Xhafer Sadik Explained

Xhafer Sadik
Religion:Islam
Order:Bektashi Order
Nationality:Albanian
Birth Date:1874
Birth Place:Ergiri, Yanina Vilayet, Ottoman Empire (today Gjirokastër, Albania)
Death Place:Albania
Predecessor1:Kamber Ali
Successor1:Abaz Hilmi
Office1:4th Bektashi Dedebaba
Term Start1:5 May 1945
Term End1:2 August 1945

Xhafer Sadik (Xhaferr Sadik Dede or Xhafer Sadiku) (1874–1945) was the 4th Dedebaba (or Kryegjysh) of the Bektashi Order.[1] [2] He served as Dedebaba for only 3 months during the summer of 1945.

Biography

Baba Xhafer Sadik was born in 1882 in Gjirokastra, Albania (then part of the Ottoman Empire). He served as a dervish under Baba Shemsi of the tekke of Izmir in Turkey. He also served at the tekke of Përmet and was appointed as the baba (leader) of the tekke in 1920 by Baba Ahmet of Turan.[1]

During World War II, he led a small group of pro-Communist fighters in the Dangëllia region. Due to his pro-Communist affiliations, the Communists preferred Xhafer Sadik over Abaz Hilmi, who was highly conservative and resisted liberal reforms proposed by the Communists. As such, he was appointed by the Communist regime to preside over the Fourth National Congress of the Bektashi that was held in 1945 in Tirana. Baba Xhafer died on 2 August 1945.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Elsie, Robert . Robert Elsie . The Albanian Bektashi: history and culture of a Dervish order in the Balkans . I.B. Tauris . London . 2019 . 978-1-78831-569-2 . 1108619669.
  2. https://kryegjyshataboterorebektashiane.org/xhafer-sadik-dede-baba/ Xhafer Sadik Dede Baba