Bektashism is an Islamic Sufi mystic order that originated in 13th-century Anatolia and became widespread in the Ottoman Empire. It is named after the saint Haji Bektash Veli. The Bektashian community is currently led by Baba Mondi, their eighth Bektashi Dedebaba and headquartered in Tirana, Albania. Collectively, adherents of Bektashism are called Bektashians or simply Bektashis.
Haji Bektash Veli was an Islamic scholar, mystic, saint, sayyid, and philosopher from Khorasan who lived and taught in Anatolia. His original name was Sayyid Muhammad ibn Sayyid Ibrāhim Ātā. He is also referred to as the "Sultan of Hearts" and the "Dervish of the Dervishes".
Rexheb Beqiri, 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, United States.
Albania is a secular and religiously diverse country with no official religion and thus, freedom of religion, belief and conscience are guaranteed under the country's constitution. Islam is the most common religion in Albania, followed by Christianity, though religiosity is low and there are many irreligious Albanians. In the 2023 census, Muslims accounted for 51% of the total population, Christians made up 16%, while irreligious were 17%. The other 16% were undeclared.
The Arabati Baba Tekḱe is an Ottoman-era takya located in Tetovo, North Macedonia. The tekke was originally built in 1538 around the türbe of dervish Sersem Ali Baba. In 1799, a waqf provided by Recep Paşa established the current grounds of the tekke. The monks claim the tower was the last home of a high-ranking Albanian named Roxalana, who died of tuberculosis there. According to a more popular theory, it was part of the monastery's defence system, founded in the 16th Century.
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 crucial to the Albanian National Awakening, particularly in the nationalist movements of the late 19th century, and it was one of the wealthiest and revered tekkes in Albania.
al-Hajj Dedebaba Reshat Bardhi was Dedebaba of Bektashism from 1991 to 2011.
Skëndër Bruçaj was born on June 22, 1976, in the district of Malësia e Madhe, Albania. He served as chairman of Albanian Muslim Community from 2014 to 2019. His successor is Bujar Spahiu.
Nasibi Tahir Babai, born Tahir Skënderasi, was an Albanian Bektashi wali and bejtexhi.
Baba Shemimi, also known as Kemaledin Shemimi Ibrahim, Baba Shemim, Baba Shemimi of Fushë-Krujë or Baba Shemimi of Krujë, was an Albanian Bektashi bejtexhi and martyr.
Islam in the People's Socialist Republic of Albania (1945–1991) covers a period of time when the Communist Party of Albania came to power under Enver Hoxha and exercised almost total control over the Albanian people. The communist government sought to radically overhaul Albanian society by realigning social, cultural and religious loyalties to the communist party through Albanian nationalism in the pursuit of achieving a unitary Albanian identity.
Bektashi Dedebabate is the religious leadership of Bektashi Islam. The dedebabas are the spiritual and religious leaders of the Bektashi community. Bektashis do not consider them as divinely appointed leaders. The current and eighth Bektashi debebaba is Baba Mondi.
Kamber Ali (1869–1950) was the 3rd Dedebaba of the Bektashi Order. He served as Dedebaba for only several months in 1944, and was arrested by the Communists in December 1944 since he had fought for the Balli Kombëtar. He died in prison in Tirana in 1950.
Ahmet Myftar Dede was the 6th Dedebaba of the Bektashi Order in Islamic Sufi mysticism. He was the final dedebaba to have served during the People's Socialist Republic of Albania.
The World Headquarters of the Bektashi or Bektashi World Center is the international headquarters of the Bektashi Order, a Sufi order. It is located on Dhimitër Kamarda Street at the eastern edge of Tirana, the capital of Albania. It serves as the centre of the Albanian Bektashi Order. The site is proposed to form the territory of the Sovereign State of the Bektashi Order.
The World Bektashi Congress, 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 held in Albania since 1921.
The Albania-American Bektashi Tekke is a Bektashi Sufi tekke located in Taylor, Michigan, in the United States. It was founded by Baba Rexheb, a Bektashi community leader who had immigrated to the United States from Albania. As the first Bektashi building founded in the United States, the teqe was consecrated on April 29 1954.
The Bektashi Order is an Islamic Sufi order that spread to Albania through Albanian Janissaries during the period of Ottoman control in Albania. The Bektashi make up 5% of the country's population. In regards to ethics, the Bektashi adhere to the line "Be master of your hands, your tongue, and your loins" which essentially means do not steal, do not lie or speak idly, and do not commit adultery.
The Sovereign State of the Bektashi Order is a proposed European microstate and city-state that would be enclaved entirely within Tirana, the capital of Albania, at the current World Headquarters of the Bektashi. If established, it would be smaller than the Vatican City and become the sovereign state with the smallest land area in the world, with a total land area of 27 acres (11 ha).
