|
Albania, an Islamic Country in Europe
Albania is a Muslim European country which has about 70 percent Muslims. The existence of nation’s unity in this country made Islam and Christianity common faiths beside each other between people.
This unity avoided conflicts but in the recent centuries because of the appearance of Communism in Albania, Islam was omitted as a formal religion.
1- The Historical and Geographical condition
The Republic of Albania with an area about 28748 km2 is smaller than Balkan which is located on the South-west of Balkan peninsula. Tirana is the capital of Albania. History indicates that these people had settled in Balkan Peninsula with the name of Ilirin tribe about 2000 B.C. The Albanians are the oldest race of Balkan Peninsula and forming more than 96 percent of the country’s population. The language of these people is Albanian which is from the branch of Indo-European language. Albania has a great importance role in Europe because of its specific geographical situation and it has a special sensibility among American, European and NATO countries.
2-The Political and Economical Importance
The cause that increases the importance of Albania’s political geography is the effort of the great global powers for becoming close to this country to join the Adriatic shores. Albania is also important for its agriculture, providing food, husbandry, and forestry and having various mines.
3-The history of religions
a) Islam in Albania
Islamic countries transmitted civilizations such as Babylon, Egyptian, Chinese, Greek and Roman to Europe from the 7thto 16th century. They also led the philosophical, scientific, cultural and researching themes in the world. The spreading of Islam in Albania was done by people without any obligation.
Like other Islamic countries, Albania was also governed by the Turkish (Ottoman) Emperor about 500 years. The Turkish government asked the Islamic preachers to make people rely on religious affairs and in this way the Islamic culture was transferred to this part of Europe. Today, the music, architecture, cooking and clothing of Muslims have influenced Albanians. But, at the time of Communism in Albania, no religion was known formally and people were forbidden to choose Islamic names. Baktashi people form the majority of Muslims in Albania and they are Shiites who follow the Haji Vali party. Baktash was Iranian and from Neishabour and Anvar Khaje was Baktashi himself.
After Marxists were inverted and democratic forces became powerful, Albania’s atmosphere was again ready for the religious activities of Muslims and Christians. The Alazhar muftis were the first informers to enter Albania.
It must be noted that about 70 percent of Albanians are Muslims and 20 percent of its population are Orthodox. The rest are Roman Catholics.
b) Catholic
10 percent of Albanian’s Christians are Catholics. The Albanians were Orthodox from the beginning. In the middle centuries, they changed their religion to Catholic. After the inversion of Communism, the Catholic Christians started their activities to vitalize Christianity in this country.
The Catholics published many religious books in Albania and trained priests and nuns to reach their goals.
c) Orthodox
20 percent of Albania’s population is Orthodox. They are mostly Greeks and have settled in the South of Greek because of having the same boundary. In 1924 “Fan Stephen Noli” and after him “Nichole Pashich” who were two orthodox priests, governed in Albania.
4) Religion Penetration in the Political and Cultural situation of the society
Religion usually does not have a powerful position in the political conditions and the general government attitudes. Albanian leaders have separated religion from politics and they control the affairs in this way.
Although “Sali Brisha”, the president of Albania, is Baktashi himself, but this is not a good reason for the penetration of Islam in politics in Albania.
5) The relation of various religions’ followers in Albania
In this country, Muslims and Christians have a close relationship with each other and this relation was so strong in the past that Christians used to fast like the Muslims in Ramadan. The common characteristic of people is lacking religious prejudice and conditions to develop conflicts and this was effective for creating moderation between religions.
6) Religious customs
Respecting religious customs which started by the insistence of people, was under pressure by the Communist government of Albania and the penetration of western culture challenged with the Islamic culture, but Islam remained there because of the efforts of Muslim clergymen and scholars who spent most of their lives in prison.
7) Religious organization
The Muslims of Albania include Sunnis, the Baktashis and the Alawites. About 55 percent of the Muslims are Hanafites and 45 percent of them are the sect of Sufis. Sufis know themselves Shiites and related to the Prophet's family and respect the Imams.
a) Baktashieh
They are the followers of "Haj Baktash" who was a believer of the Prophet of Islam and Shiite's Imams and also the appearance of Imam Mahdi.Today, they are known as the most important religious organization in Albania.
b) Khalvatieh
This sect has the most followers after Baktashieh in Albania. This sect directly relates itself to Hassan Basri. The followers of this sect believe that Imam Ali is the spiritual and moral leader of Hassan Basri.
c) Qaderieh
This sect has a lot of penetration after Khalvatieh and its leader is named Boojar Khorasani.
d) Refaieh
They are the followers of Ahmad Refaie and have the habit to injure themselves with knives. Their leader is a person named Haj Ramezan Imani.
e) Naghshbandieh and Khalvatieh
This sect activates under the influence of Khalvatieh.
8) The cultural impression and effect
Relating to this, it can be said that the culture and civilization of Eastern Rome as a predominant culture, influenced the historical-cultural traditions and also the architecture of Albania in the middle ages.
After the Romans, the existence of the Turkish government in Balkan and especially Albania about 500 years, caused cultural, literal and artistic changes and also it had a great influence on the religious thought of people and made Christian people believe in Islam.
By the cultural penetration of Iran in Balkan and also the trips of many Iranian spiritual leaders to this country, different Sufis parties were spread in Albania; so, the main cause for cultural nobility in this country is the Islamic culture.
9) Social characteristics
Peacefulness, pleasure-seeking for family and cooperation are the main social characteristics of Albanian. Respecting the family especially mother and father are also their cultural characteristics.
10) Cultural Centers
-The Islamic Center of Tirana: "Hassan Sabri Hafez Kojovic" is its chairman. This institute is the only powerful Islamic organization in Albania which sends students to different countries for learning Islamic sciences.
-The Organization of Muslim Intellectuals: The chairman of this organization is Dr.Mantur Samadi Chiuke. There are Muslim intellectuals with different jobs in this institute. It has five committees which each one has a particular duty against one of the Islamic countries.
11) The important cultural and historical works
The only dominant monument of this country is the Great Mosque of Tirana. There are also the remained pieces of an old castle in a harbor city named Darus which goes back to the years of Roman’s govern.
12) Foreign cultural institutes
Foreign embassies such as America have established cultural institutes in this country. They have even established an institute in Darus. Today, many western countries like Italy and France have cultural centers in Albania and this inclination can be seen in other western countries too.
13) Cultural relations
The existence of Islam in Albania for 500 years has had a great role in transforming some of the customs of Iranians to this country and this has formed many common cultures between the two countries.
Shojaeddin Shafa has written that the cultural record of Iran in Albania has increased because of the continuous penetration of the Turkish government in this country. The reason is that in the Turkish period, becoming familiar with Persian language and literature was necessary for the members of the government and the noble families.
Sources:
1- The last changes of Albania, Foreign Ministry of I.R of Iran
2-Albania, a more friendly motion toward the Islamic world, Foreign Ministry of I.R.I
3- Ahmad Hamed, Dakhl-al-Islam
4- The Shi’ism Encyclopedia
5- The Green Book, Foreign Ministry of I.R.I
6- A look to the culture and civilization of Albania, Islamic Republic Newspaper, Tehran
7-A look to Albania, Foreign Ministry of I.R.I
|
