The Bektashi Order; sq, Tarikati Bektashi; tr, Bektaşi or Bektashism is an

Islamic Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God (or '' Allah'') as it was revealed to Muhammad, the mai ...

Sufi Sufism ( ar, ''aṣ-ṣūfiyya''), also known as Tasawwuf ( ''at-taṣawwuf''), is a mystic body of religious practice, found mainly within Sunni Islam but also within Shia Islam, which is characterized by a focus on Islamic spirituality, ...

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

Baba Mondi Hajji Dede Edmond Brahimaj (born May 19, 1959; sq, Haxhi Dede Edmond Brahimaj), commonly known as Baba Mondi, is an Albanian religious leader and the eighth Bektashi Dedebaba (or Kryegjysh) of the Bektashi Order. He is the world leader of the ...

, the eighth Bektashi Dedebaba and headquartered in Tirana, Albania. Bektashism began as a Shia Islamic

Sufi order A tariqa (or ''tariqah''; ar, طريقة ') is a school or order of Sufism, or specifically a concept for the mystical teaching and spiritual practices of such an order with the aim of seeking ''haqiqa'', which translates as "ultimate truth". ...

in Anatolia, during the Ottoman Empire. In 1876, a

Salih Nijazi Salih Nijazi (15 March 1876 – 28 November 1941) was the 1st Dedebaba (or Kryegjysh) of the Bektashi Order that was established in Albania in 1930. Biography Early life Salih Nijazi was born on 5 March 1876 in Starja, a village in the Kolonja ...

was appointed as the "''baba''" or leader by prominent Bektashi members. After the foundation of the Turkish Republic, Kemal Atatürk banned religious institutions that weren't part of the

Directorate of Religious Affairs The Directorate of Religious Affairs in Turkey ( tr, Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı, normally referred to simply as the Diyanet) is an official state institution established in 1924 by the orders of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk under article 136 of t ...

. After this, the community's headquarters relocated to Albania. The order became involved in Albanian politics, and some of its members, including Ismail Qemali, were major leaders of the Albanian National Awakening. Bektashis believe in the Twelve Imams, Fourteen Innocents and the modern-day Dedebabas. In addition to the spiritual teachings of Haji Bektash Veli, the Bektashi order was later significantly influenced during its formative period by the

Hurufi Hurufism ( ar, حُرُوفِيَّة ''ḥurūfiyyah'', Persian: حُروفیان ''hōrufiyān'') was a Sufi movement based on the mysticism of letters (''ḥurūf''), which originated in Astrabad and spread to areas of western Iran (Persia) ...

s (in the early 15th century), the Qalandariyya stream of Sufism, and to varying degrees the Shia beliefs circulating in Anatolia during the 14th to 16th centuries. The mystical practices and rituals of the Bektashi order were systematized and structured by

Balım Sultan Balım Sultan (d. circa 1517/1519) was a Bektashi sufi who established and codified the Bektashi Order at the beginning of the 16th century. The mystical practices and rituals of the Bektashi were systematized and structured by Balım, after which ...

in the 16th century. According to a 2005 estimate made by

Reshat Bardhi Reshat Bardhi or Dedebaba Hajji Reshat ( sq, Baba Haxhi Dede Reshat Bardhi) (4 March 19352 April 2011) was an Albanian religious leader who served as the 7th '' kryegjysh'' or Dedebaba of the Bektashi Order from 1991 to 2011.Albania is the country with the most Bektashis, where they make up 20% of the Muslim population, and 2.5% of the country's population. Bektashis are mainly found throughout Anatolia and the Balkans and among Ottoman-era Greek Muslims communities.

Terminology

Bektashi Islam is named after

Haji Bektash Veli Haji Bektash Veli or Wali ( fa, حاجی بکتاش ولی, Ḥājī Baktāš Walī; ota, حاجی بکتاش ولی, Hacı Bektaş-ı Veli; sq, Haxhi Bektash Veliu) (1209 – 1271) was a Muslim mystic, saint, Sayyid and philosopher from Kh ...

. Collectively, adherents of Bektashi Islam, are called Bektashi Muslims or simply Bektashis. Islamic religious buildings 79

World_headquarters_of_the_Bektashis_building

History

Origins and establishment

The Bektashiyya originated in Anatolia as the followers of the 13th-century scholar Bektash (d. 1271). The doctrines and rituals of the Bektashiyya were codified by the mystic Balim Sultan (d. 1517–1519), who is considered the ('the Second Elder') by Bektashis. It was originally founded as a Sufi movement. The branch became widespread in the Ottoman Empire, their lodges scattered throughout Anatolia as well as in the Balkans. It became the official order of the Janissary corps, the elite infantry corp of the Ottoman Army. Therefore, they also became mainly associated with Anatolian and Balkan Muslims of Eastern Orthodox convert origin, mainly

Albanians The Albanians (; sq, Shqiptarët ) are an ethnic group and nation native to the Balkan Peninsula who share a common Albanian ancestry, culture, history and language. They primarily live in Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Se ...

and northern Greeks (although most leading Bektashi babas were of southern Albanian origin). In 1826, the Bektashi order was banned throughout the Ottoman Empire by

Sultan Sultan (; ar, سلطان ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it ...

Mahmud II for having close ties with the Janissary corps. Many Bektashi dervishes were exiled, and some were executed. Their

tekkes A khanqah ( fa, خانقاه) or khangah ( fa, خانگاه; also transliterated as ''khankah'', ''khaneqa'', ''khanegah'' or ''khaneqah''; also Arabized ''hanegah'', ''hanikah'', ''hanekah'', ''khankan''), also known as a ribat (), is a buildin ...

were destroyed and their revenues were confiscated. This decision was supported by the Sunni religious elite as well as the leaders of other, more orthodox, Sufi orders. Bektashis slowly regained freedom with the coming of the

Tanzimat The Tanzimat (; ota, تنظيمات, translit=Tanzimāt, lit=Reorganization, ''see'' nizām) was a period of reform in the Ottoman Empire that began with the Gülhane Hatt-ı Şerif in 1839 and ended with the First Constitutional Era in 1876. ...

era. After the foundation of the Turkish Republic, Kemal Atatürk shut down the lodges in 1925. Consequently, the Bektashi leadership moved to Albania and established their headquarters in the city of Tirana. Among the most famous followers of Bektashi in the 19th century Balkans were

Ali Pasha Ali Pasha was the name of numerous Ottoman pashas named Ali. It is most commonly used to refer to Ali Pasha of Ioannina. People * Çandarlı Ali Pasha (died 1406), Ottoman grand vizier (1387–1406) * Hadım Ali Pasha (died 1511), Ottoman grand v ...

and

Naim Frashëri Naim bey Frashëri, more commonly Naim Frashëri (; ; 25 May 184620 October 1900), was an Albanian historian, journalist, poet, rilindas and translator who was proclaimed as the national poet of Albania. He is regarded as the pioneer of modern ...

Dedebabate

After lodges in Turkey were shut down, the order's headquarters moved to Albania. On 20 March 1930,

Sali Njazi Salih Nijazi (15 March 1876 – 28 November 1941) was the 1st Bektashi Dedebabate, Dedebaba (or Kryegjysh) of the Bektashism in Albania, Bektashi Order that was established in Albania in 1930. Biography Early life Salih Nijazi was born on 5 Marc ...

was elected as the First Dedebaba of the Bektashi community. Njazi established the Bektashi World Headquarters in Tirana. Its construction was finished in 1941 during the Italian occupation of Albania. Njazi promoted Bektashi Islam by introducing major ceremonies at popular tekkes. After he was murdered, Ali Riza succeeded him as the Dedebaba. Despite the negative effect of the ban of lodges on Bektashi culture, most Bektashis in Turkey have been generally supportive of secularism to this day, since these reforms have relatively relaxed the religious intolerance that had historically been shown against them by the official Sunni establishment. In the Balkans the Bektashi order had a considerable impact on the Islamization of many areas, primarily Albania and Bulgaria, as well as parts of

Macedonia Macedonia most commonly refers to: * North Macedonia, a country in southeastern Europe, known until 2019 as the Republic of Macedonia * Macedonia (ancient kingdom), a kingdom in Greek antiquity * Macedonia (Greece), a traditional geographic reg ...

, particularly among Ottoman-era Greek Muslims from western Greek Macedonia such as the Vallahades. By the 18th century Bektashism began to gain a considerable hold over the population of southern Albania and northwestern Greece ( Epirus and western Greek Macedonia). Following the ban on Sufi orders in the

Republic of Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...

, the Bektashi community's headquarters was moved from Hacıbektaş in central Anatolia, to Tirana, Albania. In Albania, the Bektashi community declared its separation from the Sunni community and they were perceived ever after as a distinct Islamic sect rather than a branch of Sunni Islam. Bektashism continued to flourish until the Second World War. After the communists took power in 1945, several babas and dervishes were executed and a gradual constriction of Bektashi influence began. Ultimately, in 1967 all ''tekkes'' were shut down when

Enver Hoxha Enver Halil Hoxha ( , ; 16 October 190811 April 1985) was an Albanian communist politician who was the authoritarian ruler of Albania from 1944 until his death in 1985. He was First Secretary of the Party of Labour of Albania from 1941 unt ...

banned all religious practice. When this ban was rescinded in 1990 the Bektashism reestablished itself, although there were few left with any real knowledge of the spiritual path. Nevertheless, many "tekkes" ''(lodges)'' operate today in Albania. The most recent head of the order in Albania was '' Hajji''

Reshat Bardhi Reshat Bardhi or Dedebaba Hajji Reshat ( sq, Baba Haxhi Dede Reshat Bardhi) (4 March 19352 April 2011) was an Albanian religious leader who served as the 7th '' kryegjysh'' or Dedebaba of the Bektashi Order from 1991 to 2011.Macedonia Macedonia most commonly refers to: * North Macedonia, a country in southeastern Europe, known until 2019 as the Republic of Macedonia * Macedonia (ancient kingdom), a kingdom in Greek antiquity * Macedonia (Greece), a traditional geographic reg ...

and Kosovo, the most important being the Harabati Baba Tekke in the city of

Tetovo Tetovo ( mk, Тетово, , sq, Tetovë/Tetova) is a city in the northwestern part of North Macedonia, built on the foothills of Šar Mountain and divided by the Pena River. The municipality of Tetovo covers an area of at above sea level, w ...

, which was until recently under the guidance of ''Baba'' Tahir Emini (1941–2006). Following the death of ''Baba'' Tahir Emini, the ''dedelik'' of Tirana appointed ''Baba'' Edmond Brahimaj (Baba Mondi), formerly head of the Turan Tekke of Korçë, to oversee the Harabati baba tekke. A splinter branch of the order has recently sprung up in the town of

Kičevo Kičevo ( mk, Кичево ; sq, Kërçovë) is a city in the western part of North Macedonia, located in a valley in the south-eastern slopes of Mount Bistra, between the cities of Ohrid and Gostivar. The capital Skopje is 112 km away. The ...

which has ties to the Turkish Bektashi community under Haydar Ercan Dede rather than Tirana. A smaller Bektashi ''tekke'', the Dikmen Baba Tekkesi, is in operation in the Turkish-speaking town of

Kanatlarci Kanatlarci ( mk, Канатларци, tr, Kanatlar), according to the 2001 census, is the largest village and second largest settlement in the municipality of Prilep, North Macedonia. It used to be part of the former municipality of Topolčani. ...

, Macedonia that also has stronger ties with Turkey's Bektashis. In Kosovo, the relatively small Bektashi community has a ''tekke'' in the town of Gjakovë and is under the leadership of ''Baba'' Mumin Lama and it recognizes the leadership of Tirana. In Bulgaria, the '' türbes'' of Kıdlemi Baba, Ak Yazılı Baba,

Demir Baba Demir means ''iron'' in Turkish; it may refer to: Given name *Demir Demirkan, Turkish rock musician and songwriter *Demir Demirev, Bulgarian weightlifter *Demir Elmaağaçlı (born 1990), Turkish archer *Demir Hotić, Bosnia and Herzegovina footbal ...

and Otman Baba function as heterodox Islamic pilgrimage sites and before 1842 were the centers of Bektashi ''tekkes''. Bektashis continue to be active in Turkey and their semi-clandestine organizations can be found in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir. There are currently two rival claimants to the ''dedebaba'' in Turkey: Mustafa Eke and Haydar Ercan. A large functioning Bektashi ''tekke'' was also established in the United States in 1954 by

Baba Rexheb Rexheb Beqiri (18 August 190110 August 1995), better known by the religious name Baba Rexheb, was an Albanian Islamic scholar and Sufi. He was the founder and the head of the Bektashi Sufi lodge ('' tekke'') located in Taylor, Michigan, Uni ...

. This ''tekke'' is found in the Detroit suburb of

Taylor Taylor, Taylors or Taylor's may refer to: People * Taylor (surname) **List of people with surname Taylor * Taylor (given name), including Tayla and Taylah * Taylor sept, a branch of Scottish clan Cameron * Justice Taylor (disambiguation) Plac ...

and the tomb (''türbe'') of Baba Rexheb continues to draw pilgrims of all faiths.

Arabati Baba Teḱe controversy

In 2002, a group of armed members of the

Islamic Religious Community of Macedonia The Islamic Religious Community of North Macedonia or IRC ( sq, Bashkësia Fetare Islame e Maqedonisë së Veriut or BFI, mk, Исламската Верска Заедница во Северна Македонија or ИВЗ) is an independent ...

(ICM), a

Sunni Sunni Islam () is the largest branch of Islam, followed by 85–90% of the world's Muslims. Its name comes from the word '' Sunnah'', referring to the tradition of Muhammad. The differences between Sunni and Shia Muslims arose from a disagr ...

group that is the legally recognized organisation which claims to represent all

Muslim Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...

s in North Macedonia, invaded the Shiʻi Bektashi Order's Arabati Baba Teḱe in an attempt to reclaim this tekke as a mosque although the facility has never functioned as such. Subsequently, the Bektashi Order of North Macedonia sued the government for failing to restore the tekke to the Bektashis, pursuant to a law passed in the early 1990s returning properties previously nationalized under the Yugoslav government. The law, however, deals with restitution to private citizens, rather than religious communities. Muslim self-identification

The ICM claim to the tekke is based upon their contention to represent all Muslims in the Republic of Macedonia; and indeed, they are one of two Muslim organizations recognized by the government, both Sunni. The Bektashi community filed for recognition as a separate religious community with the Macedonian government in 1993, but the Macedonian government has refused to recognize them.

Beliefs

Bektashis believe in

One God Monotheism is the belief that there is only one deity, an all-supreme being that is universally referred to as God. Cross, F.L.; Livingstone, E.A., eds. (1974). "Monotheism". The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (2 ed.). Oxford: Oxford ...

(

Allah Allah (; ar, الله, translit=Allāh, ) is the common Arabic word for God. In the English language, the word generally refers to God in Islam. The word is thought to be derived by contraction from '' al- ilāh'', which means "the god", an ...

) and follow all the prophets. Bektashis claim the heritage of

, who was a descended of Ali, Husayn, Zayn and other Imams. Therefore, Bektashis follow the teachings of Haji Bektash, who preached about the Twelve Imams. Bektashis differ from other Muslims by also following the Fourteen Innocents, who either died in infancy or were martyred with Husayn.

Abbas ibn Ali Al-Abbas ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib ( ar, ٱلْعَبَّاس ٱبْن عَلِيّ ٱبْن أَبِي طَالِب, al-ʿAbbās ibn ʿAlīy ibn ʾAbī Ṭālib), also known as Abu al-Fadl ( ar, أَبُو ٱلْفَضْل, link=no) (15 May 647 - ...

is also an important figure in Bektashi Islam, and Bektashi Muslims visit Mount Tomorr to honor him during an annual pilgrimage to the

Abbas Ali Türbe The Abbas ibn Ali Türbe ( sq, Tyrbja e Abaz Aliut) is a Bektashi türbe ( sq, tyrbe "shrine", or ''mekam'', "holy tomb") is a Bektashi shrine traditionally considered to be the resting place of Abbas ibn Ali (647–680), a son of Ali. It is situ ...

on August 20–25.. In addition to the Muslim daily five prayers, Bektashi Muslims have two specific prayers, one at dawn and one at dusk for the welfare of all humanity. Bektashism places much emphasis on the concept of Wahdat-ul-Wujood () that was formulated by Ibn Arabi. Malakat is an important text of Bektashi written by

Haji Bektash Haji Bektash Veli or Wali ( fa, حاجی بکتاش ولی, Ḥājī Baktāš Walī; ota, حاجی بکتاش ولی, Hacı Bektaş-ı Veli; sq, Haxhi Bektash Veliu) (1209 – 1271) was a Muslim mystic, saint, Sayyid and philosopher from Kh ...

. Bektashis also follow the Quran and Hadith. Bektashis hold that the Quran has two levels of meaning: an outer () and an inner (). Bektashis follow the modern-day Bektashi Dedebabate, currently headed by Hajji Mondi. Bektashis consider the dedebaba as their leader overseeing the entire branch. Bektashism is also heavily permeated with Shiite concepts, such as the marked reverence of Ali, The Twelve Imams, and the ritual commemoration of

Ashura Ashura (, , ) is a day of commemoration in Islam. It occurs annually on the 10th of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar. Among Shia Muslims, Ashura is observed through large demonstrations of high-scale mourning as it marks the ...

marking the Battle of Karbala. The old Persian holiday of Nowruz is celebrated by Bektashis as

Imam Imam (; ar, إمام '; plural: ') is an Islamic leadership position. For Sunni Muslims, Imam is most commonly used as the title of a worship leader of a mosque. In this context, imams may lead Islamic worship services, lead prayers, ser ...

Ali's birthday (see also;

Nevruz in Albania Nowruz, Nevruz Day is celebrated annually in Albania on 22 March as Sultan Nevruz. In Albania, the festival commemorates the birthday of Ali ibn Abi Talib (died 661 CE) and simultaneously the advent of spring. Declared a public holiday in 1996, it ...

). The Bektashi Order is a Sufi order and shares much in common with other Islamic mystical movements, such as the need for an experienced spiritual guide—called a '' baba'' in Bektashi parlance — as well as the doctrine of "the four gates that must be traversed": the "

Sharia Sharia (; ar, شريعة, sharīʿa ) is a body of religious law that forms a part of the Islamic tradition. It is derived from the religious precepts of Islam and is based on the sacred scriptures of Islam, particularly the Quran and the H ...

" ''( religious law),'' " Tariqah" ''(the spiritual path),'' " Marifa" ''(true knowledge),'' " Haqiqah" ''(truth).'' There are many other practices and ceremonies that share similarities with other faiths, such as a ritual meal (''muhabbet'') and yearly confession of sins to a ''baba'' (''magfirat-i zunub'' مغفرة الذنوب). Bektashis base their practices and rituals on their non-orthodox and mystical interpretation and understanding of the Quran and the prophetic practice (

Sunnah In Islam, , also spelled ( ar, سنة), are the traditions and practices of the Islamic prophet Muhammad that constitute a model for Muslims to follow. The sunnah is what all the Muslims of Muhammad's time evidently saw and followed and passed ...

). They have no written doctrine specific to them, thus rules and rituals may differ depending on under whose influence one has been taught. Bektashis generally revere Sufi mystics outside of their own order, such as Ibn Arabi, Al-Ghazali and Jelalludin Rumi who are close in spirit to them despite many of being from more mainstream Islamic backgrounds. Bektashis hold that the Quran has two levels of meaning: an outer ('' zahir'' ظاهر) and an inner ('' batin'' باطن). They hold the latter to be superior and eternal and this is reflected in their understanding of both the universe and humanity (This view can also be found in Ismailism—see Batiniyya).

Poetry and literature

Poetry plays an important role in the transmission of Bektashi spirituality. Several important Ottoman-era poets were Bektashis, and Yunus Emre, the most acclaimed poet of the Turkish language, is generally recognized as a subscriber to the Bektashi order. Like many Sufis, the Bektashis were quite lax in observing daily Muslim laws, and women as well as men took part in ritual wine drinking and dancing during devotional ceremonies. The Bektashis in the Balkans adapted such Christian practices as the ritual sharing of bread and the confession of sins. Bektashi mystical writings made a rich contribution to Sufi poetry. A poem from Bektashi poet

(died c. 1517/1519): Some important early Bektashi writers who wrote in Turkish, Persian, and Arabic are: * Yunus Emre * Kajgusez Sultan * Fuzuliu * Nesimiu *

Pir Sulltan Abdalli Pir or PIR may refer to: Places * Pir, Kerman, a village in Kerman Province, Iran * Pir, Satu Mare, commune in Satu Mare County, Romania Religion * Pir (Alevism), one of the 12 ranks of Imam in Alevism * Pir (Sufism), a Sufi teacher or spiritu ...

Shah Ismail Ismail I ( fa, اسماعیل, Esmāʿīl, ; July 17, 1487 – May 23, 1524), also known as Shah Ismail (), was the founder of the Safavid dynasty of Iran, ruling as its King of Kings (''Shahanshah'') from 1501 to 1524. His reign is often c ...

(Hatai) * Sejjid Ali Sulltan * Viran Father Some important Albanian Bektashi writers are: *

Nasibi Tahir Babai Nasibi Tahir Babai (died 1835), born Tahir Skënderasi, , death_place = Konitsa, Ottoman Empire , death_cause = , nationality = , other_names = Hyxhretiu ... References {{Authority control 18th-century Albania ...

(d. 1835) *Father

Abdullah Melçani Abdullah may refer to: * Abdullah (name), a list of people with the given name or surname * Abdullah, Kargı, Turkey, a village * ''Abdullah'' (film), a 1980 Bollywood film directed by Sanjay Khan * '' Abdullah: The Final Witness'', a 2015 Paki ...

(d. 1852) *Father

Hajji Haqi Ali Hajji ( ar, الحجّي; sometimes spelled Hadji, Haji, Alhaji, Al-Hadj, Al-Haj or El-Hajj) is an honorific title which is given to a Muslim who has successfully completed the Hajj to Mecca. It is also often used to refer to an elder, since it ...

*Father

Selim Ruhi Salim, Saleem or Selim may refer to: People *Salim (name), or Saleem or Salem or Selim, a name of Arabic origin *Salim (poet) (1800–1866) *Saleem (playwright) (fl. 1996) *Selim I, Selim II and Selim III, Ottoman Sultans * Selim people, an eth ...

*Father Adem Vexhhi (b. 1841 in Gjakova) *Father Meleq Shëmbërdhenji *Father

Ahmet Turani Ahmad ( ar, أحمد, ʾAḥmad) is an Arabic male given name common in most parts of the Muslim world. Other spellings of the name include Ahmed and Ahmet. Etymology The word derives from the root (ḥ-m-d), from the Arabic (), from the ve ...

*Father Ali Tomorri *Father

Sahu i Matohasanajt Sahu (Sahoo, or Shaw, or Shau, or Gupta, or Saha, or Saw, Shah). is a surname found in India and Pakistan. The meaning of the term "Sahu" may change from region to region.''. Usage In India, the surname is found among Gakhars, Marwadi, Janjuas ...

*Father Hamzai (1882-1952)

Community hierarchy

Like most other Sufi orders, Bektashism is initiatic, and members must traverse various levels or ranks as they progress along the spiritual path to the Reality. The Turkish names are given below, followed by their Arabic and Albanian equivalents. #First-level members are called ''aşıks'' عاشق ( sq, ashik). They are those who, while not having taken initiation into the order, are nevertheless drawn to it. #Following initiation (called ''nasip''), one becomes a ''mühip'' محب ( sq, muhib). #After some time as a ''mühip'', one can take further vows and become a '' dervish''. #The next level above dervish is that of ''baba''. The ''baba'' (lit. father) ( sq, atë) is considered to be the head of a '' tekke'' and qualified to give spiritual guidance (''irshad'' إرشاد). #Above the '' baba'' ( sq, gjysh) is the rank of ''halife-baba'' (or '' dede'', grandfather). #The ''dedebaba'' ( sq, kryegjysh) is traditionally considered to be the highest ranking authority in the Bektashi Order. Traditionally the residence of the ''dedebaba'' was the Pir Evi (The Saint's Home) which was located in the shrine of

Hajji Bektash Wali Haji Bektash Veli or Wali ( fa, حاجی بکتاش ولی, Ḥājī Baktāš Walī; ota, حاجی بکتاش ولی, Hacı Bektaş-ı Veli; sq, Haxhi Bektash Veliu) (1209 – 1271) was a Muslim mysticism, mystic, saint, Sayyid and philosoph ...

in the central Anatolian town of

Hacıbektaş Hacıbektaş, formerly Karahöyük, is a town and district of Nevşehir Province in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey. According to 2000 census, population of the district is 11,929 of which 5,169 live in the town of Hacıbektaş. Located in C ...

(aka Solucakarahüyük), known as the

Hajibektash complex The Haji Bektash Veli complex ( tr, Hacıbektaş Külliyesi) is an Alevi Cultural Monument of the Republic of Turkey, located in Hacıbektaş, Nevshehir province. It was built in the 13th century as a teqe ''(dergâh)'' of the Sufi saint Haji ...

. Traditionally there were twelve of these hierarchical rankings, the most senior being the ''dedebaba'' (great-grandfather).

Administration

In Albania, the World Headquarters of the Bektashi ( sq, Kryegjyshata) divides the country into 6 different administrative districts (similar to Christian parishes and patriarchates), each of which is called a ''gjyshata''. * The Gjyshata of Gjirokastra (headquarters:

tekke of Asim Bab The Zall Tekke ( sq, Teqeja e Zallit) or Asim Baba Tekke ( tr, Âsım Baba Tekkesi) is a Bektashi teqe in Gjirokastër, Albania. It is a Cultural Monument of Albania. History Seyyid Muhammed Asim Baba of Üsküdar (Istanbul) founded the tekke in ...

): the regions of Gjirokastra, Saranda and Tepelena. * The Gjyshata of Korça (headquarters: tekke of Turan): the regions of Korça, Devoll, Pogradec and Kolonja, including

Leskovik Leskovik is a town and a former municipality in the Korçë County, southeastern Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became a subdivision of the municipality Kolonjë. It is located right at the Greek-Albanian border. The population ...

. * The Gjyshata of Kruja (headquarters: tekke of Fushë Kruj): the regions of Kruja, Kurbin, Bulqiza, Dibra, Mat, Shkodra and Durrës. * The Gjyshata of Elbasan (headquarters: tekke of Baba Xhefai): the regions of Elbasan,

Gramsh Gramsh may refer to: *Gramsh District, former district in Elbasan County * Gramsh (municipality), a municipality in central Albania * Gramsh, Lezhë, a village in the municipality of Lezhë, Lezhë County See also *KF Gramshi, football club of Gram ...

, Peqin, Lushnja, Kavaja, and Librazhd, including

Përrenjas Prrenjas (also written ''Përrenjas'', sq-definite, Përrenjasi) is a town and a municipality in Elbasan County, eastern Albania. The municipality was formed at the 2015 local government reform by the merger of the former municipalities Prrenjas ...

. * The Gjyshata of Vlora (headquarters: tekke of Kusum Bab): the regions of Vlora, Mallakastra, Fier, including

Patos Patos is a municipality of the state of Paraíba in the Northeast Region of Brazil. It is classified by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics as a sub-regional center A. It is located in the Espinharas River valley, surrounded by ...

and

Roskovec Roskovec ( sq-definite, Roskoveci) is a town and a municipality in Fier County, south-central Albania. The municipality was formed at the 2015 local government reform by the merger of the former municipalities Kuman, Albania, Kuman, Kurjan, Roskove ...

. * The Gjyshata of Berat (headquarters: tekke of Prisht): the regions of Berat, Skrapar and Përmet. During the 1930s, the six ''gjyshata'' of Albania set up by

were: * Kruja, headquartered at the tekke of Fushë-Krujë * Elbasan, headquartered at the tekke of Krasta * Korça, headquartered at the tekke of Melçan * Gjirokastra, headquartered at the

tekke of Asim Baba The Zall Tekke ( sq, Teqeja e Zallit) or Asim Baba Tekke ( tr, Âsım Baba Tekkesi) is a Bektashi teqe in Gjirokastër, Albania. It is a Cultural Monument of Albania. History Seyyid Muhammed Asim Baba of Üsküdar (Istanbul) founded the tekke ...

* Prishta, representing Berat and part of Përmet * Vlora, headquartered at the tekke of Frashër National headquarters in other countries are located in: * Gjakova, Kosovo *

Tetova Tetovo ( mk, Тетово, , sq, Tetovë/Tetova) is a city in the northwestern part of North Macedonia, built on the foothills of Šar Mountain and divided by the Pena (river), Pena River. The municipality of Tetovo covers an area of at above ...

, North Macedonia *

Taylor, Michigan Taylor is a city in Wayne County, Michigan, Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Its population was 63,409 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Taylor is the fifth most-populated city in Wayne County and the 17th List of municipa ...

, United States There is also a Bektashi office in Brussels, Belgium.

World Bektashi Congress

The

World Bektashi Congress The World Bektashi Congress ( sq, Kongresi Botëror të Bektashinjve), formerly called the National Congress of the Bektashi before the 1990s, is a conference during which leading members of the Bektashi Order make important decisions. It has been ...

, also called the National Congress of the Bektashi, a conference during which members of the Bektashi Community make important decisions, has been held in Albania several times. Since 1945, it has been held exclusively in Tirana. The longest gap between two congresses lasted from 1950 to 1993, when congresses could not be held during Communist rule in Albania. A list of congresses is given below.

List of Dedebabas

This section lists the Dedebabas (Supreme Leaders) of the Bektashi Order.

In Turkey (before 1930)

List of Bektashi Dedebabas (mostly based in

, Anatolia), prior to the 1925 exodus of the Bektashi Order from Turkey to Albania:Kryegjyshët Botëror
''Kryegjyshata Botërore Bektashiane''. Accessed 19 September 2021.

In Albania (1930–present)

List of Bektashi Dedebabas following the 1925 exodus of the Bektashi Order from Turkey to Albania:

Religious figures

Gallery

File:Arabati Baba Tekke, svatyne radu Bektasi na okraji Tetova.jpg, Arabati Baba Tekke, in

File:Bektashi Tekke.jpg, Bektashi tekke of Gjakova, Kosovo, established in 1790 File:20120519 east view Kutuklu Baba Tekkesi Selino Rhodope West Thrace Greece.jpg, Kutuklu Baba Tekke in Greece File:Tempulli i bektashinjve ne vlore.jpg, Bektashi tekke on the Kuz-Baba Hill in Vlorë, Albania File:Демир Баба Теке.jpg, Demir Baba Teke near Sveshtari, Bulgaria (16th century) File:Qendra Botërore Bektashiane.jpg, World Headquarters of the Bektashi Community in Tirana, Albania

References

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

* * Doja, Albert. 2006. "A political history of Bektashism from Ottoman Anatolia to Contemporary Turkey." Journal of Church and State 48 (2): 421–450
doi=10.1093/jcs/48.2.423
* Doja, Albert. 2006. "A political history of Bektashism in Albania." Politics, Religion & Ideology 7 (1): 83–107
doi=10.1080/14690760500477919
* * Nicolle, David; UK (1995). The Janissaries (5th)
Osprey Publishing
. * Muhammed Seyfeddin Ibn Zulfikari Derviş Ali; Bektaşi İkrar Ayini, Kalan Publishing, Translated from Ottoman Turkish by Mahir Ünsal Eriş, Ankara, 2007

Turkish Turkish may refer to: *a Turkic language spoken by the Turks * of or about Turkey ** Turkish language *** Turkish alphabet ** Turkish people, a Turkic ethnic group and nation *** Turkish citizen, a citizen of Turkey *** Turkish communities and mi ...

* Saggau, Emil BH. "Marginalised Islam: Christianity’s role in the sufi order of Bektashism." In ''Exploring the Multitude of Muslims in Europe'', pp. 183-197. Brill, 2018.

External links

Official website of the Kryegjyshata Botërore Bektashiane
(World Headquarters of the Bektashi)
Videos and documentaries

{{Authority control Alevism Dervish movements Islam in Albania Islam in Bulgaria Liberal and progressive movements within Islam Religious organizations established in the 13th century Shia Islam in Albania Shia Islam in Turkey Shia Sufi orders Turkish words and phrases Religious organizations based in Bulgaria