Bektashi Order facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Order of Bektashi dervishes
Bektashiyya

Emblem of Bektashism
Abbreviation	Bektashiyyah/Bektashism
Type	Dervish order
Headquarters	World Headquarters of the Bektashi, Tirana (previously Haji Bektash Veli Complex, Nevşehir)
Region	Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Turkey, other Albanian diaspora (Italy, United States) and Turkish diaspora (Germany, France, Austria, Belgium)
Dedebaba	Baba Mondi
Key people	Haji Bektash Veli – Patron Saint ʿAlī al-Aʿlā – Reorganizer who introduced the ideas of Nāimī Nesîmî – Ḥurūfī poet and a follower of Nāimī Balım Sultan – Founder Gül Baba – A Murshid of ʿAlī al-Aʿlā
Website	Official website: https://kryegjyshataboterorebektashiane.org/

The Bektashi Order or Bektashism is a special Islamic mystic group that started in the 1200s in the Ottoman Empire. It's named after a respected saint called Haji Bektash Veli. Today, the Bektashi community is led by Baba Mondi. Their main office is in Tirana, Albania. People who follow Bektashism are called Bektashis.

At first, Bektashism was one of many Sufi groups within Sunni Islam. But by the 1500s, it started to include ideas from Shia Islam. This included respecting ʿAlī, who was the son-in-law of Muhammad, and the Twelve Imams. The Bektashis became important in the 1400s because they were closely linked to the Janissary Corps, a strong army group. Later, when the Turkish Republic was formed, its leader Kemal Atatürk closed down many religious groups. So, the Bektashi leaders moved their main office to Albania. Salih Nijazi was the last leader in Turkey and the first in Albania. Bektashis also played a role in Albanian politics, with some members like Ismail Qemali helping lead the Albanian National Awakening.

Bektashis believe in the special purity of Islamic Prophets, the Twelve Imams, and other holy figures. Besides the teachings of Haji Bektash Veli, the Bektashi Order was also shaped by other mystic ideas and important people over time. Balım Sultan helped organize their spiritual practices and rituals in the 1500s.

In 2005, it was thought there were over seven million Bektashis worldwide. More recent studies suggest there might be as many as 20 million. In Albania, about 5% of the country's population are Bektashis. Many Bektashis also live in Turkey, the Balkans, and among old Greek Muslim groups.

History

How it Started

Interior view of Arabati Baba Teḱe, Tetovo, North Macedonia.

Haji Bektash Veli Complex

World Headquarters of the Bektashi

The Bektashi group began in Anatolia (modern-day Turkey) with followers of the scholar Bektash in the 1200s. A mystic named Balim Sultan later organized their beliefs and practices. He is seen as the "Second Elder" by Bektashis.

The Bektashi Order started as a Sufi movement. It became very popular in the Ottoman Empire. Their special lodges, called tekkes, were found all over Anatolia and the Balkans. The Bektashis became the official spiritual group for the Janissary corps, who were elite soldiers of the Ottoman Army. Because of this, they were often linked to Muslims in Anatolia and the Balkans who had converted from Eastern Orthodox Christianity, especially Albanians and northern Greeks.

In 1826, the Bektashi Order was banned across the Ottoman Empire by Sultan Mahmud II. This happened because of their strong ties to the Janissary corps. Many Bektashi spiritual leaders, called dervishes, were sent away, and some were even killed. Their tekkes were destroyed, and their money was taken. This ban was supported by other religious leaders.

Bektashis slowly gained their freedom back later. After the Turkish Republic was founded, Kemal Atatürk closed down the lodges again in 1925. So, the Bektashi leaders moved their main office to Albania. They set up their new headquarters in Tirana. Famous Bektashi followers in the 1800s included Ali Pasha and Naim Frashëri.

Leaders of the Order

After the lodges in Turkey were closed, the Bektashi headquarters moved to Albania. On March 20, 1930, Sali Njazi was chosen as the first Dedebaba (Supreme Leader) of the Bektashi community. Njazi built the Bektashi World Headquarters in Tirana. It was finished in 1941. Njazi helped Bektashi Islam grow by holding important ceremonies. After he passed away, Ali Riza became the next Dedebaba.

Even though their lodges were closed, most Bektashis in Turkey have supported a non-religious government. This is because these changes helped reduce the religious intolerance they had faced from the official Sunni leaders.

In the Balkans, the Bektashi Order helped many areas become Muslim, especially Albania and Bulgaria. This also happened in parts of Macedonia, particularly among Greek Muslims from western Greek Macedonia. By the 1700s, Bektashism became very popular in southern Albania and northwestern Greece.

After Sufi orders were banned in the Republic of Turkey, the Bektashi headquarters moved from Turkey to Tirana, Albania. In Albania, the Bektashi community declared itself separate from the Sunni Muslim community. They were then seen as a distinct Islamic group. Bektashism continued to do well until World War II.

After communists took power in Albania in 1945, some Bektashi leaders were killed. The Bektashi influence slowly decreased. Finally, in 1967, all tekkes were closed when Enver Hoxha banned all religious practices. When this ban was lifted in 1990, Bektashism started again. Many tekkes are open today in Albania. The most recent head of the order in Albania was Reshat Bardhi Dedebaba (1935–2011). In June 2011, Baba Edmond Brahimaj was chosen as the new head of the Bektashi order. Today, many people in Albania feel connected to Bektashism.

There are also Bektashi communities among Albanians in North Macedonia and Kosovo. The most important is the Arabati Baba Teḱe in Tetovo. In Bulgaria, old Bektashi sites are still used as pilgrimage places. Bektashis are also active in Turkey, with groups in Istanbul, Ankara, and İzmir. A large Bektashi tekke was also built in the United States in 1954 by Baba Rexheb. This tekke is in Taylor, and Baba Rexheb's tomb still attracts visitors.

Beliefs

Diagram showing Bektashi as well as other Sufi orders.

Bektashis believe in God and follow all the prophets. Bektashis trace their spiritual line back to Haji Bektash Veli, who was a descendant of Ali and other important Imams. So, Bektashis follow Haji Bektash's teachings, which include respecting the Twelve Imams. Bektashis also honor the Fourteen Innocents, who were young children who died or were killed with Husayn. Abbas ibn Ali is also a key figure. Bektashi Muslims visit Mount Tomorr to honor him during a yearly trip from August 20–25.

Besides the five daily Muslim prayers, Bektashi Muslims have two special prayers. One is at dawn and one at dusk, for the well-being of all people. Bektashism focuses a lot on the idea of "Unity of Being" (Wahdat al-Wujud). This idea means that everything is connected to God.

Malakat is an important Bektashi text written by Haji Bektash. Bektashis also follow the Quran and Hadith (sayings of Prophet Muhammad).

Bektashis follow their current leader, the Bektashi Dedebaba, who is Baba Mondi. They see the Dedebaba as the head of their entire group.

Bektashism also includes many Shiite ideas. These include a strong respect for Ali, the Twelve Imams, and remembering Ashura. Ashura marks the Battle of Karbala, a sad event in Islamic history. The old Persian holiday of Nowruz is celebrated by Bektashis as Ali's birthday.

The Bektashi Order is a Sufi order. It shares many things with other Islamic mystic groups. For example, they believe you need an experienced spiritual guide, called a baba. They also follow the idea of "the four gates" that people must pass through:

• "Sharia" (religious rules)
• "Tariqah" (the spiritual journey)
• "Marifa" (true knowledge)
• "Haqiqa" (truth)

There are other practices and ceremonies similar to those in other faiths. These include a special meal (muhabbet) and a yearly confession of sins to a baba. Bektashis base their practices on their unique, mystical understanding of the Quran and the Prophet's practices (Sunnah). They don't have one strict written rulebook, so rules might be a bit different depending on who taught you. Bektashis respect Sufi mystics from outside their own order, like ibn Arabi and Rumi.

Poetry and Literature

Poetry is very important for sharing Bektashi spiritual ideas. Several famous poets from the Ottoman era were Bektashis. Yunus Emre, a very well-known Turkish poet, is generally believed to have been a Bektashi.

Like many Sufis, Bektashis were often relaxed about following daily Muslim laws strictly. In the Balkans, Bektashis adopted some Christian practices, like sharing bread in a ritual and confessing sins. Bektashi mystical writings have added a lot to Sufi poetry.

Here is a poem from the Bektashi poet Balım Sultan (who passed away around 1517-1519):

My eye seeks out repose,
my face is the 'oft repeated seven (i.e. the Sura Al-Fatiha),
My words proclaim "I am the Truth",
Our ascension is (by means of) the scaffold,
We have become aware through the "firm letters",
We will not abandon essence or attributes,
Balım speaks arcanely of God
Our teaching is a mystery.

Community Structure

Like most Sufi groups, Bektashism involves different levels or ranks. Members move through these levels as they grow spiritually. Here are the main levels:

1. First, people who are interested but haven't fully joined are called aşıks.
2. After a special initiation ceremony, one becomes a mühip.
3. After some time as a mühip, a person can take more vows and become a dervish.
4. The next level is baba. A baba (meaning 'father') leads a tekke (lodge) and gives spiritual advice.
5. Above the baba is the rank of halife-baba or dede (meaning 'grandfather').
6. The dedebaba (meaning 'great-grandfather') is the highest leader in the Bektashi Order. Traditionally, the dedebaba lived in the Pir Evi (The Saint's Home) at the shrine of Hajji Bektash Wali in Turkey.

There were traditionally twelve of these ranks, with the dedebaba being the most senior.

Organization

In Albania, the World Headquarters of the Bektashi divides the country into 6 different areas. Each area is called a gjyshata.

• The Gjyshata of Gjirokastra covers the regions of Gjirokastra, Saranda, and Tepelena.
• The Gjyshata of Korça covers Korça, Devoll, Pogradec, and Kolonja.
• The Gjyshata of Kruja covers Kruja, Kurbin, Bulqiza, Dibra, Mat, Shkodra, and Durrës.
• The Gjyshata of Elbasan covers Elbasan, Gramsh, Peqin, Lushnja, Kavaja, and Librazhd.
• The Gjyshata of Vlora covers Vlora, Mallakastra, and Fier.
• The Gjyshata of Berat covers Berat, Skrapar, and Përmet.

Other countries also have Bektashi headquarters:

• Gjakova, Kosovo
• Tetova, North Macedonia
• Taylor, Michigan, United States

There is also a Bektashi office in Brussels, Belgium.

World Bektashi Congress

The World Bektashi Congress is a meeting where members of the Bektashi Community make important decisions. It has been held many times in Albania. Since 1945, it has always been in Tirana. There was a long break from 1950 to 1993 because congresses could not be held during the time of Communist rule in Albania.

List of Dedebabas

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

In Turkey (before 1930)

These are the Bektashi Dedebabas who were mostly based in Hacıbektaş, Turkey, before the Bektashi Order moved to Albania in 1925:

In Albania (1930–present)

These are the Bektashi Dedebabas after the Bektashi Order moved from Turkey to Albania in 1925:

No.	Portrait	Name	Term in office
1		Salih Nijazi (1876–1941)	20 March 1930	28 November 1941
			11 years, 8 months and 8 days
2		Ali Riza (1882–1944)	6 January 1942	22 February 1944
			2 years, 1 month and 16 days
3		Kamber Ali (1869–1950)	12 April 1944	1945
			0 or 1 year
4		Xhafer Sadik (1874–1945)	5 May 1945	2 August 1945
			2 months and 28 days
5		Abaz Hilmi (1887–1947)	6 September 1945	19 March 1947
			1 year, 6 months and 13 days
6		Ahmet Myftar (1916–1980)	8 June 1947	1958
			9 or 10 years
7		Baba Reshat (1935–2011)	20 July 1993	2 April 2011
			17 years, 8 months and 13 days
8		Baba Mondi (1959)	11 June 2011	Incumbent
			14 years and 3 days

Important Bektashi Figures

Images for kids

• 

  Arabati Baba Tekke, in Tetovo

• 

  Bektashi tekke of Gjakova, Kosovo, established in 1790

• 

  Kutuklu Baba Tekke in Greece

• 

  Bektashi tekke on the Kuz-Baba Hill in Vlorë, Albania

• 

  Demir Baba Teke near Sveshtari, Bulgaria (16th century)

• 

  World Headquarters of the Bektashi Community in Tirana, Albania

See also

In Spanish: Bektashi para niños