The figure of Ali Efendi Jakupi, example of the the 20th century’s prominent Muslim

Abstract

To recognize the multidimensional and polyedric image of Ali efendi, it is enough to see the thoughts that he gives about the two well-known scholars Mustafa Sabri and Hasan el-Bena.
The recognition, association and the cooperation with such personalities of Islamic World, speak best for the depth of the conception of Ali efendi. He said: “Mustafa Sabri efendi was a scientist who had understood the today’s world, who had come up against nonfaith of today, able in the judgement and expression to respond to the problems of time! He was Gazali of the time in the name of Allah. He was a warrior!..”
While for Hasan el-Bena he said: “Hasan el-Bena was a man of action, very practical; He got up early, working until midnight, with or without eating; He drank one coffee or two. Such a man was he; when he spoke to someone, he drew his heart like a magnet. He was a man who had dedicated himself to Allah. He was as if Allah had created him as a guide to the youth of this century! He revived the university youth. He formed an impressive congregation, community in Cairo!”
After World War II, Egypt in general, and especially Cairo and Alexandria, were become the shelter for many Albanians pursued by the official communist government of Tirana and Slav power installed in the ethnic lands in the former Yugoslav Federation. This was for the fact that Egypt was ruled by the Albanian dynasty, founded by the famous Albanian Vali Mehmet Ali Pasha, respectively King Faruk.
Until King Faruk was in power, many Albanian patriots and anticommunists found refuge in Cairo, but with coming into power of Jamal Abdul-Nasser, the situation of Albanians in Egypt became difficult, so most of them were forced to leave Egypt because they were trialed by the government of Abdul-Nasser as supporters of King Faruk.
This also made Ali Jakupi leave Egypt.
After 20 years of residence in Egypt, respectively in Cairo, Ali effendi, in July 1957, was assigned by the Central Library of the University “Al-Az’har” the task of the interpreter at the Embassy of Egypt in Ankara.
Ali efendi worked as a translator at the Embassy until November 1959.
After giving up the task of the interpreter at the Egyptian Embassy in Ankara, in 1960 Ali Efendi Jakupi, was established in Istanbul, where he received the Turkish citizenship and a year later, he got married.
In 1960, the alimi and the great scholar, who knew seven languages, now under the new circumstances, began working in a private factory in an accounting office, but without leaving aside his profession, that of Hafiz, so, working in the factory and alongside in the mosques “Fatih Mesih Pasha” and “Emir Buharai” where he consistently discoursed for works such as: Ihya’u ‘ulumi’d-din, edebu’d-dunyya ve’d-din, Medariku’t Tenzil Divanu ve’ l Mutenebbi.
Although far from the homeland, Ali efendi carefully followed development of events in the Albanian territories.
He regarded communism as the greatest disaster of the Albanian people, “without dropping communism, no there is no good for our nation”. “Communism is the greatest evil and the Albanians have to realize that communism was against their interests”.
Only after the fall of communism, it will be opened a new page for Albanians, only then, the Albanians will become factors and the owners of the lands, taken violently by their neighbors.
The backwardness and isolation of Albania troubled much Ali effendi.
“At a time when the world is moving forward and is making progress in all areas, in economy, technique and technology, in my country reigns the Communist doctrine, which is the greatest evil of mankind” - Dr. Rexhep Boja recalls the concerns of Ali efendi about Albania.
Ali efendi was respected in both scientific as well as religious circles in Turkey.
The ulema of the time loved and respected him a lot.
He was considered as the greatest alimi and scholar of the time not only in Turkey but throughout the Islamic world.
With this article we want to give a small contribution in lightening and making known Ali effendi, this prominent personality, this great scientist, polyglot and scholar of past century, well-known and estimated in the world, but surprisingly left in limbo by the Albanians.