Bektashi World Leader, Haxhi Dede Edmond Brahimaj: "Martyr of the Fatherland" and "Honor of the Nation", Sali Niazi Dedei, outstanding contribution as a clergyman and patriot!
Today, the 90th anniversary of the arrival in Albania of the World Leader of the Bektashis, Sali Niazi Dedei
By Nuri Çuni
Today, January 28, is the 90th anniversary of the arrival of the Bektashi World Leader, Sali Niazi Dedei in Albania. His arrival on January 28 in the tekke of Turan-Korça, marked an important event for all Bektashis everywhere in the world and all Albanians who are proud of the name and work of this cleric. He became the World Leader of the Bektashis, the spiritual leader of millions of Bektashi believers. Sali Dedei for his monumental and spiritual work has been praised with the high title "Martyr of the Fatherland" and has been decorated with "Honor of the Nation".
Who was Sali Niazi Dede
He came to life at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, 1876 and was the son of Dervish Cufa. It was the time when Bektashism in Albania, had spread for centuries from north to south and east and west. Tekkes and dervishes had spread throughout the country. Of course, not only in the Albanian territories, but also in other Balkan countries, neighboring us, the Bektashi doctrine was becoming more and more known. Because the doctrine of the Bektashi faith was adapted to the Balkan realities, as well as to the tolerant spirit it conveyed, brotherhood, wisdom and love for the homeland with the well-known motto "Without a homeland there is no religion". The family, religious and social environment of the region of Kolonja, where the tekkes of Starje, Leskovik, Qesaraka, Kreshova, etc., lived, left deep traces in his childhood. He completed his primary education in his hometown. He emigrated when he was young with his family to Istanbul. Here he continued the schools of the time and always went to visit the tekke of Haxhi Bektashi. Archival documents say that he entered to the secret of the mystical path and, in 1896, he was in Nevshehir, in the famous tekke of Haxhi Bektash Veliu, where he enrolled in the tekke school. In this school he embraces not only the teachings of the Qur'an, the hadiths of the Prophet Muhammad but also the keys of mystical knowledge. With this vision he was endowed with a complete religious culture, studying the works of great mystics such as Ghazaki, Fazali, Suhreverdi, Muhijdin Arabi, Omar Ibn Faridhi, Ibn Sebini and Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumiu, who is one of the prides of mankind and one among the great mystics of the Islamic world. Step by step Sali according to the canonical rules of Bektashism took up and entered spiritually into the Bektashi order, first in 1897 becoming a myhib and dervish. In 1899, in a special ceremony, he becomes Myxheret (did not marry). It is interesting that here, he attracts the attention of the former Chief of the time, Haxhi Fejzi Dedeit (originally from the village of Maricaj in Tepelena), who keeps him close and influences the ranks of the Bektashi hierarchy. In 1901, he was promoted to father and in 1913 to grandfather. Former Grandfather Fejzi Dede sends him in 1908 on a mission to Albania to collect the necessary aid for that time of the World Headquarters in Turkey, a mission which Sali Niazi Dedei successfully completed. For his work merits, he entered the World High Clerical Council. After 15 years, with the departure from this life of the former Bektashi World Leader, Haxhi Fejzi Dedei, the High Parents' Council, in 1914, appointed Sali Niazi to the high position of leader of this faith, World Leader. He led the Bektashi World Headquarters in Turkey until 1926. It was an honor not only for Sali Niazi, but for all Albanians. ..
Arrival in Albania, January 28, 1930 - Grandfather Salih Niazi, who belongs to the Albanian tribe and is known as the Pope of all Bektashis in the world.
When the Turkish parliament, by a special decision, in December 1925 ordered the closure of all tekkes in Turkey, Sali Niazi Dedei turned a blind eye to his homeland, Albania. The correspondence of Sali Niazi Dede sent on March 10, 1929, with Sabri Qyteza, stands out, where it is requested that measures be taken for the establishment of the Bektashi World Headquarters in Albania, after it was closed in Turkey. After several consultations with the Albanian consulate in Istanbul, the clergy in Albania and King Zog, in consultation with the patriarchal councils in various countries, took the right decision to move the Bektashi World Center from Turkey to Albania. In the new situation, the arrival in Albania of the Bektashi World Center, some important measures were taken, where the role of the Bektashi Congresses stands out. As we know, Bektashi congresses played an important role in the life and structural organization in the years of Bektashiism in Albania, but also in democracies. As we know, the Bektashi congresses played an important role in the life and structural organization during the years of Bektashiism in Albania, but also in the democratization of the life of the country. This example was given by the first Bektashi congress in Prishta of Skrapar, held on January 14-17, 1921.… The formation of the Albanian Bektashi Community by this Congress was part of the contributions of the Bektashis for centuries… Another important event for the Bektashis of Albania was the third Bektashi Congress, held on September 26, 1929, in the tekke of Turan-Korça where, among other things, it was placed in its statute (Transitional provision, art. 57: “The temporary center with the Bektashi religious community is the Tekke of the Holy Shrine of Turan (Korça). ”In January 1930, Sali Dedei set sail on the“ Express ”steamer from Istanbul to Piraeus, Greece on a journey of about 22 hours. Then, after a 24 hour journey, he arrived there. There was received by a special commission of 17 Bektashis, among whom: father Ramadan Qatromi, father Zylfo Melçani, deputies of the time Et`hem Osmani and Ali Koprëncka, Father Kamber of the tekke of Prishtina, father Sulejman of the tekke of Shtufi , dervish Rexhebi, father Hysni of the Turan-Tepelena tekke, father Hasan of Memaliaj tekke, father Xhafer of the Përmet tekke, father Seit of Leskovik tekke, Ali father of the Kulmakut-Skrapar tekke, Mustafa's dervish of the Frashër tekke and many other myhib and ashiks… Then they continued their way: in the tekke of Turan, Tepelena, Suka, Këlcyrë, Përmet, Leskovik where they were received by Sabri Qyteza, Teufik Lamçe and Teufik Orgocka and the delegates of Kolonjë, father Hajdari, poor Myhtar, Sali Butka and others. At the entrance of Erseka received His Holiness the Deputy Prefect, the Mayor, Deputy. The Metropolitan, the Finance Officer, the Peacemaking Judge, the Gendarmerie Commander, the Doctor of the Municipality, the lawyers and the nobility of the country, Bektashis and Orthodox. On behalf of the people of Cologne, the birthplace of the Supreme Leader, His Holiness was greeted with an enthusiastic speech by the lawyer Mr. Selami Libohova 200 In Qafën e Qarrit, 200 people had come to meet the Grandfather. The group that accompanied him after getting in the cars parked in the convoy headed to the city of Korça. In the afternoon they arrived at the Turan tekke, on 28 January. ‘Newspaper of Korça’, on February 1, 1930, writes, among other things: “This event of the arrival of Sali Niazi Dede was best written by the press of the time and in the letter he sent to his friend Ali Naxhi Bajkali in Turkey. Of course, even in the archival documents over the years, we find information why the Grandfather comes to Albania. A document (Central State Archive, Fund 883, year 1932, file 1, pp. 1 - 3) states: known as the Pope of all the Bektashis of the world, was forced to leave the big center of Bektashism, and came and took his place in Tirana as the Supreme Leader of Albania, all holding his high office as the custodian of this faith throughout the world ”.
His activity in Albania
Sali Niazi Dede, came to Albania with clear ideas to increase the Bektashi faith, here in the southwest of Christian Europe. As soon as he set foot on Albanian soil, the prominent Bektashi cleric, in addition to the traditional spirit of the Bektashi faith, also tried that of ordinary believers. In the letter sent by father Ali Naxhi Bajkali, in those last days of January 1930, after describing the journey to Albania from Saranda to Korça, he writes, among other things:… “Going to Turan with twenty-five cars, will remain a unforgettable and very precious memory for me. We will stay here for a few days and we will go to Tirana to receive the order of the Grandfather. ”His placement in the tekke of Turan Korça was of special importance, because it became the first Bektashi Institution in the world in Albania. This was accompanied by meetings of King Zog in February and his appointment as World Bektashi Leader in March of that year. Respecting the will of the Bektashi clerics, Zog's government issued a special decree in March 1930 appointing Sali Niazi Dedena, the World Leader of the Bektashis. This can also be seen in an archival document which reads:… ”You are informed that, as after the letter No. 323, dated 20.3.1930, of the Ministry of the Royal Court, His Highness, the King, had the kindness to order the decree of the appointment of His Grace, Salih Niazi Dede, Bektashi Leader ”. On April 4, 1930, he organized the meeting of the Parents' Council. Considering the great needs of the organization, he sends a circular to the Bektashi Parental and Parental Centers of Albania. In seven points, it is written about the appearance in the Presidency of the heads of the Dedeliks and the names of the dervishes and fathers in their tekkes in detail, to follow the orders of the Dedeliks, the appointment of the local council of each Dedelik, for the best administration of the tekke property. A Statement of the Bektashi Parental Council was also prepared for all the Bektashi believers of the people of Albania, stating that: “This faith has always walked on the right path of God and has preached: justice, love, wisdom, freedom, discipline. . The Bektashi faith has tried to heal any moral or spiritual wounds that have brought great pain to the body of the nation from which it is being honored today. ” The aim was to strengthen and organize the Bektashi Community in Albania and in the world. On August 2, 1930, the Government of Zog, with a special decision, decided that the World Center should be in the tekke of Melçan. The Bektashi World Headquarters, in 1931, was finally established in Tirana. Bektashi Albanianism would extend to other Balkan areas. We look at the correspondence of Sali Niazi Dede with the tekke of Turanballi Sultan, Thessaloniki, Catherine in Greece, Bulgaria for problems of property, personnel, etc. For eleven years, Sali Niazi Dede, was able to educate and inspire dozens of Bektashi dervishes and fathers to walk unwaveringly and full of chastity in the path of Hak. Many dervishes in his period saw the virginity ceremony and many of the fathers surrendered to their grandparents, such as father Mehmet Kruja, father Xhafer Përmeti, father Murat Frashëri, father Sejid Leskoviku, father Zylfo Turani, father Sirriu of Cairo and many others. The capital in Tirana progressed both in organization and in spiritual education. Sali Dedei also set up the school, in special courses, for the preparation of dervishes, with father Qazim Bakalli as director. Sali Niazi Dede, honored and respected the Albanian leader, the great national poet Naim Frashëri. In 1937, when his remains were buried in Tirana by the government, they were placed in the premises of the World Headquarters, where later, he erected a special monument. He faithfully preserved the Bektashi code as a tradition within the faith. But the independence of ideas and actions, in educating the patriotic spirit, the natural resentment towards the occupier, undoubtedly led to the resurrection of the blind powers towards Sali Niazi Dedei. The murderous hand that shot at Sali Niazi Dede on November 28, 1941 and ousted Aziz, thought he would frighten the entire army of Bektashi clerics. But that did not happen. …
World Grandfather, Haxhi Dede Edmond Brahimaj, for today's event in Korça and Sali Niazi Dedei
Full 90 years ago, in the tekke of Turan, the warm voice of Sali Niazi Dedei, the early son of Kolonja, the cleric who grew up and was educated in the Bektashi tradition, to reach the high post, was heard. of the World Grandfather, at the Bektashi Capital in New Shehir, Turkey. Although the reception that the people of southern Albania gave to Sali Niazi Dedeit was unusual, although the Bektashi believers of Kolonja and Korça accompanied him through the enthusiasm from Qafa e Qarrit and up to here, although the atmosphere was truly fraternal, this does not mean that the journey and that man's decision, had been easy. That compassionate cleric, accustomed to devotion to God through the philosophy of Haxhi Bektash Veliu, had recently crossed the threshold of the blessed tekke of New Shehir, leaving behind not only grief and deep silence, but also a testimony of rarely, 700-year-old Bektashi order. Launched as early as 1826, the crackdown on Bektashism, the infidelities and the crimes against it, the hundreds of thousands of followers killed, would be worthy to be placed alongside Shakespeare’s tragedies. The Ottoman Empire, though experiencing its glorious end, was ready to do anything to eradicate the Bektashi tariqat from the Muslim family, although this tariqat had once inspired the sultans themselves. However, the arrival in Albania of the Bektashi World Leader, the man from Starja of Kolonja, who had known how to lead Bektashi miracles all over the world, was a will and desire of God. But this will was fulfilled to the end by the efforts and sacrifices of thousands of Bektashi clerics and believers of Albanian lands throughout the Balkans, who with the spirit of brotherhood they distributed, accepted in their great bosom, the Bektashi World Headquarters. Although 90 years have passed since the arrival of Sali Niazi Dede in the Turan Tekke, the memories of all of us are precious. Because the trust of Haxhi Bektash Veliu in every Bektashi cleric and believer has been expensive, because this sect has always coexisted with the troubles of the nation. Although the murderous hand took the life of Sali Niazi Dedei on November 28, 1941, our faith was neither shaken nor shrunk. On the contrary, Sali Niazi's followers all left, precious traces. The names of Ali Riza Dedei, Kamber Ali Dedei, Xhaferr Sadik Dedei, Abaz Ilmi Dedei, Ahmet Myftar Dedei and Haxhi Dede Reshat Bardhi, will always shine in the pantheon of world Bektashism. In particular, Ahmet Myftar Dedei and Dede Reshat Bardhi, will be remembered . On the contrary, Sali Niazi's followers all left, precious traces. The names of Ali Riza Dede, Kamber Ali Dede, Xhaferr Sadik Dede, Abaz Ilmi Dede, Ahmet Myftar Dede and Haxhi Dede Reshat Bardhi, will always shine in the pantheon of world Bektashism. In particular, Ahmet Myftar Dedei and Dede Reshat Bardhi, will be remembered for keeping alive the faith in God, precisely in the most difficult times, in the years of dictatorship he left behind. … Takes the opportunity to assure the believers in Albania everywhere in the world that the Holy Bektashi Headquarters, built on blood, sacrifices, becoming not only an institution of eternal peace, but also a mission for religious brotherhood, wherever its spirit , enlivens our faith communities. We will do everything possible so that today's Albanians do not leave the tekkes, do not leave the mosques and churches to leave the homeland, but unite around the hope for a worthy Albania. Times are hard, but we have faith in the Most High God.
Albanian World Dede
Sali Niazi Dede, 1914-1941
Ali Riza Dede, 1941-1944
Kamber Ali Dede, 1944-1945
Xhafer Sadik Dede, 1945-1945
Ahmet Myftar Dede, 1947-1980
Haxhi Dede Reshat Bardhi, 1991-2011
Haxhi Dede Edmond Brahimaj, 2011
Prepared for publication: Kujtim Boriçi