Tekke of Frashër

The Tekke of Frashër (Albanian: Teqeja e Frashërit) or Nasibî Tâhir Baba Tekke is a Bektashi shrine founded in 1781 and registered Cultural Monument of Albania, located in Frashër, Gjirokastër County in southern Albania.[1]

Tekke of Frashër
Native name
Albanian: Teqeja e Frashërit
Cultural Monument of Albania

History

Tekkes were centers of Islamic Mysticism and theological provided a popular alternative to normative Islam.[2]

The tekke was founded at the time of Ali Pasha Tepelena.[3] Nasibi Tahir Babai, a local also known as Tahir Skënderasi, founded the tekke in 1815 in Frashër.[3] Having been studied in Persia (Iran) and traveled in Arab East, he contributed in spreading the Bektashism in all surrounding areas as well. After his death in 1835, his son Jusuf Skënderasi took over. The tekke became well known in Southern Albania. During the era of Baba Alushi (1846-1902), the tekke would become not only a center of Sufi mysticism, but also a stronghold of Albanian nationalism. It would affect also the work of future figures of the Albanian National Awakening Şemseddin Sami Frashëri, and his brothers Naim and Abdyl. On 30 May 1878 the Albanian Committee of Janina held a meeting led by Baba Alushi and Abdyl Frashëri, as a countermeasure for the decisions of the Treaty of San Stefano. The meeting came out with several demands towards the Great Powers, which would serve as basis for the soon-to-come League of Prizren. The tekke served as basis during the League lifespan (1878-1881) and many follow up meeting were held there.[4]

During 1909-1910, the tekke contributed in spreading the Albanian schools and education in the area. It was destroyed by the Greek andarts of Zografos in 1914.[4][5] It was reconstructed with the contribution of Albanian-Americans in 1923. It gained the status Gjyshatë in 1933, Bektashi center for Përmet area in 1942, center for Vlorë area in 1945, Gjyshatë Nderi (Honorific Gjyshatë) in 1962.[4]

During the prohibition of religions from 1967-1991 in Communist Albania it stopped functioning. The tekke restarted in 1995.[4]

Bektashi clerics who have served[4]
  • Baba Tahir Nasibi Skënderasi 1815 - 1835
  • Jusuf Skënderasi 1835 - 1846
  • Baba Alushi 1846 - 1902
  • Baba Abedini Ibro 1903 - 1913
  • Baba Sheme 1913 - 1929
  • Baba Mustafa Qerezi 1930 - 1933
  • Baba Murati 1934 -1941
  • Baba Abaz Hilmi 1942 – 1945
  • Baba Mehmet Zykaj 1945 –1959
  • Baba Dervish Xhemal Shkëmbi 1960 - 1967
  • Përparim Skënderasi 1995 - (as administrator)

References
  1. "Religious buildings with the "Culture Monument" status". Republic of Albania National Committee for Cult. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  2. Oliver Jens Schmitt (2010), Religion und Kultur im albanischsprachigen Südosteuropa, Frankfurt am Main : P. Lang, cop, p. 39, ISBN 9783631602959
  3. H. T. Norris (1993), Islam in the Balkans: Religion and Society Between Europe and the Arab World, University of South Carolina Press, p. 162, ISBN 9780872499775
  4. Teqeja e Frashërit - Vatër e zjarrtë (in Albanian), World Bektashi Headquarters Archived 2015-12-08 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Robert Elsie (2010), Historical Dictionary of Albania, Historical Dictionaries of Europe (2 ed.), Screcrow Press, p. 40, ISBN 9780810861886, ...and in particular by burning and looting of the Albanian tekkes by Greek extremists during the Balkan War and World War I

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