Today, the 99th anniversary. World Grandfather, Haxhi Dede Edmond Brahimaj:
The decisions of this Congress, a platform of vital religious and patriotic importance
The First Bektashi Congress of Prishtia, events of extraordinary importance for Bektashism
By Kujtim BORIÇI
Today is an event marked for millions of Bektashis around the world, as it is the day when 99 years ago, the First Bektashi Congress of Prishtia was held (started on 14 and ended on 17 January 1921), whose historic decisions, played and continue to play an important role for the Bektashi order and beyond. This event is commemorated with special honor and respect in all Bektashi tekkes in Albania and abroad, while in the premises of the Bektashi Holy See, there are receptions and activities still conceived for this date. "The importance of this event, the First Bektashi Congress of Prishta, is multidimensional. First, this Congress came to a critical situation for the Bektashi faith itself, but also politically and economically for Albania and other countries and aimed at reorganizing this sect in the new conditions. "Secondly, the Bektashi clerics who took part and signed the statute were and remain well-known clerics and intellectuals, patriots who had shown and show that they are not only preachers, but also practitioners of the Bektashi principle, 'without a homeland there is no religion'." - affirms among others the Bektashi World Grandfather, His Grace, Haxhi Dede Edmond Brahimaj.
The historical context of the holding of Congress
The First Bektashi Congress of Prishta, according to the documents of the time (including the print media), was held in a difficult political and economic situation not only for Albania, but much wider. The first Bektashi Congress of Prishta, in Skrapar was special because the historical circumstances that our country was going through, the war and the efforts of Albanian patriots on the issue of nationalization of religious institutions and their full independence was part of the historic process of state consolidation Albanian. Because there was a tendency to deepen regional differences, which hindered the construction of political and educational institutions and made foreign interventions even easier. Obstructing the process both at home and abroad. Therefore the independence of religious institutions from the beginning of independent state life was an important node at the right time and place. In the group preparing for the First Congress of Prishtina, among the main ones were father Hyseijn, father Ahmet, father Ali Turabiu, father Kamberi etc. The fact that this important congress continued to improve the above parameters, increase the number of Bektashi believers, their geographical spread, structural and organic strengthening of Bektashi institutions, increase national consciousness, shows strengthen faith in God, that he was held at the right time, thanks to the intellectual culture of the patriotic clergy of this faith. The fathers, with their wisdom and visionaries, saw this process as part of the Lushnja Congress as an important process for the democratization of the Albanian state. With their demands to the government of Sulejman Delvina.
Holding the congress in Prishtina
The decision to hold the congress in Prishta is related to many circumstances, but among the most important, according to scholars are: The massive spread of the Bektashi faith in Albania, especially in the southern part of the country; the fact that the tekke of Prishta was one of the richest and most important tekkes in Albania, especially for its role it played at the beginning of the post-Ottoman period; the fact that the clergy who worked and directed the Bektashi tekkes in this area had a very well-known religious and patriotic activity; the geographical position of the tekke of Prishta, which enabled the arrival in this important event of the Bektashi clerics from Albania, as well as other countries where this faith had its extension and well-known activity, etc .. Thanks to numerous organizational, technical preparations, logistics and others, on January 14, 1921, the First Bektashi Congress of Prishta started. This successful Congress continued for four days in a row, closing the proceedings on January 17 this year. In addition to the fathers of the tekkes, well-known intellectuals, the representative of the Albanian government, Feim Zavalani, also participated in this Congress. Congress, remembered for many important decisions. Among them was the approval of the Bektashi Statute, which was called the "Bektashi League", which had 28 articles in total. He also elected the "Father Council", consisting of Grandfather Ahmet father Turani, Xhemal father Përmeti, Hajdar father Turani-Korça Ahmet father Elbasani, Grandfather Sulejman father Gjirokastra, Mustafa father Frashëri, Kamber father Prishtina. " This ‘Father Council’ (center in Sukë of Përmet) which had seven members, had the task of organizing Bektashism in Albania and beyond, mutual assistance and cooperation between Dedeliks, etc. Among the historic decisions on Bektashism and its national cause, was the school's decision to train Bektashi clerics called the "Bektashi Teacher" and the Albanian translation of Bektashi literature.
Bektashi World Grandfather, Haxhi Dede Edmond Brahimaj:
The First Bektashi Congress of Prishtina, an important event
"Among the historical events of Bektashism, in the eight hundred year history of its existence, undoubtedly the First Bektashi Congress of Prishta, has an important place. The significance of this important event is multidimensional. First, this Congress came to a critical situation for the Bektashi faith itself, but also politically and economically for Albania and other countries and aimed to reorganize this tariqat in the new conditions. The congress was held on January 14-21, 1921. It was held in a delicate situation, when in Turkey and all the Asian regions, the Bektashi tariqat was under blind anger and senseless capital punishment, the consequences of which would be very severe. The Congress was held thanks to the will of God, the humility of our clergy towards the bright path of Haxhi Bektash Veliu, their mission for more faith in the Creator, more peace, wisdom, kindness and love for each other, for the nation. His decisions are important, decisions which quickly influenced the growth and strengthening of our faith, the construction and maintenance of our tekkes, the strengthening of patriotic feeling, etc ... In this context, the decisions to open the school "Bektashi Teacher" for The preparation of Bektashi clerics and the translation of Bektashi literature into Albanian were decisions of capital importance, which time showed very quickly. Therefore, the commemoration of the 99th anniversary of the holding of the First Bektashi Congress of Prishtina, is an important event for us millions of Bektashis in Boca and millions of other sympathizers "- says for‘ Telegraf ’the Bektashi World Leader, Dede Edmond Brahimaj
