Xhafer Sadik (Xhaferr Sadik Dede or Xhafer Sadiku) (1874–1945) was the 4th

Dedebaba The Dedebabate is the leadership of Bektashi Order, Bektashism. The dedebabas ( sq, kryegjysh) are the spiritual and religious leaders of the Bektashi Order, Bektashian community. Bektashis do not consider them as divinely appointed leaders. The c ...

(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 ...

.Xhafer Sadik Dede Baba
(Kryegjyshata Botërore Bektashiane) He served as Dedebaba for only 3 months during the summer of 1945.

Biography

Baba Xhafer Sadik was born in 1882 in Gjirokastra,

Albania Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is located on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea and shares ...

. He served as a dervish under

Baba Shemsi Baba and similar words may refer to: Places * Baba mountain range, also known as ''Koh-i-Baba'', in the Hindu Kush of Afghanistan * Baba Canton, a canton in Los Ríos Province, Ecuador * Baba, Iran, a village in Kurdistan Province * Baba, Ko ...

of the tekke of Izmir in Turkey. He also served at the tekke of

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 ...

and was appointed as the ''baba'' (leader) of the tekke in 1920 by

Baba Ahmet of Turan Baba and similar words may refer to: Places * Baba mountain range, also known as ''Koh-i-Baba'', in the Hindu Kush of Afghanistan * Baba Canton, a canton in Los Ríos Province, Ecuador * Baba, Iran, a village in Kurdistan Province * Baba, Ko ...

. 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 ...

, he led a small group of pro-Communist fighters in the

Dangëllia Dangëllia is a traditional or "ethnographic" region of Albania, located primarily around the towns of Përmet and Frashëri, although the exact definition of its borders varies. Neighboring regions include Dishnica to the North, Zagori and Këlc ...

region. Due to his pro-Communist affiliations, the Communists preferred Xhafer Sadik over

Abaz Hilmi Abaz Hilmi (''Abaz Hilmi Dede''; 13 March 1887 – 18 March 1947) was the 5th Dedebaba (or Kryegjysh) of the Bektashi Order.

, who was highly conservative and resisted liberal reforms proposed by the Communists. As such, he was appointed by the Communist regime to preside over the Fourth National Congress of the Bektashi that was held in 1945 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 ...

. Baba Xhafer died on 2 August 1945.

References

1882 births 1945 deaths Bektashi dedebabas Albanian Sufis Albanian religious leaders People from Gjirokastër {{Sufism-stub