By Imam Muhamed Sytari
Part Two
Memorie.al – I will begin my writing with the prayer of the distinguished scholar from Shkodra, Hafiz Ali Kraja (1900–1973), published in his book *”Is Religion Necessary, or Does It Hinder National Unity?”*, in which he writes: *”I pray to the Almighty God to protect the Albanian people from fanaticism, which is a dangerous abyss for the nation and homeland! Amen.”* Reading carefully through the winding paths of our national history, I believe this is one of the most important prayers with which Albanians should have been equipped in their past, and especially in the present, to be saved from the “dangerous abysses” into which they have often fallen, witnessing moments that are far from pleasant, often even tragic, especially in the last 100 years of this history.
Continued from the previous issue
“Let us remember that he belonged to the generation of the war for the defense of Shkodra (1912–’13) and was part of the compactness of Shkodra during those years. (He spent seven months in the trenches of the Shtoj front, and the Repishti family supplied 17 volunteers of the company he commanded with food and armaments throughout the entire war). Later, in 1916, when Austria-Hungary began mistreating the citizens of Shkodra, he took part in anti-Austrian demonstrations and was imprisoned with a group of citizens.
He played an active role in the mobilization and organization of the Koplik War (1920), for six months. In those years, he actively assisted the Committee for the Defense of Kosovo (Hoxha Kadriu and his comrades held several of the Committee’s meetings at his father’s house), took an active part in the politics of strengthening the country, and in December 1923 was elected deputy for Shkodra (as part of the Opposition group against Ahmet Zogu).”
He was a devoted student of the distinguished scholar Hafiz Halid Bushati (d. 27 December 1916), among whose students also graduated scholars who later gave valuable contributions to the organization of Albanians in the diaspora, such as Hafiz Sulejman Gavoçi (20 Jan 1883 – 1958), who immigrated to Damascus, Syria.
When speaking of the diaspora, we cannot fail to mention the great role of the Grand Mufti of Albanians in the free world, Salih ef. Myftija (1891–1978), whose traces are also archived in the famous American newspaper *The New York Times*, which “in its issue of 13 November 1972, Monday, announced that at 1325 Albermarle Street, in the Flatbush area of Brooklyn, a new mosque of the Muslim Community of Albanians in America was established, on the initiative of Grand Mufti Salih Efendi Myftija, over 80 years old.”
We recall the distinguished polyglot Hafiz Abaz Golemi (1870–1925), who “in 1895 was appointed teacher of Persian and religious instruction at the civil school.” Researchers of his life testify that: “Besides Persian, he also mastered Arabic, Turkish, French, Italian, and Serbo-Croatian.” We should not forget that: “In 1913, the Educational Commission of the Municipality, chaired by Xhemal Naipi, then qadi of Shkodra, opened three state schools: the ‘Popullore’ (Popular) School with director Gaspër Mikeli, the ‘Rusit’ (Russian) School with director Molla Medo Sukniqi, and the ‘Parrucës’ (Perruca) School with director Haxhi Hafiz Abaz Golemi.”
If in 1913, religious instruction was part of the curriculum in Albanian state schools, today in 2012, when many European countries have applied religious education in their schools, paradoxically in Albania this fact continues to be viewed as utopian…!
In the reports of the education inspector of Shkodra addressed to the Ministry of Education, on 6 February 1925, regarding the personality of H. Abaz Golemi, it is written that: “During the 12 years, we can attest that he was always the director of the ‘Parruca’ school and always enjoyed and continues to enjoy a good reputation among the people, so much so that children from all neighborhoods follow him, and we can say that the Parruca school is today his creation.”
Nevertheless, Hafiz Abaz Golemi was a modest man, fearing the Lord of the Worlds, and this he demonstrated in personal notes on the inner pages of his books, where I have also found these notes: “From the books of the poor, humble one, Haxhi Hafiz Abaz, son of Haxhi Ali. May the Forgiver, the Creator forgive them both. Amen!” Also very interesting is the content of His Grace’s seal, which reads: “The weakest of men, the servant, Hafiz Abaz. 1307” [Islamic calendar].
We recall the many imams (hodjas) who fell or were wounded in their battles for the defense of Shkodra and Albanian lands against the Serbo-Montenegrin forces, such as the case of two honored imams, H. Halil Gavoçi and H. Sulejman Gavoçi, father and son, who “in 1913, when Shkodra was besieged by Serbian and Montenegrin forces… took up arms and went out as volunteers to defend the city under the command of Hasan Riza Pasha.”
Likewise, Sheh Ali Kruja (1884–1976), who went to the front twice for the defense of Shkodra against the Serbo-Montenegrins. In his second battle, in 1920, on the Koplik front, “from a serious wound he lost his left eye.”
We recall many scholars and honored imams, who through their work do honor to this nation and make us feel proud of them and their bright and noble traces. Who does not know, in the Arab and Islamic world, the Shkodran scholars Muhammed Nasiruddin El-Albani, Sheikh Shuayb El-Arnaut, and Sheikh Vehbi Sulejman Gavoçi, whose books have filled contemporary Islamic libraries?
Unfortunately, the decades passed under the atheist regime imposed by the Party of Labour of Albania caused Albanians to be separated from this spirit and soul, and even to testify publicly, with pride and boastfulness, against it.
Even here, we cannot forget the call of the learned calligrapher of the Adhan (ezan), Hafiz Ali Kraja, who in 1934 wrote: “… I beg the Muslim brothers not to be deceived by the fine words of that part of pseudo-intellectuals, because the aim of these is to weaken the dogmatic conviction in the soul of believers, and they are not words based… on science and philosophy,” signaling the communist darkness and a Pharaoh-like spirit that was flooding towards Albania to ruin and humiliate it before the entire world…
We must not forget the countless writings in the newspaper “Jeta e re” (New Life) and its sister publications, which stated that: “In our country, the youth and the entire people, educated by the party with political and ideological clarity, have risen up and are wiping away from life and consciousness the rubbish of the old world, and the danger of religion and its prejudices has diminished…”!
We must not forget the sinister voice that, shamefully, called out: “For the continuation of the struggle against religious ideology, the creation of an atheistic-scientific museum in our city would be very valuable. The opening of such a museum, for which the opportunities have been created, would serve not only our city and district but also other districts.”
We must not forget the violence and persecution against our honored imams, who stood with manliness and full faith before the atheistic temptations. They are numerous in number, in concrete examples and suffering.
We must not forget that: “With the accusation of ‘knowledge of the Postriba Movement,’ the strong Hafiz Musa Dërguti was also arrested, about whom he would speak—that when he had been in a detention room with Gjon Serreqi, bound hand in hand with him, they were led and seated together as if they were one body, so much so that whenever during the day or night the time came for the hafiz to pray to God, as a Muslim and an imam that he was,” or:
“Likewise, with his jaws wrapped in a handkerchief for lack of a beard, was the other old man Hafiz Musa Dërguti, who some time before had left his face in blood to a policeman when he had poured the water of ‘ablution’ (wudu) there at the staircase, and who, when he had been in the Security [Secret Police], a cellmate had told him: ‘They are asking me to speak about the priests; they want to split us, and tomorrow to say that the priests were shot based on the imams’ testimonies. I told them: do what you want, but I will never do that.'”
“In the years 1943–1944, when communist ideas were being propagated in a more organized manner in the city of Shkodra, Hafiz Musai was among the most determined opponents. He, in various gatherings—spontaneous or even in the mosque—spoke about the great danger that the triumph of communism would bring to Albania.”
I recall from childhood that when my grandfather, Haki Hoxha (Sytari), spoke about the misery that communism had brought to the country and the Albanians, he remembered the “friend of the house,” Hafiz Musa Dërguti, who, in one of those gatherings, had told them: “Enver Hoxha is an infidel (kafir bid’din)!”
We must not forget the pain of the great Albanian imams in the diaspora, such as our own Hoxha Vehbi S. Gavoçi, who testifies: “Among the first articles I wrote is also ‘Asal-xhenneh’ – (The Stick of Paradise), where I wrote about Albania, the sufferings that you, my brothers, have endured after 1944.
My first article was about you, about my country. Then, I have written much about Albania in magazines, newspapers, or books, and I have tried not to forget my country, which has given me great honor. I have done this to repay that great honor to my country with full respect.”
We recall with deep respect the leader of Muslims in the United States of America, Imam Vehbi Ismaili (1919–2008). His contribution there is multifaceted. He not only gave a great contribution to the religious organization of Albanian Muslims but was also an Albanian leader who called for harmony and understanding in service to national interests.
Regarding this, he writes: “When I came to America, this community had no premises. We rented a hall at the International Institute and immediately opened a class, where every Sunday the students studied the Albanian language for two hours, and one hour followed religious instruction. These classes still exist today. All the children born here learned to write and read Albanian.”
The honored Imam was a model of a leader who united Albanians and fostered a spirit of harmony. He writes: “There is no occasion when a lunch or dinner is organized without having among the believers both Muslims and believers of the Catholic faith, and vice versa. This is because all the clergy are of a high religious and national level. They all preach love and brotherhood.”
On these days, when we have just commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Albanian state, it is impossible not to stand with respect before the memory of the elite of Albanian Muslim scholars who were tested in communist prisons or in their intellectual freedom, such as:
Hafiz Ali Korça (imprisoned in 1945),
Hafiz Ibrahim Dalliu (imprisoned in 1946),
Hafiz Ismet Dibra, former director of the General Medrese, Tirana (imprisoned in 1946),
Hafiz Sabri Koçi (imprisoned in 1966),
Dede Reshat Bardhi (interned for 15 years),
Haki Sharofi, former editor-in-chief of the magazine “Zani i Naltë” (The High Voice) (imprisoned in 1946),
Jonuz Bulaj (imprisoned in 1946),
Vexhi Buharaja (imprisoned in 1946),
Ismail Muçej (imprisoned during the period 6 September 1952 – 24 April 1963),
Hasan Tahsini (imprisoned in 1947),
Baba Bedriu of Brerima (executed in 1947),
Baba Hajro Progonati (executed in 1947),
Hafiz Mustafa Varoshi, former Mufti of Durrës (imprisoned in 1945),
Hafiz Sherif Lëngu, former chairman of the High Council of Sharia (imprisoned in 1945),
Hafiz Esat Myftia, former chairman of the Albanian Muslim Community (imprisoned in 1946),
Hafiz Musa Dërguti (imprisoned in 1946),
Hafiz Ali Kraja (imprisoned in 1945),
Imam Liman Shabani (died in prison in 1945),
Imam Met Troci (died in prison in 1947),
Sheh Ibrahim Karabunara (killed in prison in 1947),
Sheh Myslim Luma (died in prison in 1953),
Baba Myrteza Kruja (died in prison in 1945),
Imam Ahmet Hyseni (died in prison in 1945),
Dervish Mehmet Verleni (died in prison in 1947),
Xhemal Naipi (by decision no. 218, dated 23 June 1947 of the Military Court of Shkodra, was sentenced to life imprisonment, forced labor, and deprivation of civil and political rights. He died in the infamous Burrel prison in 1955 at the age of 77, without his family even knowing his grave),
Hafiz Sheuqet Boriçi (self-isolated at home until death). In his own handwriting, in Arabic, I have found this note: “Imam Shatibi (may God have mercy on him) said: He whose tongue is silenced by the Qur’an will attain the full reward of those who remember [God].”
Hafiz Sabri Bushati (self-isolated at home in 1967, at the age of 77, until death),
Molla Alush Zaganjori (self-isolated at home until death),
Hafiz Vehbi Sulejman Gavoçi (prevented several times by the communist regime from visiting his birthplace, Shkodra), etc. [38]
In conclusion, I am convinced that what I have presented before you is the very least possible, to prove and demonstrate the greatness of our honored imams, who gave their lives to the sacred mission of educating people with unwavering faith in the One God, and became the best example of practicing this faith in life – with knowledge, patience, dedication, harmony, and tolerance.
In memory and appreciation of their work and example, the Presidency of the Muslim Community of Albania recently published the first volume of the encyclopedia: “100 Albanian Personalities of Islamic Culture.” I am convinced that the more we read and research the traces of our honored imams, the more we become convinced of the greatness of their mission and the sacred legacy they left behind.
That legacy cannot remain solitary on the wings of time… It is a pure legacy that is inherited once again by pure and devoted hearts, ready to serve the oldest and most sacred mission of humanity…
Mercy upon the souls of the imams of Shkodra, and of the entire Albanian nation! / Memorie.al
Shkodra, 27 November 2012
Mufti of the Shkodra Zone
