Xhafer Sadik (Xhaferr Sadik Dede or Xhafer Sadiku; 1874 – 2 August 1945) was the 4th

Dedebaba Bektashi Dedebabate is the religious leadership of Bektashi Islam. The term ''Dedebaba'' comes from Turkish and means "The grandfather.'" The dedebabas () are the spiritual and religious leaders of the Bektashi community. Bektashis do not conside ...

(or Kryegjysh) of the

Bektashi Order Bektashism (, ) is a Sufi order of Islam that evolved in 13th-century western Anatolia and became widespread in the Ottoman Empire. It is named after the ''walī'' "saint" Haji Bektash Veli, with adherents called Bektashis. The Bektashi co ...

.Xhafer Sadik Dede Baba
(Kryegjyshata Botërore Bektashiane) He served as Dedebaba for only 3 months during the summer of 1945.

Biography

Baba Xhafer Sadik was born in 1882 in Ergiri,

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empire, was an empire, imperial realm that controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries; it also controlled parts of southeastern Centr ...

(today

Gjirokastër Gjirokastër (, sq-definite, Gjirokastra) is a List of cities and towns in Albania, city in Southern Albania, southern Albania and the seat of Gjirokastër County and Gjirokastër Municipality. It is located in a valley between the Gjerë moun ...

, Albania). He served as a dervish under Baba Shemsi of the tekke of

İzmir İzmir is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, third most populous city in Turkey, after Istanbul and Ankara. It is on the Aegean Sea, Aegean coast of Anatolia, and is the capital of İzmir Province. In 2024, the city of İzmir had ...

in Turkey. He also served at the tekke of

Përmet Përmet () is a List of cities and towns in Albania, town and Municipalities of Albania, municipality in Gjirokastër County, southern Albania. The municipality of Përmet consists of the administrative units of Çarçovë, Frashër, Petran, Qend� ...

and was appointed as the ''baba'' (leader) of the tekke in 1920 by

Baba Ahmet of Turan Baba and similar words may refer to: Places Poland * Baba, Masovian Voivodeship (east-central Poland) * Baba, Mogilno County in Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship (north-central Poland) * Baba, Rypin County in Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship ...

. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, he led a small group of pro-Communist fighters in the

Dangëllia Dangëllia is a traditional or "ethnographic" region of Albania, located primarily around the towns of Përmet and Frashëri, although the exact definition of its borders varies. Neighboring regions include Dishnica to the North, Zagori and Këlc ...

region. Due to his pro-Communist affiliations, the Communists preferred Xhafer Sadik over

Abaz Hilmi Abbas Hilmi (''Abaz Hilmi Dede''; 13 March 1887 – 18 March 1947) was the 5th Dedebaba (or Kryegjysh) of the Bektashi Order.

, 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 Tirana ( , ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in Albania, largest city of Albania. It is located in the centre of the country, enclosed by mountains and hills, with Dajti rising to the east and a slight valley to the northwest ov ...

. Baba Xhafer died on 2 August 1945.

References

1882 births 1945 deaths Bektashi dedebabas Albanian Sufis People from Gjirokastër {{Sufism-stub