TRACES OF BEKTASHISM IN KOSOVO THROUGHOUT HISTORICAL

Abdylkader Durguti

Makale detayları

TRACES OF BEKTASHISM IN KOSOVO THROUGHOUT HISTORICAL

Yazarlar:

Abdylkader Durguti

Yayıncı:

Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University

Ana Başlıklar:

İslam Mezhepleri

Dergi:

Türk Kültürü ve Hacı Bektaş Veli Araştırma Dergisi Issue 115, pp.63-84

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

9/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001358465

pISSN:

1306-8253

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 In the 17th century, Kosovo was a region under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. From early on, various religious movements emerged in the region, one of which was Bektashism. The interest shown by Albanians in Bektashism led to a notable increase in the number of Bektashi lodges, particularly in the regions of Albania and Kosovo. By the late 19th century, with the rise of nationalist movements in the Balkans, Bektashism had become one of the key religious and cultural elements supporting Albanian nationalism. During this period, the order was perceived not only as a religious structure but also as a symbolic component of Albanian national identity. By the 20th century, Bektashism, originally rooted in the Turkish Sufi tradition with Turkish as its liturgical language, underwent significant transformation under the influence of Albanian nationalism. Its rituals were translated into Albanian, and it developed a distinct structure referred to as Albanian Bektashism. In comparison to Albania, the institutionalization of the Bektashi presence in Kosovo occurred later and remained more limited in scope. Nevertheless, it is known that the first Bektashi lodge in Kosovo was established in the 17th century. Today, the majority of academic research on Bektashism focuses primarily on Albania, and the Bektashi structures in Kosovo are generally addressed within this framework. This approach is influenced by the fact that approximately 93 of Kosovos population is of Albanian origin and the country maintains strong socio-cultural ties with Albania. The aim of this study is to examine the historical development of Bektashism within the borders of Kosovo, its institutionalization and expansion processes, the structural and cultural transformations it underwent, as well as its relations with other Sufi traditions. In particular, the wars and conflicts driven by Serbian and Albanian nationalisms in the post-Ottoman era significantly impacted the Bektashi lodges. Since Bektashism had become closely associated with Albanian nationalism, it was seen by the Serbs not merely as a religious institution but as a symbol of national identity, and therefore targeted during times of conflict. This situation illustrates that Bektashism in Kosovo evolved beyond a purely religious framework to acquire ideological and political significance. In this study, a multidimensional analytical approach is adopted by utilizing sources in Turkish and English, as well as Albanian literature and up-to-date data.

 In the 17th century, Kosovo was a region under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. From early on, various religious movements emerged in the region, one of which was Bektashism. The interest shown by Albanians in Bektashism led to a notable increase in the number of Bektashi lodges, particularly in the regions of Albania and Kosovo. By the late 19th century, with the rise of nationalist movements in the Balkans, Bektashism had become one of the key religious and cultural elements supporting Albanian nationalism. During this period, the order was perceived not only as a religious structure but also as a symbolic component of Albanian national identity. By the 20th century, Bektashism, originally rooted in the Turkish Sufi tradition with Turkish as its liturgical language, underwent significant transformation under the influence of Albanian nationalism. Its rituals were translated into Albanian, and it developed a distinct structure referred to as Albanian Bektashism. In comparison to Albania, the institutionalization of the Bektashi presence in Kosovo occurred later and remained more limited in scope. Nevertheless, it is known that the first Bektashi lodge in Kosovo was established in the 17th century. Today, the majority of academic research on Bektashism focuses primarily on Albania, and the Bektashi structures in Kosovo are generally addressed within this framework. This approach is influenced by the fact that approximately 93 of Kosovos population is of Albanian origin and the country maintains strong socio-cultural ties with Albania. The aim of this study is to examine the historical development of Bektashism within the borders of Kosovo, its institutionalization and expansion processes, the structural and cultural transformations it underwent, as well as its relations with other Sufi traditions. In particular, the wars and conflicts driven by Serbian and Albanian nationalisms in the post-Ottoman era significantly impacted the Bektashi lodges. Since Bektashism had become closely associated with Albanian nationalism, it was seen by the Serbs not merely as a religious institution but as a symbol of national identity, and therefore targeted during times of conflict. This situation illustrates that Bektashism in Kosovo evolved beyond a purely religious framework to acquire ideological and political significance. In this study, a multidimensional analytical approach is adopted by utilizing sources in Turkish and English, as well as Albanian literature and up-to-date data.

 In the 17th century, Kosovo was a region under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. From early on, various religious movements emerged in the region, one of which was Bektashism. The interest shown by Albanians in Bektashism led to a notable increase in the number of Bektashi lodges, particularly in the regions of Albania and Kosovo. By the late 19th century, with the rise of nationalist movements in the Balkans, Bektashism had become one of the key religious and cultural elements supporting Albanian nationalism. During this period, the order was perceived not only as a religious structure but also as a symbolic component of Albanian national identity. By the 20th century, Bektashism, originally rooted in the Turkish Sufi tradition with Turkish as its liturgical language, underwent significant transformation under the influence of Albanian nationalism. Its rituals were translated into Albanian, and it developed a distinct structure referred to as Albanian Bektashism. In comparison to Albania, the institutionalization of the Bektashi presence in Kosovo occurred later and remained more limited in scope. Nevertheless, it is known that the first Bektashi lodge in Kosovo was established in the 17th century. Today, the majority of academic research on Bektashism focuses primarily on Albania, and the Bektashi structures in Kosovo are generally addressed within this framework. This approach is influenced by the fact that approximately 93 of Kosovos population is of Albanian origin and the country maintains strong socio-cultural ties with Albania. The aim of this study is to examine the historical development of Bektashism within the borders of Kosovo, its institutionalization and expansion processes, the structural and cultural transformations it underwent, as well as its relations with other Sufi traditions. In particular, the wars and conflicts driven by Serbian and Albanian nationalisms in the post-Ottoman era significantly impacted the Bektashi lodges. Since Bektashism had become closely associated with Albanian nationalism, it was seen by the Serbs not merely as a religious institution but as a symbol of national identity, and therefore targeted during times of conflict. This situation illustrates that Bektashism in Kosovo evolved beyond a purely religious framework to acquire ideological and political significance. In this study, a multidimensional analytical approach is adopted by utilizing sources in Turkish and English, as well as Albanian literature and up-to-date data.

 XVII. yüzyılda Kosova Osmanlı Devletine bağlı bir bölgedir. Bu bölge erken dönemlerden itibaren farklı dini akımlar kendini göstermiştir. Bunlardan biri de Bektaşiliktir. Arnavutların Bektaşiliğe ilgi göstermesi özellikle Arnavutluk ve Kosova bölgelerinde tekke sayısının belirgin biçimde artmasına neden olmuştur. XIX. yüzyılın sonlarına doğru Balkanlarda milliyetçi hareketlerin ivme kazanmasıyla Bektaşilik, Arnavut milliyetçiliğini besleyen temel dinî ve kültürel unsurlardan biri hâline gelmiştir. Bu dönemde tarikat, yalnızca dinî bir yapı olarak değil, aynı zamanda Arnavut ulusal kimliğinin simgesel bir parçası olarak da algılanmıştır. XX. yüzyıla gelindiğinde kökeni itibarıyla Türk tasavvuf geleneğine ait ve erkânibadet dili Türkçe olan Bektaşilik, Arnavut milliyetçiliğinin etkisiyle önemli bir dönüşüm geçirmiştir. Ritüel dili Arnavutçaya çevrilerek Arnavut Bektaşiliği şeklinde özgün bir yapı kazanmıştır. Kosovadaki Bektaşî varlığı ise Arnavutluka kıyasla daha geç kurumsallaşmış ve etkisi daha sınırlı kalmıştır. Bununla birlikte, Kosovada ilk Bektaşî tekkesinin XVII. yüzyılda kurulduğu bilinmektedir. Günümüzde mevcut literatürde Bektaşilik üzerine yapılan araştırmaların büyük bir bölümü Arnavutluk merkezlidir. Kosovadaki yapılanmalar genellikle bu çerçevede ele alınmaktadır. Bu yaklaşımın arka planında, Kosova nüfusunun yaklaşık 93ünün Arnavut kökenli olması ve Arnavutluk ile güçlü sosyo-kültürel bağlarının bulunması etkili olmuştur. Bu çalışmanın amacı, Kosova sınırları içerisindeki Bektaşî varlığının tarihsel gelişimini, kurumsallaşma ve yayılma sürecini, geçirdiği yapısal ve kültürel dönüşümleri ile diğer tasavvufî yapılarla ilişkilerini kapsamlı bir biçimde incelemektir. Özellikle Osmanlı hâkimiyetinden sonra bölgede etkili olan Sırp ve Arnavut milliyetçiliği çerçevesinde yaşanan çatışmalar, Bektaşî tekkelerini ciddi şekilde etkilemiştir. Bektaşilik Arnavut milliyetçiliğiyle özdeşleştirilmiş, Sırplar tarafından sadece bir inanç değil, ulusal kimliğin sembolü olarak görülmüş ve hedef alınmıştır. Bu durum, Bektaşiliğin Kosovada dinî bir yapı olmanın ötesine bir ideoloji ve siyasal bir anlam kazandığını göstermektedir. Çalışmada, Türkçe ve İngilizce kaynakların yanı sıra Arnavutça literatürden ve internet kaynaklardan yararlanılmıştır.

Makale detayları

TRACES OF BEKTASHISM IN KOSOVO THROUGHOUT HISTORICAL

Yazarlar:

Abdylkader Durguti

Yayıncı:

Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University

Ana Başlıklar:

İslam Mezhepleri

Dergi:

Türk Kültürü ve Hacı Bektaş Veli Araştırma Dergisi Issue 115, pp.63-84

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

9/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001358465

pISSN:

1306-8253

Kosovo

Bektashism

Prizren

Gjakova

Haji Adem Veçhi BabaKosova

Bektaşilik

Prizren

Yakova

Hacı Adem Veçhi Baba

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Abdylkader Durguti

Yayıncı: Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University

Ana Başlıklar: İslam Mezhepleri

Dergi: Türk Kültürü ve Hacı Bektaş Veli Araştırma Dergisi Issue 115, pp.63-84

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 9/2025

Belge Dili: Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.): 2001358465

pISSN: 1306-8253

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Abdylkader Durguti

Yayıncı:

Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University

Ana Başlıklar:

İslam Mezhepleri

Dergi:

Türk Kültürü ve Hacı Bektaş Veli Araştırma Dergisi Issue 115, pp.63-84

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

9/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001358465

pISSN:

1306-8253