Islamic institutions of Tirana

Abstract

Here the author introduces some scientific data on the foundation of the town of Tirana without leaving aside the legends invented for it approaches the process of the Islamic religion's dissemination.

In general, in Tirana the converters into Muslims have been previously Catholics, whereas the Orthodoxies, to which the indigenous inhabitants granted some lands, came later there by the time when the town was already Islamized.

The Islamic religion's dissemination was carried out on voluntary basis and, in the country it was embraced in the form of waves' spread in a concentric circle- starting from centre: the wider the circle, weaker the Islam's dissemination.

However, because of both relatively quick economical development, especially in craftsmanship and agriculture, and various epidemic diseases that spread there, it was created a condition that necessitated the increase of Tirana's population with new inhabitants coming from the country. They increased excessively the population.

From this sprang out the need for an Islamic organization in the city, so, in this way there were established the first Islamic institutions, including the general religious organization as a district.

The building of institutions and their administration started. In this aspect the indigenous families, traders, craftsmen and farmers are known to be the first donors. Along with this process, the town became more and more beautiful with the new buildings. We can bring evidence that the inhabitants of various quarters started to compete somehow among them on who was going to make the most beautiful charitable deeds to testify their economic situation, but at the same time testify their love for the town which would remain as a love forsake such as: shrines, bridges, fountains etc.

Many of these objects of art, which because of the urban changes do not exist any more, have assumed the names of old indigenous families of Tirana that built them such as the Mosques of Zajmi, Bërxolli, Fire, Mujo, the Tekke of Harasans etc, etc. They have been built in the most beautiful sites of the town, and, what is more important, the donors have never spared their money in order to make them as more beautiful as possible.

In this article there are especially mentioned and analyzed some of the oldest Islamic monuments of Tirana, although the major part of which does not exist any more. Thus, it is analyzed the Mosque of Sulejman Pashe Bargjini, which was built at the time of the town's foundation and as such it is considered to be its oldest monument. Also, there are described in detail the Mosque of Et'hem Bey as well as some of the oldest monuments of the town, including of course tekkes, turbans, etc.

The author evidences not only all the Islamic institutions that have existed in Tirana, but also, he briefly tells the historic of some of other religions' institutions. Than, in the end, he mentions the state of Tirana in the beginning of the 20th century, its election as the capital of the country in '20-ies as well as the Islamic institutions that have existed by that time. It is to be brought into evidence that in those times when the town's population was no more than some ten thousands inhabitants, there were 18-20 mosques, whereas nowadays, after 8 decades when the population is reaching 1000000, existing mosques are counted with the fingers of the hands.

With the changes that have taken place, the Islamic institutions arrived at the state that they enjoy today some mosques were destroyed because of the implementation of urbanistic planning, the war for the Liberation of Tirana, and in the end, the major pat of them was destroyed maliciously by the atheist system that had declared war to religions. Instead of them, that system in most of cases built houses with voluntary contribution, etc.