Original scientific paper
SOME NEW FACTS ON THE EXISTENCE AND LITERARY ACTIVITIES OF THE BEKTASHI ORDER IN 19TH CENTURY BOSNIA
Slobodan ILIĆ
Abstract
It is generally assumed that the Bektashi dervish order has
never been active on the territory of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The
author deals with a so far unknown source (a manuscript in
Turkish from the National Library in Sarajevo) which
undoubtedly proves an activity of the order in Bosnia even in
the late 19th and early 20th centuries i.e. when the order
was formally dissolved. In the mentioned manuscript there
are some verses belonging to two Bektashi poets, Bosnevi
and Fahri (probably from Sarajevo) evaluated as literary
average but socially rather interesting personalities. Their
poetry reveals elements of social and political satire as well
as examples of the traditional extreme esoteric teachings of
marginal groups in Islam. The author offers their verses
which reflect the Bektashi spirit and the theological doctrine
of the brotherhood, both in Turkish original and translation.
The article sheds some light on the history of the Bektashi
order, history of Bosnia-Herzegovina under Ottoman
dominance as well as cultural history of Bosnia.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
19513
URI
Publication date:
31.8.2003.
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