for answers to profound philosophical questions about human existence, love, and spiritual quest.

Gardashkhan Azizkhanly, lecturer at the Department of Languages and Literature and editor-in-chief of "Literature Travelers" website, addressed the theme of love and the search for perfection in Fuzuli's heritage. He emphasized that the concept of mystical love in Fuzuli's "Leyli and Majnun" is connected with the concept of perfection in Islamic philosophy. He stated that Fuzuli's love represents not only romantic love but spiritual elevation on the path to divine truth.

Dr. Rustam Lazimov, NAB Holding's representative and Ph.D. in Philology, conveyed greetings from Shahram Mohaghegh Oromi, president of NAB Holding, and highlighted the ideological similarities between Fuzuli's mystical worldview and those of Ibn Arabi, Shahabeddin Suhrawardi, and other Eastern thinkers. He noted that Fuzuli's work represents one of the brightest manifestations of Eastern mystical tradition in Azerbaijani literature.

Then, the winners of the national competition for stories and essays were announced. Ali Aghazade, Fatmakhanim Heydarli, and Tahmina Verdiyeva won in the essay category, while Nurlana Ishig (Mammadova), Sama Guliyeva, and Gulnaz Allahverdiyeva won in the story category. Assoc. Prof. Irada Khalilova, Rector of Khazar University, Assoc. Prof. Dilbar Zeynalova, Head of the Department of Languages and Literature, Prof. Nazakat Mammadli, Director of the Mevlana Literary-Philosophical Research Institute (MLFRI), and Assoc. Prof. Ulvi Babasoy, managing editor of "Literature Travelers" website, presented monetary awards and diplomas to the winners.

An exhibition titled "Fuzuli-530" featuring handicrafts by students of the Architecture and Design Department was displayed at the event.