Under the guidance of the World Grandfather of the Bektashis, His Holiness, Haxhi Dede Edmond Brahimaj, on Sunday, July 10, 2022, was organized the commemoration of the 42nd anniversary of the passing away of the former World Grandfather of the Bektashins, Ahmet Myftar Dede. Many believers and well-wishers met the World Grandfather Dede Edmond and visited the tombs shrine of the Dedelers in the Grandfather, in the museum, as well as participated in the presentation and donation of 8 paintings for Bektashism, exhibited in the lobby of the Museum of Bektashism by the well-known painter Rakip Shabani. Also, at dinner, prayers were said in the mejdan, a historical documentary film about Dede Ahmet was watched, and the participants were at a tribute dinner. In the rites of this commemorative day, Bektashian fathers and dervishes, Bektashi Quarters also participated. The ceremony of donating 8 paintings to Bektashism was accompanied by the speech of the Grandfather, who emphasized the message of Dede Ahmet's excellent work.
Among other things, Grandfather Edmond Brahimaj asserted: "... Today is a special day as 8 paintings are being donated to us from the fund of the exhibition on Bektashism, by the painter Rakip Shabani, where there is also the painting of Grandfather Ahmeti. Here's what Dede Reshati says about his myrshid, Dede Ahmeti: 'I met Dede Ahmeti when I was 17 years old. He entered my life and will remain there until my last breath. He took me by the hand and introduced me to the bright path of Bektashism, the path illuminated by our Pir Haxhi Bektash Veliu. Dede Ahmeti has been and remains a heavy stone in the foundations of Albanian and world Bektashism. With his wisdom, with his wit, with his courage, Dede Ahmeti led the World Grand Headquarter for ten years in a row. I thank all of you who have gathered here today, I thank the painter Rakip Shabani and I wish him more success in the future...!
Among the donated paintings are Haxhi Bektash Veliu's, Rexhebi's father, Dede Ahmet Myftari's, Dede Reshat's, Dede Edmond Brahimaj's, Hajdar Qencka's father, Kuzum-Baba's tyrba, Melçan's teqe in 1917. Painter Rakip Shabani , thanked the Grandfather for this reception on this marked day. Also, the researcher of Albanian polyphony, Prof. Naxhi Kasaruh. The historical documentary film about Ahmet Myftar Dede was watched with interest.
His life and work have left a mark on this cleric. He started his activity as a dervish in 1937, at the age of 22, in the village of Bllaca, next to father Zenel Dumes. He was only 22 years old when he was dressed as a dervish by father Zenelit of Bllaca village in Dibër, where he took a holy oath to serve the path of Haku until his last breath. Here he stayed and served as a dervish under the guidance of father Zeneli in the years 1937-1939. He was a freedom fighter during the Second World War where he was wounded. Arrested during the war by the Italian fascists. On October 2, 1945, he received the title 'Baba' and served full of devotion in the tekke of Baba Hamiti-Elbasan as well as Kuzum Baba in Vlora. On June 2, 1948, by decision of the General Council of the Bektashian Community, he was placed in the highest position, that of the World Grandfather Bektashian. During the years 1948-1958, he organized religious education, where, among other things, dozens of books about Bektashism were translated into Albanian. In these years, he gave rise to Bektashism and became a factor of religious harmony between the traditional religious communities in Albania. It resolved a series of obligations of the Albanian Bektashi Community with other Bektashi around the world.
Ratings for Dede Ahmet:
- From the Presidency, Order for Patriotic Activity Class I (posthumous) 16.07.1993
-Honorary Citizen of Vlora (after death) 30.10. 2000
-Prominent figure in the Albpost 2001 stamp issue
- Personality of Labëria from the Association "Labëria", 25.02. 2014
-From the Presidency, "Honour of the Nation" (posthumous), February 22, 2016
- "Honorary Citizen of Brataj Municipality" (posthumous), August 2016
- His bust has been placed in the city of Vlora...
- His bust was placed in Brataj, 2011
- His bust has been placed in Kruja, December 2021
- Several books have been published and several documentary films have been produced.
Prepared:
Xhorxhin ÇULLHAJ
Photos: N. ÇUMANI
