The Bektashism in Islamic world

The Bektashism in Islamic universe

Abstraction

The rich history of Islam is greatly known but one knows really small about the orders and divergences of this faith. The rule purpose of this paper is to cover with one of the most important orders of Islam in the Balkans, the Bektashis. It will supply farther penetrations sing the beginning of this religious order and inform the reader about the importance it had in the part and particularly in Albania. Furthermore it will explicate the stairss that have been passed through and will set an accent on the topographic point it holds in the history of the Islamic universe and the trusters who backed it up.

Islam is the 2nd biggest faith in the universe. It is a monotheistic, peaceable faith which believes that there is merely one God in the whole existence and his name is Allah. In his book, “Islam the Straight Path” , L.Esposito ( 1998 ) writes that the chief aspiration of Islam is to distribute into the full universe and every act is based on the words of Qur’an and Muhammad expressions and workss. But throughout the old ages of spreading and germinating 12 new orders were created in Islam. They were divergences from the classical faith. One of these orders was The Bektashi Order of Dervishes. The religious order is besides known as the popular Islam or ( non-canonical ) ( L.Esposito, 1998 ) . The purpose was to make Allah in a different manner. Speaking of the most important order that took topographic point in the Balkans and it is still present now yearss the Bektashi order of Dervishes is really celebrated in Albania. Dervishes could be driven in the history of Islam in the same function that monks stay in Christianity. Their unsimilarity sing to Christians is that dervishes do non remain closed in religious residences but they are close to the people in the mundane life ( L.Esposito, 1998 ) . Bektashism was first born in Anatolia and so distribute in the Balkans. The universe centre momently talking is in Tirana, Albania. In order to understand clearly the function of this Sufi order ( Tariqat ) we need to explicate some inquiries raised. Who created it? When was the Bektashi order born? What were the fortunes that leaded to its creative activity? What are its chief characteristics? How did it distribute in the Balkans? What function did it play? What is the place of it in the Islamic history? Bektashism has its ain topographic point in the Islamic universe but the influence of it and the important function it played on Balkans particularly in Albania is considerable.

The Bektashi order of dervishes is the biggest Muslim Sufi in Albania but his being extends besides in other counties of the Balkan like Montenegro, Kosovo and Macedonia.

The word Bektashi originates from the rubric given to Seyed Mohammad Razavi, i.m. Hadji BektashVeli, a Iranian Sufi Born in Khorasan part of Iran in the 13th century ( Pashazadeh, Ashik, Tavarikhi Aali Osman, Istanbul, Aamerah Publication, 1332 Hijri, p.200 ) in ( Asghari, 2012 ) .

Haji Bektash was the laminitis of Bektashism. It is a small spot hard to follow in inside informations the life of Haji because the chief beginnings were written one or two centuries after so we could non province clearly every measure of his life. The birth day of the month of Hadji Bektash is non precisely known by the history but he has likely lived between 1209-1271 ( Idris El Hareir, 2011 ) . Writers like Campo ( 2009 ) in “Encyclopedia of Islam” have come up with the mentions in their books that he was from Neishabur of Iran. Among the latest beginning books on Bektashism, the celebrated Baba Rexhebi’s ( 2007 ) , “Misticizma Islame dhe Bektashizma” points to the same beginning for Haji Bektash. He mentions his birthdate to be at 1209 ( a.c ) . It is thought that Haji Bektash migrated to Anatolia from Khorasan. A peculiar account of why he voyaged could be the Mongolian invasion of Iran ( Weir, 2002 ) . Equally the other motivations matching to distribute the Islamic belief can non be denied. In line with some bookmans he was holder of a mission from his Shaikh. This migration is the start of some legion approaching events. Haji starts to prophesy and derive its first followings. After around two centuries established on the instructions of Haji Bektash, Balim Sultan ( d. ca 1520 CE ) or Piri Sani, constructs the construction of Bektashiyyah order as what we have inherited now ( Rexhebi, 2007 ) .

In his article “The Bektashi Tarikah of Dervishes” Olsi Jazexhi describes that since the organisation that was made by Balim Sultan the Bektashi order possessed a structured hierarchy. Momentarily talking its supreme leader is called dedebaba or kryegjysh- the “great-grandfather” . He is supported by his dedes or else called “grandfathers” . Under the dedes are the babas, the dervishes who lead the Tekkes and are skilled to give religious counsel ( irshad ) . After we find the normal dervishes, so the muhibs ( members that have agreed to give their curse to the order ) and at last the ashiks, who are portion of the sympathetic temporalty. As it is seen it is a really good organized religious order. Possibly the serious organisation and the modern-day attacks it had with Gods made it distribute into the Balkans and last after the Jannissaries were melted.

The ground forcess of Janissary of Ottomans were extremely inspired by Haji`s instructions which made them the religious counsel of the ground forces. They were besides sometimes called “Sons of Haji Betash” . Janissaries were elect soldiers formed by Sultan Murad in 1330 ( Weir, 2002 ) . One effect of the confidant Bektashi association with the Janissaries and hence with Ottoman authorization was that Bektashis were seldom attacked on evidences of philosophy and inventions ( Weir, 2002 ) . So fundamentally we can state for certain that the chief trusters of this new order were a really respectful class of soldiers but finally in 1826 the unit was melted by Sultan Mahmud II ( r. 1808 – 1839 ) because of its destructive function in Ottoman Empire ( Asghari, 2012 ) . After the thaw of Jannissaries from the grand Turk the Bektashis were damaged. Their were destroyed or handed over to other Sufi orders. It is known as the first catastrophe in the history of Bektashism. The Bektashi order was transformed into a existent tariqat at the beginning of the sixteenth century by the expansive maestro Balim Sultan, who is held as the “Second Pir” , or high maestro, of the order Bektashiyya ( Kate Fleet, 2004 ) .

One should hold it clear that the rules of Bektashism as an order are non really far off from Islam in overall. Some bookmans think that the Bektashi signifier of Islam is linked with Christianity and they believe in a three reminiscent of it ( Jazexhi, 2007 ) . This is non true. Like all the other Muslims, Bektashis believe in Allah, in the concluding Day of Judgment and in Resurrection. They have Tekkes alternatively of mosques. Yes the manner to make God is a bit different from the authoritative Islam but this does non put the sect aside from this faith. ( Asghari, 2012 ) states that they tend to stress on the religious and rational side covering with love and concluding but they do non intend to pretermit the Shari`ah Torahs. It should be noted that the chief characteristic of Bektashi spiritual rites lie in the pureness of the bosom and spirit of a individual ( Osmani, 2012 ) . Bektashis non merely execute their day-to-day supplications ( namaz ) in or their Meydans and believe in the Shari ‘ah, but they perform two more recommended supplications at forenoon and midday Baba Ruhi Selim’s ( 1869-1944 ) in “The Bektashi Tarikah of Dervishes” ( Jazexhi, 2007 ) .

It is clear that in this trait it is non different among the other Sufi orders. But what we can province for certain is that it is a modern manner of making God in Islam. Bektashism is a more tolerated religious order particularly towards adult females and civil society values. Harmonizing to Baba Rexhebis ( 2007 ) in “Misticizma Islame dhe Bektashizma”some of its rules are:

• Believing and esteeming the sanctum Quran
• Continuing the Hadith and Tradition of Prophet Muhammad
• Deviation from the sanctum Quran is non accepted
• Bektashism recognizes Islam as faith of logic and ground ; as a consequence the everyday ofprayer must be accompanied by understanding the significance of it.

Detecting Baba Rejab`s words it is seen clearly that the Torahs of Shari`ah are respected by this religious order. Bektashism tries to prosecute the truster with different penetrations and dimensions of the faith in a more modern and societal manner but the kernel stays the same as in Islam.

Different groundss from research show that emerging of Bektashizm in Albania is dated around 17th century which corresponds with the Islamization of Albanians. Anyhow the Bektashis argue to hold been in Albania before the Ottomans ( Jazexhi, 2007 ) . In any instance one can non province clearly the exact beginning of the religious order in Albania. It wasn’t hard for the indigens to change over into Bektashis as Albanians are known for their unstable bonds with a certain faith ( Doja, 2008 ) . Some bookmans claim that Ali Pasha of Janina gave an urge to the spread of Bektashizm in Albania ( Osmani, 2012 ) . He had a really strong influence in the south those yearss and his power was about independent from the Ottoman Empire. It must hold been his support for the Bektashi sermonizers that opened them the manner to turn comfortably in the province. In his article “The Bektashi Tarikah of Dervishes” Jazexhi ( 2007 ) writes that Bektashi historians claim that the spread of Bektashism amongst Albanians was made possible by several dervishes, such as Pir Sultan Abdal and others, who were even martyred for distributing the religion. Besides in Albania the first tekke was the 1 that was built in Gjirokastra in the 17th century by Asim Baba. The sect got stronger and stronger and raised its influence in Albania during the old ages.

“The history of Bektashism witnessed a 2nd great bend when the Turkish Republic was created by Kemal Ataturk” ( Jazexhi, 2007 ) . All Sufi orders were banned. This is called as the 2nd catastrophe harmonizing to Bektashis. He explains that the demand was born to transform the tariqat from an Ottoman one to an Albanian. The ground was Sali Niazi and the influence that Bektashis had in Albania. He was an Albanian who left Ankara for Tirana in 1931 ( Jazexhi, 2007 ) . It was non difficult for Albanians to welcome them chiefly because of the anti-Ottoman points of positions both parts shared. One can see that this have been the strongest ground why their central office were moved in Tirana. Albanian desires were to advance Bektashizm as an independent faith from Islam and the Tekkes were anti-Ottoman centres at the clip ( Doja, 2008 ) . However they refused and preferred to remain as a religious order of Islamic faith. Amongst celebrated Bektashies Albanians were Frasheri brothers who contributed for the creative activity of the modern province of Albania and Ali Pasha. They tried to utilize Bektashism as the best illustration to follow because of its modern-day ethical motives for the clip compared to Islam. During the communist period the Tariqat was destroyed and it made it return in 1990 ( Doja, 2008 ) . The Bektashis operate a considerable figure of Tekkes momently talking in Albania. In Kosovo and Macedonia, Bektashis have besides some of import Tekkes and communities. The most of import return in Macedonia is the Harabati Baba in Tetova ( Jazexhi, 2007 ) .

In decision one should indicate out that the Bektashi order succeeded to derive the esteem of one of the most well-thought-of and celebrated military units at the clip, the Jannissaries and subsequently the Sultan itself. It shows one that this religious order was extremely admirable and of a really great of import for the Ottoman Empire, one of the biggest empires the universe has of all time seen. Its philosophy represents the modern Islam and the divergence for the classical non-canonical 1. However it managed to make the best of universes, a modern point of position and manner to make to God, in conformity with the Islamic Shari`ah for their trusters. The Tariqat was known for their cognition and mind and likely this is the ground why it hugged some of the highest powered people at the clip. It is no demand to state that Bektashi leaders were of a really high mind and they managed to last the both catastrophes that happened. One can see that their diplomatic negotiations and knowledge’s were at a really high criterion. They proved themselves to be an illustration to follow for the creative activity of a new province like Albania was at that clip holding on their subdivision some of the most good known Albanians the history has of all time known. Bektashies were of import in the other parts of Balkans excessively similar Kosovo or Macedonia and their being still lives today particularly in Albania.

Bibliography

Asghari, S. A. ( 2012 ) . A short study on common doctrinesbetween Bektashi order and Shi`ism. London, United Kingdom.

Campo, J. E. ( 2009 ) .Encyclopedia of Islam.New York: Infobase Publishing.

Doja, A. ( 2008 ) .Bektashizmi ne Shqiperi: Historia Politike E Nje Levizjeje Fetare.Tirane: Instituti Shqiptar per Studime Nderkombetare.

Idris El Hareir, E. H. ( 2011 ) .The Spread of Islam Throughout the World.Paris: UNESCO.

Jazexhi, O. ( 2007, 09 10 ) . THE BEKTASHI TARIKAH OF DERVISHES. Algiers, Algeria.

Kate Fleet, G. K. ( 2004 ) .Encyclopaedia of Islam Online.Leyden: BRILL.

L.Esposito, J. ( 1998 ) .Islam The Straight Path.Oxford University Press Inc.

Osmani, E. ( 2012 ) . God in the Eagles’ State: The Bektashi Order. In E. Osmani. Graz.

Rexhebi, B. ( 2007 ) .Misticizma Islame dhe Bektashizmi ( Second Edition ) .Djakarta: Babagan Books.

Weir, A. ( 2002, February 2 ) .Beyond the Pale.Retrieved January 15, 2014, from Beyond the Pale Web site: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.beyond-the-pale.co.uk/

1