Today, March 20, 2019, in the premises of the Bektashi Headquarters in Tirana, under the auspices of the Bektashi World Leader, His Grace, Haxhi Dede Edmond Brahimaj, was held the International Symposium "Bektashism in the Balkans, yesterday's history and today's challenges" . In this annual activity, besides the Bektashi clerics from Albania and other countries, participated the President of the Islamic Community of Montenegro, Reiz Ulema Refat Fejzic; Head of the Assembly of the Islamic Community of Kosovo, Ajni Sinani; Representative of the Muslim Community of Albania, Mr. Lauren Luli; President of the Sufi House of France, Sheikh Abdel Afid; representative of the Municipality of Tirana, Mr. Andis Seferi, etc.
After greetings from the Bektashi World Leader, His Grace, Haxhi Dede Edmond Brahimaj and the above guests, the event continued with a panel of speakers, where spoke Bektashi historians and scholars from Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, Macedonia, Turkey, France, Germany, Bulgaria, etc.
Speech of the Bektashi World Leader, His Grace, Haxhi Dede Edmond Brahimaj:
Bismilahi Rrahmani Rrahim!
In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful!
Honorable President of the Islamic Community of Montenegro, Reiz Ulema Refat Fejzic!
Honorable President of the Assembly of the Islamic Community of Kosovo, Ajni Sinani!
Honorable representative of the Muslim Community of Albania, Mr. Lauren Luli!
Honorable, President of the Sufi House of France, Sheikh Abdel Afid!
Honorable representative of the Municipality of Tirana, Mr. Andis Seferi!
Dear Bektashi scholars and friends of our Holy See, coming from France, Germany, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Turkey, Bulgaria, etc.
Dear brothers, clerics and Bektashi believers who came from the Albanian territories!
I have the special privilege and pleasure to thank all of you who have come today to share together ideas and thoughts about the past, present and future of the Bektashi order, so let me thank you and wish: Good luck always and good luck to you and your families! May the Almighty God, our Imams, Bektashi dervishes and fathers, be near you in every beat of your heart!
It is really significant that the Bektashi Holy See in Tirana, albeit through great responsibilities, albeit through events, albeit through social and economic deprivation, has found the opportunity that every spring, on the eve of Sultan Novruz's birthday celebrations of Imam Ali, to organize such events that serve not only our education, but also Bektashi historical memory. We have been and remain aware that the tariqat to which we belong, although it originated eight centuries ago, has walked through its religious, doctrinal and customary path, enriching itself in different countries and nations, expanding with its waters the sobriety of Islamic mysticism, to be poured into the endless sea of devotion to the Creator and human love.
We are also equally aware that the Bektashi order in the Balkans, established as early as the 13th century, has been able to gain pure spiritual territories, only through the feelings of pure human and religious, nurturing love regardless of race, color or ethnicity. As a bridge of unity with the foundations in the souls of believers, Bektashism has been able to influence the good of ethnic situations, not only in the religious context, but also in the philosophy of human morality. Bektashi tekkes in the former Yugoslavia, Romania, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Kosovo, Northern Macedonia, Greece, etc., were places of brotherhood, where faith in God was always guided by the idea of being a house of hope for all, where Bektashi clerics, in addition to wisdom proverbs of Haxhi Bektash Veliu, conveyed only kindness and peace.
Today we feel proud because even in the Albanian lands, the Bektashi order came and took root through wisdom and suffering. Balkan historiography and beyond have proved that Bektashism in Albania has been active not only in its doctrinal perceptions and movements, but also in identifying its spirit with national movements. It is an undeniable fact that Bektashi tekkes in Albanian areas, especially in the 19th century and early 20th century, had become nests for learning and writing the Albanian language, as it is already known that hundreds of our dervishes and fathers, were sacrificed in our national movement, starting from the major motto that "Without homeland, there is no religion!". The names of these clergy, today and at all times, will illuminate our path to human perfection, to universal peace.
A deep homage goes today to our myrshid, the dear Haxhi Dede Reshat Bardhi, without whose contribution and spirit, we could hardly have revived the Bektashi faith in today's world heights.
Sisters and brothers!
Regardless of what we have achieved and what we intend to achieve at the height of the responsibilities of the Bektashi World Center, we live in an Albania full of troubles and difficulties, before which we can not close our eyes, even on such blessed days of March.
In continuation, we have addressed the political factors of Albania, to sit like in the tekkes, to listen to each other, to accept good and not such words, to think and then to go out to the people to speak. ME I personally judge that if not guided by love for the nation, no kind of politics is enough, no matter how beautiful the statements, because the reality we are going through is sad and difficult. But even in the face of this reality, tekkes in Albania convey only peace and hope.
Meanwhile, we are convinced that every religious context expresses its close relations and connections, with realities full of blind rage. The event of the first few days, where in New Zealand 50 Muslim believers lost their lives, praying, at the hands of a terrorist is not only tragic, but also scary. Praying for the souls of those killed in the mosque, we Bektashis everywhere in the world, strongly condemn this macabre act and unite in the grief of the Muslims of the world. We have come different in this life because that was the will of God. And this will always be present in the world, giving us the strength to unite and never be sad, in the face of such situations, because for us, it is divine peace and mercy, not wars.
God bless everyone!
Amin!
Speech of the Bektashi World Leader,
His Grace
Haxhi Dede Edmond Brahimaj
Holy See, March 20, 2019
