Today, February 16, 2021, the Bektashi World Leader was in the Dedelik of Elbasan, where he participated in the commemoration of two important events, the founding of the tekke of Baba Xhemali (founded by Father Ali Horasani in the 17th century) and the anniversary of the passing from this life of father Sherif Canometajt. The World Grandfather was received and accompanied in the respective traditional rites by Father Faik Selmani. Along with many believers, in this event that was commemorated in full security measures due to Covid-19, were the clergymen father Sadik Ibrokodheli, father Avdul Shehu, dervish Ardit Selmani and other clergymen.
Father Xhemal’s tekke
Father Xhemali (died in 1862), was one of the first to spread Bektashi doctrine in Elbasan, but no much is known about him (they killed him because they wanted to seize the property of the tekke). In the old records of the Waqf it is stated about its land that “The tekke of father Ali Horasani is located on the side of the river Shkumbin, near the tomb of Goca. For a long time the tekke of father Ali Horasani did not work. It was named after the tekke of Father Xhemali (a Turk, came to Albania in 1925), after the closure of the tekkes in Turkey. Known as an experienced father in the tekkes of Turkey, Haji Bektash, Istanbul, Baghdad, highly cultured scholar. He, in Elbasan, rebuilt from the foundations the old tekke of father Ali Horasani on its ruins and the shrie of father Ali Horasani, in 1929. He worked with dedication for Bektashism, kept in touch with other tekkes in Elbasan, Gramsh, Kruja, Martanesh, World Headquarters in Tirana. He passed away on September 28, 1949 and was buried in the shrine of Father Ali Horasan. The clergy continued to lead the tekke: father Ali Riza Qazimi (1949-September 1953); father Sherif Canometaj (1953- October 1958); dervish Myrtezai, until 1965. The building is two-storey, rectangular with a stone wall. There are Maidan rooms, waiting rooms, ashefin etc. There is a yard and a garden with fruit trees. Next to it is built the shrine with entrance gate and dome of Bektashi tradition. In 1967, the tekke was closed and turned into a state institution. It was reopened by Father Sherif Canometi on June 14, 1993. Father Sadik Ibro ran the tekke (1994-2006) and currently by Father Faik Selmani and dervish Admir Selmani…
Father Sherif Canometaj
Father Sherif Canonetaj was born on August 4, 1908 in the Carromet village, of the mountain of Zhapokika-Tepelena, in a family with Bektashi traditions. His family nurtured him with love for God and Homeland. At the age of 11, he read fluently in Albanian and Arabic. At the age of 27, in 1935, he received the hand of ‘dervish’, in the tekke of Koshtan, from his father Shefqet Koshtani; in 1943, he started the dervish course in the Headquarter of Bektashi Community, but due to the war, the course was interrupted. He resumed and completed the two-year dervish course at the Bektashi World Headquarters in 1945-1946. Father Sherifi also taught with a private teacher, Hafiz Ali Korça, who stayed every year, for two or three months, in the Great Tekke of Elbasan. He also taught philosophy, literature, and foreign languages in Arabic, Persian, Turkish, and Italian. On November 4, 1948, Dede Ahmeti was appointed father in the Greshica tekke. Then he moved to the tekke of Çorrush, Mallakastër, to the tekke of Zall; in the Supreme Council; in the tekke of father Xhemal in Elbasan; in the tekke of Martanesh and in the years 1960-1964, in the tekke of Prishta-Skrapar. Then he went to the Tekke in Elbasan, where he stayed until 1967. After that he engaged in trade, sold cigarettes for 23 years and lived in Elbasan. He is known by several surnames, such as: Carrometi, Canometi, Hajdini, Shabani, Cani and Elbasani. In Elbasan, in the apartment where he lived, he had placed on the door of the house the inscription “Tekke”, the surname Canometi and he liked to say that ‘I am from Zhapokika of Tepelena’, ‘I was born in Canometaj’. During his service as a clergyman, with his work, the wide culture he possessed and the respect he enjoyed from all Bektashi clerics and believers, but also among the people, he managed to obtain all the ranks of Bektashi cleric. In 1965 he became Caliph. He left an indelible mark on popular memory and Bektashism. It is these values that elevate the figure of this saint.Father Sherifi remains a prominent figure of Bektashism.
Prepared by:
Nuri ÇUNI
Kujtim BORIÇI
