Today in the Holy See of the Bektashi World Headquarters was opened the first day of Matem the centuries-old tradition of the Bektashi Community which will last ten days and will end with the traditional feast of Ashura on September 1, 2020, under strict preventive and protective health measures according to the guidelines of the WHO and the Ministry of Health for the prevention of the global pandemic COVID-19.
Matemi, is the fast of mourning, or commemorative mourning in honor of the work of the martyrs of Karbala. The fast of the Bektashis and other Alevi sects lasts for 10 days of the lunar month of Muharram. During these days, Bektashi, Muslim and Alevi believers everywhere in the world, for 10 days in a row commemorate the 72 martyrs who fell the heroes in Karbala, led by Imam Hyseni, in the seventh century, approximately October 20, 680, in Iraq. These days the Bektashis and others gather in various tekkes, where the guides (clerics) recite aloud the “Hadikas”, perform the daily ritual, commemorating the sufferings of the prophets and the tragic event of Karbala, for their sacred service in it in good of humanity, preaching the path of justice, peace, brotherhood and human perfection. The first night is dedicated to the sufferings of the prophets: Adam, Noah, Ibrahim, Yusuf, Musa and Christ, the second to the Prophet Muhammad, the third to Imam Ali, the fourth to Imam Hasan, the fifth to Imam Husayn (his birth and life). ), the sixth for Imam Husayn, his escape from Medina to Mecca, the seventh for Myslym Achilles the murder of him and his two sons, Myftar and Ibrahim, the eighth for Imam Husayn his departure for Kufa, the ninth for Imam Hysen (arrival at Qerrbela) and the tenth night for his martyrdom and the other martyrs. Because the heroes of this tragedy went to the hereafter, dry-lipped, these days no water is drunk. The tradition which this year due to the prevention of the spread of the Global pandemic will not take place in the premises of the religious cult but in every house of the Bektashi believer.
BEKTASHIAN WORLD GRANDFATHER,
HIS GRACE,
HAXHI DEDE EDMOND BRAHIMAJ