Abaz Hilmi (''Abaz Hilmi Dede''; 13 March 1887 – 18 March 1947) was the 5th

Dedebaba The Dedebabate is the leadership of Bektashism The Bektashi Order; sq, Tarikati Bektashi; tr, Bektaşi or Bektashism is an Islamic Sufi mystic movement originating in the 13th-century. It is named after the Anatolian saint Haji Bektash ...

(or Kryegjysh) of the

Bektashi Order The Bektashi Order; sq, Tarikati Bektashi; tr, Bektaşi or Bektashism is an Islamic Sufi mystic movement originating in the 13th-century. It is named after the Anatolian saint Haji Bektash Wali (d. 1271). The community is currently led by ...

.Abaz Hilmi Dede Baba
(Kryegjyshata Botërore Bektashiane)

Biography

Early years

Abaz Hilmi was born and raised in Mërtinj village in the

Përmet Përmet (; sq-definite, Permeti) is a city and municipality in Gjirokastër County, southern Albania. The municipality of Përmet consists of the administrative units of Çarçovë, Frashër, Petran, Qendër Piskovë and Përmet. The total popul ...

region. Around 1905, he became a

dervish Dervish, Darvesh, or Darwīsh (from fa, درویش, ''Darvīsh'') in Islam can refer broadly to members of a Sufi fraternity A fraternity (from Latin language, Latin ''wiktionary:frater, frater'': "brother (Christian), brother"; whence, ...

under Baba Shaban at the tekke of Baba Tahir in Prishta,

Skrapar Skrapar ( sq-definite, Skrapari) is a municipality in Berat County, southern Albania. It was created in 2015 by the merger of the former municipalities Bogovë, Çepan, Çorovodë, Gjerbës, Leshnjë, Potom, Qendër Skrapar, Vendreshë and Zhepë ...

From World War I to World War II

He and Baba Shaban fled the tekke in January 1914, when Greece occupied Albanian tekkes and destroyed many of them. They lived in exile in Egypt for four years and were finally able to return to Albania in 1918. Back in Albania, he helped rebuild the tekkes at Prishta, Suka, and

Frashër Frashër (; sq-definite, Frashëri; rup, Farshar) is a village and a former municipality in the Gjirokastër County, southern Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became a subdivision of the municipality Përmet. The population at the ...

. Abaz Hilmi also attended the first, second and third

National Congresses of the Bektashi National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, c ...

in 1921, 1924 and 1929. He was also baba at the

tekke of Frashër The Tekke of Frashër () or Nasibî Tâhir Baba Tekke is a Bektashi shrine and Albanian Bektashi tekke founded in 1781 and registered Cultural Monument of Albania, located in Frashër, Gjirokastër County in southern Albania. The tekke was crucia ...

from 1942 to 1945, during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

After World War II

However, Abaz Hilmi was not liked by the Communists during the years directly following

Xhafer Sadik Xhafer Sadik (Xhaferr Sadik Dede or Xhafer Sadiku) (1874–1945) was the 4th Dedebaba (or Kryegjysh) of the Bektashi Order.

was set up by the Communists to preside over the Fourth National Congress of the Bektashi in May 1945, and Abaz Hilmi was appointed

on 6 September 1945. Nonetheless, Abaz Hilmi would only hold that position until 19 March 1947 when he committed suicide.

Baba Faja Martaneshi Baba Faja Martaneshi (1910 - 18 March 1947) was an Albanian Bektashi ''baba'' (Sufi) and a resistance leader during the National Liberation War of the Albanian People. Biography Baba Faja was born Mustafa Xhani in Luz i Madh, Kavajë and pursue ...

had pushed for liberal reforms such as allowing clerics to marry, shave their beards, and wear non-clerical clothing, reforms which Abaz Hilmi had opposed.

Murder–suicide

On 19 March 1947, Abaz Hilmi shot and killed both

and Baba Fejzo Dervishi, and also killed himself afterwards.

Ahmet Myftar Ahmet Myftar (also known as Ahmet Myftar Dede, Ahmet Myftari, or Ahmet Myftar Ahmataj) (1916–1980) was the 6th Dedebaba (or Kryegjysh) of the Bektashi Order.

was subsequently appointed as Dedebaba by the Communist regime on 8 June 1947.

Tyrbe

Today, the remains of Dede Baba Abaz Hilmi are buried in a tyrbe at the

World Headquarters of the Bektashi The World Headquarters of the Bektashi or Bektashi World Center ( sq, Kryegjyshata Botërore Bektashiane; often simply known in Albanian as the Kryegjyshata) is the international headquarters of the Bektashi Order, a Sufi order. It is located on ...

( sq, Kryegjyshata) in

Tirana Tirana ( , ; aln, Tirona) is the capital and largest city of Albania. It is located in the centre of the country, enclosed by mountains and hills with Dajti rising to the east and a slight valley to the northwest overlooking the Adriatic Sea ...

, Albania.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hilmi, Abaz 1887 births 1947 deaths Bektashi dedebabas Albanian Sufis Albanian religious leaders Murder–suicides in Albania People from Përmet Suicides by firearm in Albania 1940s murders in Albania 1947 murders in Europe 1947 crimes in Albania