Albanian Orientalist

Interview with Dr. Murad Hofmann for "URA" magazine

2011-12-30T09:06:00.001+01:00

DR. MURAD W. HOFMANN

~ Exclusive interview for “URA” magazine ~*

Tirana-Albania

1. Our first question is: May you tell us please what is one of the main reasons, which you never mentioned before, that you accepted Islam as your religion, at a time when Islam for Europe and the West was quite not interesting and not so important? Did you start learning about Islam as an Orientalist before you accept it as your religion?

Dr. Murad Hofmann: I have never been an “Orientalist” nor did I study Islam like one. Rather than at the university I learned about Islam on the ground, i.e. as a young diplomat in Algeria. My conversion to Islam was the result of a personal quest for the divine, for truth. At the time, Islam was not yet an issue in Europe.

2. How can you describe your life in Islam in all these years as a Muslim?

Dr. Murad Hofmann: Nevertheless, Islam could not remain a private concern for me since, with the ever growing immigration of Muslims into Europe, Islam became everybody’s concern. In order to respond to the glaring need for information on Islam I became a member and co-founder of the Central Council of Muslims in Germany (ZMD) and started to give lectures, also abroad, and write books on Islam.

Dr. Murad Hofmann and Ermal Bega - Bonn, September 2011

3. The number of the Muslim people in Europe is increasing. Do you think that this is still a problem for the Germany and Europe?

Dr. Murad Hofmann: Alas, the more the number of Muslims in Europe increases, the more anti-Islamic sentiments grow. This "Islamophobia" causes many well educated Muslims to leave Europe and return to North Africa, Bosnia, and Turkey.

4. What do you think it is the best way for the Muslims in Germany and Europe, being emigrants or natives reverted to Islam, to show their Islam?

Dr. Murad Hofmann: The best way for Muslims in Europe is not to assimilate but to integrate into their environment without jeopardizing their faith. Integration should happen from below, from the grass roots level, as a prerequisite for representation at higher levels.

5. During our visit in Bonn, we had the change that you introduced to us some Turkish young people, born and raised in Germany, but active Muslim ones, and you told us that “this is the future of Germany”. Do you mean that the Muslim youth and active population in Germany and across all Europe is growing up and is taking the place of the other active religious people, which is known that the natality among Muslims societies is higher than in other communities?

Dr. Murad Hofmann: Their higher current birthrate will increase the number of Muslims in Europe - for a while. But birthrates inevitably decline with increased income levels. Nevertheless, the large number of active young Muslims in today’s Europe promises an upswing of Muslim activity in tomorrow’s Europe.

Dr. Murad Hofmann taking a look at the “URA” magazine - Bonn, September 2011

6. Nowadays, many Western people, after being in many ways in contact with Islam, are going to enter in Islam, and most of them are personalities and high level people. May you tell us please, why the Muslims themselves in Europe, mainly emigrants or natives with Islamic background, are not really active in spreading the real Islam, do they feel scared of being attacked or somehow feel ashamed of being Muslims?

Dr. Murad Hofmann: Islamophobia is more current in today’s Germany than in France and Great Britain because Germany has never been as exposed to Islam as a colonialist power. As a result, many Muslims in Germany are particularly afraid of an anti-Muslim backlash. This may make them scared but certainly not ashamed of their faith.

7. Your books have been translated in many languages in the world and two of them, 1. Islam & 2. Qur’an, have been translated also into Albanian and published this year in Tirana. Do you think that your point of view about Islam in nowadays world is a good example to invite in Islam many Europeans and Western people?

Dr. Murad Hofmann: My books are relatively successful, outside of Germany as well. They are certainly more successful than books imported from the Muslim world, particularly from India and Pakistan. One has to know a local culture intimately in order to insert Islam into it.

8. Albanian Center for Oriental Studies, in Tirana, on September 10, 2011, holds a seminar about your personality and at the same time promoted your last books, 1. Islam and 2. Qur’an, translated into Albanian, where Albanian personalities use to talk about you and your books into Albanian. Also, “URA” magazine, an organ of the center mentioned above has published about 6 of your articles in each of its issues. Now, may we have something to add about that?

Dr. Murad Hofmann: I am grateful both to the Albanian Center for Oriental Studies and "URA" magazine in Tirana for making available to the Albanian public some of my books and articles as well as a seminar about my work. Also I should like to thank "URA" magazine for making available this interview for Albanian readers in Albania itself, Kosovo, Macedonia, and wherever Albanians live.

Thank you very much!

Interviewed by Ermal BEGA, 2011

Editor-in-Chief of “URA” magazine

ISSN 2222-8381

acfos_albania@yahoo.com, uramagazine@gmail.com

Tirana-Albania

The interview translated into Albanian language you may see it here:

http://www.albanian-orientalist.blogspot.com/2011/12/interviste-ekskluzive-me-murad-hofmann.html

* This interview is published in the last issue (no. 7) of “URA” magazine, Autumn/Winter 2011.

Exhibition of Oriental documents and manuscripts

2011-12-21T12:46:00.014+01:00

Ermal BEGA

PERSONAL EXHIBITION OF ORIENTAL DOCUMENTS AND MANUSCRIPTS

Tirana-Albania, November 18-19, 2011

On November 18-19, 2011, in the hall of Albanian Qatar Center in Tirana, Albanian Center for Oriental Studies hold the first personal exhibition of the Oriental manuscripts and documents, by the Albanian orientalist Ermal Bega, at the same time the Executive Director of ACFOS-Albania.

In this exhibition were invited many great personalisties of art, culture etc. Among the special guests was the Egyptian ambassador in Albania, the chairman of Islamic Forum of Albania Mr. Fisnik Kruja, the well-known professor of psychology Prof. Dr. Jashar Demiraj, Prof. Dr. Hajri Shehu, the former ambassador of Albania in Egypt and the vice-director of AIITC in Tirana Dr. Faruk Borova, the former ambassador of Albania in Saudi Arabia Prof. Sulejman Tomçini the professor of Turkish language and literature Nezir Bata, the Turkish professor of Turkish and Ottoman language in Albania Mr. Bünyamin Çağlayan, the professor of Islamic studies from Prizren (Kosova), Ma. Ajni Sinani etc.

The lecturers in this panel were:

1. Prof. Assoc. Dr. Genciana Abazi-Egro - Turkologian

2. Prof. Bedri Telegrafi - Historian

3. Mr. Ermal Bega - Orientalist

On the first day of the exhibition, on Nov. 18, 2011, Mr. Ermal Bega gave an interview for 3 different private Albanian TVs in Tirana, Koha TV, Albanian Screen, and Ora News, while on Nov. 21, 2011, 3 days after the exhibition was done, he had another interview and special report for Vision Plus TV.

In this exhibition were presented more than 80 Oriental manuscripts and documents, in Arabic, Ottoman and hand-writings.

Head of this activity was Mr. Qani Sulku.

Video:

URA magazine, Autumn/Winter 2011, No. 7

2011-12-16T09:09:00.000+01:00

URA

CULTURAL-SCIENTIFIC MAGAZINE

FOR ORIENTAL STUDIES

4th year, 2011 No. 7

ISSN 2222-8381

PUBLISHED BY:

“ALBANIAN CENTER FOR ORIENTAL STUDIES”

attend:

Albanology

Balkanology

Orientalism

Architecture

Archivism

Civilization

History

Philosophy

Linguistics

Literature

Moral

Art

Science

Culture

Notable Personalities

Sociology, etc.

Autumn/Winter 2011

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Dr. Edward SAID

Dreams and delusion

2. Dr. Abdullah HAMITI

Mahmoud Darwish - The poet of the Arab and Palestinian identity

3. Dr. Hatixhe AHMEDI

The ijazah and it’s conception

4. M. Kent MAYFIELD

Arab Civilization: Influence on the West

5. Dr. Genciana ABAZI-EGRO

From the manuscripts on the textual critical editions: On the process of...

6. Dr. Feti MEHDIU

The oldest Islamic-Ottoman objects in the region of Kërçova (Kićevo)

7. Dr. Murad W. HOFMANN

Why this Islamophobia?

8. Nehat ISLAMI

The curse of the oldest city in the world

9. Rit NOSOTRO

Ibn Khaldun - Father of Historiography

10. Murat UYURKULAK

Red

~ Notable personalities ~

11. Faik KASOLLJA (HOXHA)

Muharrem Mullahu

~ Interview ~

1. Dr. Murad W. HOFMANN - Exclusive interview for “URA”

~ Cultural activities ~

1. World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development

2. Symposium: Albanians in Ottoman Empire

3. Division of prizes for AIITC 2010 winner

4. Seminar: Dr. Murad Hofmann and his life as a German-European Muslim

~Oriental poems ~

1. Nizar QABBANI

Witness

2. Fahredin SHEHU

The Contemplative

3. Nadja ARNAOUT

For your sake

New publications

Invitation to collaborate

Published by:

"ALBANIAN CENTER FOR ORIENTAL STUDIES"

P.O.Box 8203

Tirana-Albania

www.acfos-albania.org

acfos_albania@yahoo.com

E-mail: uramagazine@gmail.com

Dott. Murad Hofmann e la sua vita come un musulmano tedesco-europeo

2011-12-12T08:01:00.000+01:00

Ermal BEGA

Dott. Murad Hofmann e la sua vita come un musulmano tedesco-europeo

~ Cronaca Culturale ~

Il 10 settembre 2011, alle ore 18.00, nella grande sala del Museo Storico Nazionale, il Centro Albanese per gli Studi Orientali, ha organizzato il seminario con il titolo: "Dott. Murad Hofmann e la sua vita come un musulmano tedesco-europeo". Nella composizione di questo seminario era anche la promozione di due libri scritti dal Dott. Murad Hofmann: 1. "L’Islam", e l’altro 2. "Il Corano".

La partecipazione è stata numerosa soprattutto da parte delle personalità religiose, culturali, scientifiche, diplomatiche, vari organizzazioni ecc.

All'inizio dell'attività, lo speaker del seminario Ermir Hoxha legge un saluto speciale inviato da Dott. Murad Hofmann, dove tra l'altro scrive:

"Io mi considero un musulmano ’tedesco-europeo‘". Tuttavia, per dir meglio, non si trova una tale persona. Per tutti i musulmani, ovunque essi si trovino e qualsiasi lingua che loro parlino, appartengono all’Ummah islamica, la loro unica comunità. Tutti i musulmani in tutto il mondo sono uniti in un unico e vero Dio, Allah, e credono nello stesso profeta, Mohamed, e seguono lo stesso libro, il Corano".

Sono invitati a parlare in questo incontro:

1. Dott. Jashar Demiri, professore che insegna psicologia all’Università di Tirana, lui ha parlato in generale sulle opere in albanese del dott. Murad Hofmann e il loro impatto sulla società. Ha espresso vari commenti sul valore di questi libri, e alla fine ha fato una speciale congratulazione per gli ultimi due libri.

2. Besnik Mustafaj, presidente del Forum Albanese per l'Alleanza delle Civiltà (AFALC), ha discusso sulla vita del dott. Murad Hofmann e le sue visioni e le idee espresse nei suoi libri tradotti in albanese, ha posto l’accento al fatto che si debba essere più cooperazione reciproca fra le varie comunità religiose che vivono in Europa, dove all'Albania ha dato un ruolo particolare. Il discorso di sig. Besnik Mustafaj sulle opere di Dott. Murad Hofmann è stato applaudito da tutti i partecipanti.

3. Ermal Bega, direttore esecutivo del Centro Albanese di Studi Orientali (ACFOS), (che in questo caso, anche, nel ruolo del traduttore dei libri dall'originale in inglese), ha dato un riassunto del contenuto di questi due libri e poi ha parlato dell'influenza che questi hanno avuto nella società multiculturale e multi - religiosa d'Europa, dove fa parte, anche l'Albania. Inoltre, ha citato i suoi contatti diretti con dott. Murad Hofmann, dove ha reso pubblico il suo viaggio futuro verso la Germania per incontrarla direttamente da persona il dott. Hofmann e farli una intervista.*

In seguito, i partecipanti hanno complimentato per l'organizzazione di questo seminario, si sono svolte varie discussioni per quanto riguarda la pubblicazione dei libri e opinioni in loro possesso. Tra gli ospiti era invitato come ospite d’onore anche Kreshnik Osmani, dove anche lui ha fatto un breve discorso.

Uno speciale ringraziamento è indirizzato ai due studenti che vivono in Italia, il sig. Eris Pirra e la sig.ra Anita Braka, che hanno contribuito alla stampa di questi due libri. Infine, nella sala del Museo Storico Nazionale è stato fatto un cocktail, dove gli ospiti hanno discusso in più su quest’attività culturale. Potremmo dire che nella rivista culturale-scientifica per gli studi orientali "URA", organo del Centro Albanese per gli Studi Orientali, in quasi ogni suo numero si sono pubblicati articoli scritti dal dott. Murad Hofmann.

Murad Hofmann, compiuto ottant’anni quest'anno, è un esempio di un uomo, che la sua fede non è stata trasmessa come un'eredità di famiglia o come risultato di tutte le circostanze esistenziali restrittive. A un certo punto della sua vita, ha scelto completamente libero di essere musulmano. Piuttosto, egli si è sentito sempre musulmano nell'anima. In questo senso, il suo cammino spirituale è un'esperienza, il cui valore supera l'Hofmann in sé come persona. Fortunatamente per chi vuole conoscere l’Islam, musulmani o no, Murad Hofmann è un signore che ha studiato all’Università di Harvard e ha fatto la Giurisprudenza a Monaco di Baviera. Ha lavorato per mezzo secolo come diplomatico, negli ultimi dieci anni della sua carriera è stato un alto funzionario della NATO e poi è stato ambasciatore della Germania, in Algeria e in Marocco.

Estremamente vasta erudizione, esperienza rara di vita in Europa, America, Africa, l'esperienza rara come diplomatico professionale e ricca esperienza spirituale in entrambe le maggiori religioni monoteiste, primo nel cristianesimo e poi in Islam, fa che i suoi scritti sull'Islam siano fondamentalmente onesti, con contenuti ricchi e nello stile chiaro e comprensibile a tutti i cittadini liberi di questo mondo, sia per chi legge a comprendere meglio il messaggio del Profeta per sentirsi più felici nella loro convinzione, sia per chi legge per motivi culturali o intellettuali. Con le sue scritture Murad Hoffman rende un servizio prezioso alla sua fede, ed è l'iniziatore globale per il dialogo tra le civiltà.

Dalla parola di sig. Mustafaj in questo seminario.

Articolo della rivista “URA”, nr. 7, Estate-Inverno 2011, Tirana-Albania.

Tradotto dalla lingua albanese:

Anita BRAKA

* Questo viaggio si e realizato due settimane dopo.

Dr. Murad Hofmann and his life as a German-European Muslim

2011-12-01T22:51:00.000+01:00

Ermal BEGA

Dr. Murad Hofmann and his life as a German-European Muslim

~ Cultural Chronicle ~

On September 10, 2011, at 6:00 PM, the Albanian Center for Oriental Studies (ACFOS) organized a seminar entitled: "Dr. Murad Hofmann and his life as a German-European Muslim", held at the main hall of the Albanian National Historical Museum in Tirana. Part of this seminar was also the presentation of two books written by Dr. Hofmann: "Islam" and "The Quran".

A great number of religious, cultural, scientific, academic, diplomatic, and community representatives attended this event.

At the beginning of the event, Mr. Ermir Hoxha, journalist and presenter of the seminar, read out loud the special greeting sent by Dr. Hofmann to the seminar attendees, where, among others, he says:

"I am considered as a German-European Muslim. However, if I was to be precise, such a person does not exist. That is because all Muslims, wherever they are, and whatever language they speak, belong to the Muslim Ummah, one and only. All Muslims, in all over the world, are united in the one and only God, Allah, believe in the same prophet, Muhammad, and follow the same book, the Quran."

The presenters in this seminar were:

1. Dr. Jashar Demiri, professor of psychology at Albanian University in Tirana-Albania, who spoke in general about the works of doctor Murad Hofmann in Albanian and their impact on the Albanian society. He also commented on the value of these books, where he especially congratulated the last two books.

2. Besnik Mustafaj (former minister of foreign affairs of Albania), president of the Albanian Forum for the Alliance of Civilization (AFALC), who talked about the life of Dr. Murad Hofmann and about his visions and ideas expressed in his books that have been translated into Albanian and for a more active cooperation between the different religious and cultural communities that live in Europe, where he gave Albania a special role. The interpretation of Dr. Murad Hoffman's viewpoints by Mr. Mustafaj was very much liked and applauded by the attendees.

3. Ermal Bega, Executive Director of ACFOS-Albania, who, as the translator of Dr. Hofmann's books from English to Albanian, gave a summary of the content of the latest two books and their effect on the multi-faith, multi-cultural societies of Europe, where Albania is also part. Mr. Bega also mentioned his experiences thru direct contact with Dr. Murad Hofmann and revealed that he would soon take a quick trip to Germany to personally meet Dr. Hofmann and conduct an interview with him.*

Later on, the attendees expressed gratitude for the organization of this seminar and discussed the two new books and their contents. Among the guests who spoke a few words of salutation, was also Mr. Kreshnik Osmani.

A special thank you note went to two of our compatriots who live in Italy, Mr. Eris Pirra and Mrs. Anita Braka, who contributed towards the publishing of these two books.

At the conclusion of the event, a cocktail was held at the reception area of the National Historical Museum, where the guests further discussed the content of this historical event.

We must add that the cultural scientific magazine for oriental studies "URA", published by ACFOS-Albania, has undertaken to publish an article by Dr. Murad Hofmann in each of its issues.

Murad Hofman, who is 80 years old this year, is the example of a man who doesn’t carry his belief as a family heritage and neither as a result of tough existential circumstances. At a certain point in his life, he has chosen with his totally free will to be a Muslim. Better said, he has felt a Muslim in spirit. In this sense, his personal spiritual journey is an experience whose value surpasses Hofman as a person.

Fortunately for those who want to study Islam, be they Muslim or not, Murad Hofman is a gentleman who has studied at Harvard University and the Munich School of Law. He has then worked for half a century as a diplomat, until during the last decade of his career he was appointed as a high representative to NATO and as the German Ambassador to Algeria and Morocco.

His extremely wide erudition, his rare life experience in Europe, America, and Africa, his equally rare experience as a diplomat, and his rich experience in the two large monotheistic world religions, Christianity at first, then Islam, allow his writings on Islam to be honest, rich in content, and with a clear and understandable style for all the free citizens of this world, be it for those who read him to better understand the Prophet’s teachings so as to feel happier in their faith, or for those who read him simply for cultural and intellectual reasons. With his writings, Murad Hofman does a great service to both his faith and the global initiative for the dialog between civilizations.

From the speech of Mr. Besnik Mustafaj in this seminar

Translated from Albanian:

Armir TARAJ

Taken from “URA” magazine, Issue #7, Fall-Winter 2011, Tirana-Albania.

* This trip to Germany was undertaken two weeks later.

Muslim Albania - AlJazeera Documentary, March 2010

2011-11-23T04:50:00.003+01:00

La divisione dei premi per i vincitori di AIITC 2010

2011-08-13T23:33:00.000+02:00

Ermal BEGA

CRONACA CULTURALE

~ La divisione dei premi per i vincitori di AIITC 2010 ~

La sera del 13 giugno 2011, al Hotel “Sheraton”, sala “Iliria”, in presenza di diverse personalità, quelle albanese e straniere, l’Istituto Albanese del Pensiero e Civiltà Islamica, sotto gli auspici del Ministero del Turismo, Cultura, Gioventù e dello Sport ha organizzato per il quinto anno consecutivo la cerimonia di annunciare i vincitori del "Premio AIITC 2010" per le categorie:

• Il miglior libro nel campo della scienza e della cultura islamica

• Il miglior traduttore dell'anno, per il libro nel campo della scienza, della cultura e dell'arte islamica, in lingua albanese

• Il più bel paesaggio fatto dai pittori albanesi

• La migliore creatività dei giovani in prosa e poesia con la tema: "La bellezza nello spirito e nella vita"

Quest’attività è stata diretta da Qani Sulku e Daniela Fagu.

Ha dato l'inizio alla serata il direttore di AIITC, Ramiz Zekaj, e poi ha preso la parola il rappresentante del Ministero del Turismo, Cultura, Gioventù e dello Sport, Ermir Nika.

Ramiz Zekaj, tra l’altro ha citato: "Attraverso il Premio AIITC, il nostro istituto vuole trasmettere il modo migliore della cultura e della civiltà islamica".

Dopo un po’, Elinor Butka, ha suonato con il suo toolkit Ney alcuni brani musicali.

In seguito è cominciata la ceremonia della distribuzione dei premi.

La prima categoria è stata la proclamazione dei vincitori per il miglior libro dell’anno 2010 nel campo della scienza, della cultura e dell'arte islamica. Questa categoria è stata condotta dal professor Xhevat Lloshi.

I premi per la categoria sono stati divisi su questi autori e libri:

Al primo posto: Qemajl Morina con il libro “Glosar i nocioneve fetare”, (Glossario dei nozioni Religiosi)

Al secondo posto: Arian Kadiu con il libro “Dibra e Madhe dhe një vështrim mbi Dibrën e Vogël”( "La Grande Dibra e una panoramica della Dibra Minore")

Al terzo posto: (erano due vincitori) a) Bardhyl Fico con il libro “Anamorfoza e mesazhit të madh” ( Anamorfoza del grande messaggio) e b) Adnan Silajdźić con il libro “Muslimanët në kërkim të një identiteti” (I musulmani alla ricerca di un'identità - tradotto in albanese da Ermal Bega e Klodiana Smajlaj.

I vincitori dei premi per la categoria della migliore traduzione e del miglior traduttore:

Al primo posto: Oriol Guni per la traduzione del libro “Kryqëzatat në syrin e arabëve” (Le crociate agli occhi degli arabi).

Al secondo posto: Ferid Hafizi per la traduzione del libro “Islami politik dhe e ardhmja e tij” (L'islam politico e il suo futuro).

I vincitori dei premi per i più bei dipinti della categoria dell’arte visiva, con il presidente della giuria Sadik Kasen, sono stati:

Al primo posto: Skënder Kamberi

Al secondo posto: Sadik Kasa

Alla fine, i vincitori dei premi per la creatività dai giovani, in prosa e poesia con la tema "La bellezza nello spirito e nella vita", con il presidente della giuria Arian Kadiu, sono stati:

Al primo posto: Elida Rustemi

Al secondo posto: Visar Hyseni

Al terzo posto: Elida Gjerani

Dopo, il musicista Elinor Butka ci ha accompagnato di nuovo con i suoni belli del suo toolkit Ney. Alla fine per i partecipanti è stato preparato un cocktail.

Tradotto dal albanese:

Anita BRAKA

Il Giorno Mondiale della Diversità Culturale per il Dialogo e lo Sviluppo

2011-07-27T17:44:00.001+02:00

Ermal BEGA

Tirana-Albania

CRONACA CULTURALE

~ Il Giorno Mondiale della Diversità Culturale per il Dialogo e lo Sviluppo ~

In occasione della Giornata Mondiale della Diversità Culturale per il Dialogo e lo Sviluppo, che ufficialmente è stato designato il giorno 21 maggio, il 25 maggio 2011, alle 18.30, il Forum Albanese per l'Alleanza delle Civiltà (AFALC) in collaborazione con la Fondazione Euro-Mediterranea Anna Lindh, presso i locali dell'Hotel Tirana International, sala Abreht, hanno organizzato un incontro con l'argomento “Le culture parlano”.

Questo incontro è stato parte di una catena delle attività su lo stesso argomento svolto contemporaneamente in tutti i paesi della regione del Mediterraneo.

In quest'attività sono stati invitati alti funzionari di varie comunità religiose in Albania, quella musulmana (Haxhi Lika), bektashi (Edmond Brahimaj), ortodossa (Sonila Dedja) e cattolica (Lorenc Stojani).

Altrettanto in questo evento sono stati invitati anche i membri della comunità religiosa evangelica, della comunità rom (Marsela Avxhiu) e della società civile (Ermal Bega).

Gli interlocutori sul tavolo rotondo in cui si erano riuniti e con la presenza di un pubblico vario, hanno scambiato opinioni ed esperienze portate dagli ambienti culturali di provenienza, pronunciando che questa diversità è un bene prezioso per la nostra società.

Ermal Bega, Direttore Esecutivo del Centro Albanese per gli Studi Orientali (il centro fa parte della rete Anna Lindh Foundation in Albania), come rappresentante della società civile, ha parlato sulle esperienze della storia dell'umanità in connessione con la coesistenza di diverse religioni e culture nella regione mediterranea, fornendo un esempio per un futuro migliore, come deve esistere la comprensione e la convivenza tra religioni e culture diverse in Albania.

Tra gli elementi citati nel suo discorso più efficace e rilevante è stato la menzione di uno degli eventi più luminosi nella storia del mondo, quando il famoso guerriero Saladino Ejjub, al termine della guerra, a causa della sua giustizia, i dominatori Cristiani ed Ebrei dopo che gli hanno dato le chiavi della città di Gerusalemme a Saladino, hanno dichiarato: "Solo voi, con una tale giustizia, potette governare un paese con tre religioni divine, Ebraismo, Cristianesimo e Islam".

Questa storia è stata raccontata in modo che la giustizia e la convivenza tra fedi e culture diverse, di qualsiasi società religiosa sia, deve essere in nome di principi religiosi e di giustizia, a servire poi a una vita migliore compresa nella comunità.

Al termine dell'attività, i partecipanti hanno visitato una mostra di oggetti e cibi tradizionali, artigianato artistico fatta da donne di diverse comunità religiose, organizzato nel quadro del progetto “Le culture parlano”.

All’incontro non è mancato per certo la presentazione di alcuni dolci e cibi tradizionali delle famiglie musulmane albanesi, preparati dalle signore Esmeralda Çaça e Rezarta Alla.

Un ringraziamento speciale, il direttore esecutivo del Centro Albanese di Studi Orientali ha inviato alle ragazze musulmane, Besjana Dani, Erblina Sezairi e Suada Hajredinaj, che hanno partecipato a questa attività, le quale dopo l’incontro hanno discusso vari problemi con i loro compatrioti di altre comunità religiosi e culturali, a vantaggio di una migliore comprensione interreligiosa e interculturale in Albania.

L'Albania è un meraviglioso esempio di armoniosa convivenza fra le due maggiori comunità religiose, quello Musulmano e quel Cristiano (Ortodossi e Cattolici).

"Questo prezioso patrimonio deve essere sostenuto con forza da tutte le parti attive della società albanese", ha citato uno dei partecipanti dell'attività.

Tradotto da albanese:

Anita BRAKA

"URA" magazine, Spring/Summer 2011, No. 6

2011-06-14T09:49:00.001+02:00

CULTURAL-SCIENTIFIC MAGAZINE

FOR ORIENTAL STUDIES

4th year, 2011 No. 6

PUBLISHED BY:

“ALBANIAN CENTER FOR ORIENTAL STUDIES”

attend:

Albanology

Balkanology

Orientalism

Architecture

Archivism

Civilization

History

Philosophy

Linguistics

Literature

Moral

Art

Science

Culture

Notable Personalities

Sociology, etc.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Dr. Edward SAID

The language of the pople or of the scholars

2. Nuredin AHMETI

Hasan Kaleshi and the Albanian historiography

3. M. Shahid ALAM

The predatory Orientalism

4. Roald HYSA

The literature of the Islamic realm

5. Agim BACELLI

King Farouk, the end without glory of the Albanians in Egypt

6. Dr. Murad W. HOFMANN

Islam and Racism

7. Emil LAFE

The Oriental word and world in the Albanian national poetry

8. Mr. sc. Sadik MEHMETI

The translation and commentary of Juzz “Amma” by Mehmet ef. Salihu

9. Skerdi MAHMUTAJ

Persepolis

10. Nuha ARNAUTI

Arabic literature

11. Dr. Genciana ABAZI-EGRO

The histori of the word bejtexhi (beyteci)

12. Ramadan SHKODRA

Ali Efendi Jakupi

13. Dr. Muhamed MUFAKU-ARNAUTI

The Albanian emigration in the countries of Sham and their contributions...

14. Müge İPLIKÇI

The bee

Poems

1. Hafiz Ali KORÇA

Mourning on the janaza of Dervish Hima

2. Fahredin SHEHU

Me and Firdaus

3. Halil XHIBRAN

On Marriage

Invitation to collaborate

ISSN 2222-8381

Published by:

"ALBANIAN CENTER FOR ORIENTAL STUDIES"

P.O.Box 8203

Tirana-Albania

www.acfos-albania.org

E-mail: uramagazine@gmail.com

رحلة إلى أرض الأجداد - أرمال بيغا

2011-02-03T20:17:00.001+01:00

رحلة إلى أرض الأجداد

لقد نشأ في بيئة عربية، محاطاً بالتقاليد العربية. وعرف عن خلفيته الألبانية بسبب إسمه الذي أشار الى ذلك بالأضافة لسماعه ذلك من والديه،

ولكنه لم يفكر قط أنه سيخطو يوماً على أرض أجداده. لم يتمكن من معرفة المكان الدقيق لأصله من والديه ولا من أقاربه، ولكن هذا لم يمنعه من الرغبة في السفر إلى أي من الأراضي الألبانية إذا أمكن. كانت هذه كلمات عامر أرناؤوط، ألبانياً من لبنان، الذي يعيش في ألمانيا مع أسرته منذ عشر سنوات.

هذه العائلة الألبانية المميزة قامت بزيارة ألبانيا بين تواريخ 12 و 15 تموز 2010. عامر بمرافقة زوجته، ناديا أرناؤوط، وأطفالهما الثلاثة، محمد، يوسف وسارة، هبطوا لأول مرة في ألبانيا.

بعد إستقبالنا لأسرة الأرناؤوط في شكودرا، التي قدموا إليها بالسيارة من ألمانيا، قمنا بمرافقتهم إلى تيرانا، وعلى الطريق كنا نصف لهم الأماكن التي نراها ليتكون لديهم فكرة عامة عن المناطق التي يرونها. عندما وصلنا إلى تيرانا، إستقروا في أحد الفنادق، وذلك المساء ذهبنا جميعاً لتناول العشاء وشرب القهوة.

في اليوم التالي، ذهبنا في الصباح الباكر لمرافقتهم من الفندق. كنا قد خططنا أنه خلال اليوم الأول من إقامتهم الممتدة لثلاثة أيام، سنقوم بزيارة البلدة القديمة في كروجا، حيث زرنا البازار القديم والمسجد في وسط المدينة (البازار، المسجد والقناة جميعها قد بنيت أثناء الحضارة الإسلامية في عهد الإمبراطورية العثمانية التي تركت آثاراً كثيرة في كروجا والمدن الألبانية الأخرى). ثم سافرنا إلى ديوريس حيث تناولنا طعام الغداء والقهوة على شاطئ البحر. هناك شاهدنا مسجد ديوريس الكبير في وسط المدينة، على قمة تلة صغيرة. ومن المثير للإهتمام أن نلاحظ أنه في عهد الدولة العثمانية، وفي فترة الحضارة الإسلامية عموماً، كان لكل مدينة مسجد كبير وسوق في وسط المدينة، جنباً إلى جنب مع المؤسسات الحكومية الأخرى الموجودة هناك، والشيء نفسه حدث في ألبانيا كذلك.

بعد قضاء وقت طويل على الشاطئ في ديوريس الذي أمضيناه في محادثات مثيرة للإهتمام، توجهنا لتيرانا قبل المغرب. لقد توجهنا إلى المسجد في وسط إتهيم باي، حيث صلّينا صلاة المغرب. ثم قمنا بعد ذلك بمرافقة ضيوفنا الى الفندق لكي يأخذوا قسطاً من الراحة، وإلتقينا بعدها لتناول العشاء. بعد العشاء ذهبنا لشرب القهوة في أحد المقاهي اللطيفة على جبل داجتي، ليتاح لضيوفنا الإستمتاع بالطبيعة الهادئة الجميلة لمساء تيرانا. في وقت متأخر من المساء، عدنا إلى المنزل للراحة لكي نلتقي مجدداً في الصباح التالي.

لقد إلتقينا الثامنة صباحاً، وقررنا الذهاب لتناول وجبة الإفطار في مكان للوجبات السريعة التي يملكها صديق سوري، حيث إستمتعنا بتناول الشاورما السورية الشهيرة. وأثناء تناول الإفطار ناقشنا فكرة الذهاب لزيارة كوسوفا، ولكن شعرنا أن الرحلة قد تكون متعبة وتعيقنا، نظراً لقصر فترة رحلتهم، فقررنا عدم الذهاب، وقضينا باقي اليوم نتجوّل في تيرانا لرؤية الأشياء عن كثب. وخلال محادثاتنا فقد ناقشنا أصل عائلة الأرناؤوط في المشرق، وحياتهم هناك وفي ألبانيا.

في صباح اليوم التالي كان على عائلة أرناؤوط الإستعداد لمغادرة تيرانا وألبانيا وسفر مسافة طويلة إلى بيروت، لبنان، حيث ينتظرهم أقاربهم.

الآن أصبح لديهم شيئاً يقولونه لأقاربهم عن ألبانيا والألبان، وذلك لأنها تجربة قد "لمست" باليد. وقد أعربوا عن حقيقة زيارتهم لألبانيا أنها كانت أكثر اللحظات سعادة خلال رحلتهم الطويلة جداً.

في لحظة المغادرة، أعربوا عن رغبتهم في زيارة أخرى خلال عطلة الصيف في السنة التالية، زيارة أخرى لألبانيا لفترة أطول، لنتمكن من الذهاب لزيارة الأراضي الألبانية في كوسوفا ومقدونيا.

لقد كانت أول زيارة لألبانيا خطوة كبيرة وهامة جداً ليتمكن كثير من الأرناؤوطيين (الألبان) الذين يعيشون في الشرق من زيارتنا.

أرمال بيغا

تمّ ترجمته من اللغة الألبانية الى الإنكليزية من خلال أرمير تاراج

تمّ ترجمته من اللغة الإنكليزية الى العربية من خلال فريق Paradetect

المصدر: A.C.F.O.S. - Albania

(Anglisht (English

http://www.paradetect.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=383:a-journey-to-the-land-of-the-ancestors&catid=3:newsflash&Itemid=12&lang=en

(Arabisht (Arabic

http://www.paradetect.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=383:a-journey-to-the-land-of-the-ancestors&catid=3:newsflash&Itemid=12&lang=ar

A journey to the land of the ancestors

2011-01-16T19:32:00.000+01:00

Ermal BEGA

A JORNEY TO THE LAND OF THE ANCESTORS*

(Special Report)

He has grown up in an Arab environment, surrounded by Arab traditions. He knew about his Albanian background because his name indicated it and he had heard this from his parents, but he had never thought that he would one day step on the land of his ancestors. He hadn’t been able to learn from his parents or relatives about the exact place of his origin, but this didn’t stop him from wanting to travel to any Albanian land that he could. These were the words of Amer Arnaout, an Albanian from Lebanon, who has been living in Germany together with his family for 10 years.

This very special family of Albanians visited Albania between the dates of 12 and 15 July, 2010. Amer, together with his wife, Nadja Arnaout, and their three children, Muhammad, Jusuf, and Sara, landed for the first time in Albania.

After receiving the Arnaout family in Shkodra, where they came by car from Germany, we accompanied them to Tirana, and on the way we would describe for them the places we’d see so they could have a general idea about the areas they were seeing. When we arrived in Tirana, we let them settle down at a hotel, and that evening we all went out for dinner and coffee.

The following day, we went to get them at the hotel early in the morning. We had planned that during the first day of their three-day stay, we would visit the old city of Kruja, where we visited the old Bazaar and Mosque at the center of the city (the bazaar, mosque, and aqueduct where all built during the Islamic civilization erected during the Ottoman Empire which has left many traces in Kruja and other Albanian cities). Then we traveled to Durres where we had lunch and coffee by the seaside. There we saw the big mosque of Durrës at the center of the city, on top of a small hill. It is interesting to note that during the Ottoman Empire, and during the entire Islamic Civilization in general, every city had a large mosque and a bazaar at the center of the city, alongside the other governmental institutions located there, and the same thing occurred in Albania as well.

After our long stay by the beach of Durrës spent in interesting conversations, we left for Tirana before Maghrib time. We went to the center mosque of Et’hem Bey, where we prayed Maghrib. We then accompanied our guests to their hotel so they could rest, and we met again for dinner. After dinner we went for a coffee at one of the nice Cafes on the Dajti mountain, so our guests could enjoy the quiet and pictorial nature of Tirana in the evening. Late in the evening we returned home to rest, so we could meet the following day in the morning.

We met at around 8 am in the morning and decided to go get breakfast at a fast-food place owned by a Syrian friend, where we enjoyed the famous Syrian shawarma. While having breakfast we discussed the idea of going to visit Kosova, but we felt that we would get delayed and tired from the journey, and considering the short period of their trip, we decided not to go, and so we spent the day touring Tirana instead, and seeing things up close. During our conversations we discussed the origin of the Arnaout in the Orient, and their lives there and in Albania.

The following day in the morning the Arnaout family had to get ready to leave Tirana and Albania and travel a long way to Beirut, Lebanon, where their relatives were expecting them. They now had something to tell their relatives about Albania and the Albanians, because they had now “touched” them by hand. They expressed the fact that visiting Albania had been their most happy moment during their very long trip.

At the moment of departure, they expressed their desire that during the summer vacations of the following year, they would like to visit Albania again for a longer period, so we could all go and visit the Albanian lands in Kosova and Macedonia.

Their first visit to Albania was a great and important step so that in the future many more Arnaouts (Albanians) who live in the Orient can come and visit us.

Translated from Albanian:

Armir TARAJ

* This article in published in “URA” magazine, no. 5, Autumn/Winter, 2010, Tirana-Albania. This magazine is published by Albanian Center for Oriental Studies in Tirana-Albania.

www.acfos-albania.org & acfos_albania@yahoo.com

"URA" magazine, Autumn/Winter 2009, No. 2 (5)

2010-12-03T09:58:00.000+01:00

CULTURAL-SCIENTIFIC MAGAZINE

FOR ORIENTAL STUDIES

PUBLISHED BY:

“ALBANIAN CENTER FOR ORIENTAL STUDIES”

attend:

Albanology

Balkanology

Orientalism

Architecture

Archivism

Civilization

History

Philosophy

Linguistics

Literature

Moral

Art

Science

Culture

Notable Personalities

Sociology, etc.

Special issue about the Arnaouts (Albanians) living in the Orient.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREFACE (On the occasion of this exclusive issue abort the Albainans living in the Orient)

1. Huseyin ABIVA

Islam in Albania

2. Dr. Edward SAID

The treason of the intellectuals

THE ARNAOUTS (ALBANIANS) IN THE ARAB-ISLAMIC WORLD

1. Arnaouts (The Albanians living in the Arab-Islamic world) and their origin

2. The scholar Shaikh Albani and Abd al-Kadr Arnaout

3. Abd al-Lateef ARNAOUT

4. Aisha ARNAOUT

5. Ghina ARNAOUT

Nadim ARNAOUT

6. Nuha ARNAOUT

Jordan - A country to discover

7. Dr. Muhammad M. ARNAOUT

8. Dr. Muhammad ARNAOUT

Imam Vehbi Ismaili

9. Dr. Muhammad ARNAOUT

Ivo Andriç and the young Umar Pasha

10. Dr. Muhammad ARNAOUT

Sayings among Persian, Albanian and Arabic language

11. Nehat ISLAMI

Albanians in the liberation war of Syria

THE ARNAOUTS (ALBANIANS) IN OTTOMAN EMPIRE

1. Dr. Dritan EGRO

Arnaouts in the Ottoman Empire

2. Ledian CIKALLESHI

Hasan Tahsin - The Albanian scientist, philosopher and patriot in the Ottoman Empire

3. Ledian CIKALLESHI

Mehmed Akif Ersoy - The Albanian who wrote the Turkish national anthem

THE ARNAOUTS (ALBANIANS) IN BOSNIA AND HERCEGOVINA

1. Elvedina ARNAUT

The Arnaouts (Albanians) in Bosnia and Hercegovina

ABSTRACTS OF PUBLISHED ARTICLES ABOUT THE ARNAOUTS (ALBANIANS) LIVING IN THË ORIENT (Wrote by Ali Olloni)

1. The Albanian woman and the Palestinian man

2. Today I am just a poet

3. Clots from the exile life

4. Azize Maxhari and the gravestone

5. “When you lost your tongue - you will lose your home”

6. The poet of the railway

7. The spiritual storms in Arab countries

8. Attempts to open an Albanian club

9. Puna-mamurë, dembelia-harabë

10. How do the Albanian women live and think in Syria

11. The grandfather and his grandson

12. The ambassador of the Albanian culture to Arabs

13. The tears from the “Chekhov” of the Arabs

INTERVIEWS

1. Exclusive interview with our compatriot in Cairo-Egypt, Mr. Amer Bektashi

2. An interview with the Imam Wahbi Sulaiman Gavotchi, Damascus-Syria

ORIENTAL POEMS

1. Nuha ARNAOUT

Flagrant roses

2. Barakat Latif ARNAOUT

The poem of the emigrant ones

Reportage

A jorney to his ancestry country

Photos

New publications

Summary (in English)

Invitation to collaborate

Published by:

"ALBANIAN CENTER FOR ORIENTAL STUDIES"

P.O.Box 8203

Tirana-Albania

www.acfos-albania.org

E-mail: uramagazine@gmail.com

SUMMARY

Many of us have heard about the Arnauts (Arnaouts), or the Albanians who live in the Orient from centuries ago, but, unfortunately, very few of us are informed about them, their life and traditions, their social influence in the countries in which they live, or their contributions to those countries.

The term Arnaut or Arnaout was used for the first time during the times of the Ottoman Empire, when Albanians were known as Arnaut while Albania was called Arnautluk.

There are different claims as to the origin of the word Arnaut, but it would take a separate article to discuss about this matter.

The use of the term Arnaut to identify the Albanian origin of people living in the lands of the Orient increased significantly after the weakening and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, when, inspired by rising nationalism, the different nations under this empire began forming their own states based on ethnicity or religion. During this time, the Albanian Muslims in these lands, who were not included within the new Albanian state, started taking on the name Arnaut to demonstrate their Albanian origin.

It is interesting to note that, besides the Albanian Muslims (who comprised the majority of the Albanian people), this name was also adopted by Albanian Christians, mostly Catholics, to show their Albanian origins. For example, besides the Muslims of Albanian background who are found in great numbers in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt, Sudan, Yemen, Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia etc., entire Christian families of Albanian origin can still be found, primarily in Lebanon, where their history began with the appointment of Albanian Catholic Vaso Pasha by the Ottoman Empire as governor of Lebanon. Vaso Pasha brought with him Albanian Christian families who decided to live in Lebanon and who, to this day, carry the surname Arnaut (Arnaouts) with great respect as an indicator of their Albanian origins. According to latest research, we have also encountered several Orthodox Christian families who live in Ukraine and carry the surname Arnaut.

While most of the Albanians who live in the Orient carry the last name Arnaout as the identifier of their Albanian nationality, many other families in the Arab countries and in Turkey carry other surnames, many of which are names of places in Albania or names of well-known Albanian families. Here we can mention the al-Albani family in Jordan, from which the famous Muslim scholar Nasiruddin al-Albani came forth (from Shkodra), the other famous Muslim scholar Wahbi Sulaiman Gavotchi (in Albanian, Vehbi Sulejman Gavoçi) (also from Shkodra) etc. Among the families that carry a last name related to their place of origin is the large Shkodra family in Lebanon.

Among the most well-known Arnaut (Albanians) in the oriental world we can note: Muslim scholars Abd al-Kadr Arnaout (Abdulkadër Arnauti) and Shuayb Arnaout (Shuajb Arnauti), the famous writers Ma’ruf Arnaout (Mar’uf Arnauti) and Dr. Abd al-Lateef Arnaout (Abdulatif Arnauti), the famous writer and historian Dr. Muhammad M. Arnaout (Muhamed Mufaku-Arnauti), the writer and poet Aisha Arnaout (Aishe Arnauti), the activist for opening lay schools in Lebanon Nadim Arnaout (Nadim Arnauti), the famous actor from Damascus Yasin Arnaut (Jasin Arnauti), the writer and teacher Shawkat Gavotchi (Shefqet Gavoçi) etc.

In addition, most of the Albanians who live in the Orient are well-educated, have finished advanced studies, and hold high positions in the societies in which they live.

In this context, by taking into consideration the importance and great role that Albanians (Arnaouts) have played and still play in the oriental countries, the editorial board of the Cultural-Scientific Magazine for Oriental Studies “URA” decided to dedicate this exclusive issue to them, the Arnaouts.

In this regard, we can’t afford no to thank those that have contributed with their strong efforts and passion into the realization of this issue. They are: the Arnaout authors of exclusive articles for this issue of the magazine, Nuha Arnaout, Ghina Arnaout, and Elvedina Arnaut; other authors who contributed with exclusive articles for this issue, Dr. Dritan Egro and Ledian Cikalleshi; translators Rezarta Saliaj, Suela Dibra, Armir Taraj, and Ardita Kovaçi; the interviewer from Cairo Indrit Lita, and many others who supported us in different ways.

May God reward you all. Amin!

Respectfully,

The editorial board of the Cultural-Scientific Magazine “URA”.

Tirana-Albania

Translated from Albanian:

Armir TARAJ

Islamic Identity of Albanians - Myth or Reality?!

2010-11-29T23:25:00.001+01:00

Ermal BEGA

Tirana-Albania

ISLAMIC IDENTITY OF ALBANIANS - MYTH OR REALITY?!

Islamic identity and/or European identity of Albanians, has recently become a pretty big problem among the prominent personalities, academics and researchers of various Albanian territories.

Discussions on this issue are not new to us Albanians who have suffered throughout history, but have come to the surface more often in later times, when for a long time various newspapers, print and broadcast media in Albania and Kosova have opened the debate about whether the Albanians have a Muslim identity (belonging to Islam) or have a European identity (which means you need to be Christian-Catholic-Latin or Greek-Slavic-Orthodox)?

I don’t understand, first of all, why we need to do this kind of debate in vain, considering that Europe and the world at large know very well and very clearly that the majority of the Albanian people are of the Islamic religion, with actions or without them (practicing or not), knowingly or through ignorance (as most of the people who have Albanian Muslim names, but do not have any knowledge about their religion).

Secondly, I fail to understand why this dirty politics is becoming so sneakily anti-Islamic in Albania. Islam is a faith which has never created problems to those who practice it, and nobody has seen anything bad from this faith and from its believers.

If denying the Islamic identity of the Albanians, and the fear that as Muslims we can not enter in Europe is the only reason these personalities present, we respond that "fear is a permanent companion of injustice" (W. Shakespeare) , and "courage without reason is just one of the types of fear" (Seneca).

But to return back to the topic we are talking about, I would like to quote here a question-statement the great Imam, patriot, teacher, former adviser to the Ministry of Education and the largest Albanian politician Hafiz Ali Korça made in 1944, when the second edition of his book "Seven Dreams of Albania" (the book which was reprinted in 2006, in Tirana), was published: "When Europe decided to create this piece of Albania, it put us the requirement that in case we would leave the Islamic religion they would build this piece of Albania, or else they would totally divide up the lands. But this is not right, because we know very well that if it was not for the majority of the Muslim population, this piece would also have been divided."

In connection with numerous talks and debates that have arisen in the media and the propaganda that allegedly Albanians are secular and have a secular state (it certainly was made to eliminate the Albanian Muslim majority), I wanted to add a saying of Napoleon Bonaparte, when he saw that boundless liberalism had gone to excess and religion was being trampled upon, he said: "Faith (belief) should exist, because even if there would be no religion (faith), we would need to create one, because only religion can provide the morale and discipline of a nation”, and having said this he made a provision to create a well-equipped clergy.

Germans say: "A professor however learned he is, if he is non-religious (secular) should not even enter in elementary schools let alone in universities."

The last term is appropriate for those who seek to throw all Albanians in the Christian religion, who until yesterday were attacking Islam and Albanian Muslims in secret, and now we face them as brave hearts through electronic media and who keep asserting again with a tenacity like that of a hog, that Albanians do not belong to an Oriental Muslim identity, but belong to that of European Christians.

The worst is that these personalities, by name, belong to the Islamic faith themselves, even though out of their Jahiliya (ignorance) they confuse the terms such as Islam with Muslimanism, and Muslims with Mohammedans, etc.. Islam did not take the name of the prophet who has come down to proclaim this faith and way of life, as Christianity was derived from Christ (Jesus according to Islam), Buddhism from Buddha, etc..

But if these figures are not willing to declare their Islam, they have the right to accept another faith (even though according to the Islamic constitution, if a Muslim changes his faith, he is considered a renegade), and in this case may change their names, such as from Hayrullah (which means "mercy of God") to Thanas or Vangjel, from Abdullah to Pal or Gjon, from Ismail (name of a Blessed Prophet - Ishmail for Christians) to John, from Fahri (which means "cheerer ") to Francis etc., but have no right to interfere in the personal affairs of other individuals or of a majority of a certain faith, because in this way automatically they create rifts between communities and the responsibility rests with them for any later situation that may arise, as the rift that happened between the Muslim-majority community and the Catholics in Shkodra on the issue of placing the cross on a hill, in a village where most residents of the area belonged to the Islamic faith).

It is true that now the Albanians are living in freedom and democracy, but freedom and democracy have a slogan, which reads: "Freedom and democracy will mean that you are free to do and say everything you want, except to do harm to yourself and others."

In this context, here comes the idea that anyone is free to choose what he wants, but can not and has no right to impose his views on others.

We (I mean the pseudo-Muslim Albanians) can not become "more Catholic than the Pope."

Then why continue to debate in vain an issue that has been resolved by the Albanians themselves through their acceptance of Islam before 600 or some years (before the advent of the Turks), and is well known that the Albanian people have accepted Islam knowingly and willingly, for objective and subjective reasons which are unknown, and never with violence, and for those periods during which there was "violence", it has never been to accept Islam by violence, but for political and personal reasons.

This shows very clearly that the Albanians have never fought among themselves for religious matters, but only for personal and tribal issues.

Meanwhile, in present times Albania, it is very well known that people who manage most of politics, art, culture, business, cinema, media, publication of books etc. are people of Christian faith (Catholic and Orthodox in particular, where most of them are of non-Albanian origin, but have settled sometime ago in Albania), and Muslims never said anything against them.

One day, I heard from a friend that deputy publicist Nikoll Lesi, in the newspaper that he leads, some time ago (it's this year) had published an article in which he showed the origin of some of the politicians of a party, where most of them were of the Orthodox faith but were not of Albanian origin, and we have not heard any problems or statements by the Albanian Muslims about this though they were Christians, because Islam accepts the rule of non-Muslims in the state when you can not find a suitable person to rule or when a Muslim country is invaded, but only when they are right and govern with justice.

Unfortunately, other faiths do not have this same tolerance, but they require that people necessarily turn to the religion of those who rule.

Christian Europe does not see Islam only as a wall or as a blockade against their wishes or their claims, but they (the West) believe and are convinced that Islam is the only threat against them and their countries.

European Christian orientalist Gardner says: "It is the secret strength of Islam that scares Europe."

Christian-European identity of Albanians is a slogan that was declared in the beginning of the twentieth century (this corresponds to the saying that we mentioned above, told by Hafiz Ali Korca), but which has reached its largest proportions after the 1990’s.

Albania‘s presence in the Islamic Conference based in Saudi Arabia and where Albania has its representative office, is frequently being attacked. About Albania’s membership in that organization was spoken much in the debate which was held few days ago in Tirana, on the question of European identity of Albanians, which was attended by some of the personalities who support the Christian European identity of Albanians. Unfortunately, however, they had not invited any Muslim personality (apparently with a specific purpose) and no representative of the Albanian Muslim Community was invited to attend by the media but there were invited only personalities of Christian communities, Catholic and Orthodox (and priests of these religions), different scholars who support the Christian European identity of Albanians, the director of the national library, a Vlach who is Orthodox and other Christian personalities or pseudo-Christians.

If we debate why Albania, with a rate of 80% of the Muslim religion, is a member of the Islamic Conference, then what to say about Russia and Thailand as countries observing the conference, where the percentage of Muslims there is very low compared to the number of the population.

As for the “incomplete” identity of the Albanians, whether they should belong to the Orient or Europe, it is a delicate matter which can not be explained only with a writing or just with a speech. Islam at the time after the atheistic-Communist system in Albania is shown as it is in fact, i.e. an Islam which has always existed, and this corresponds to the saying of Orientalist Gardner that we mentioned above, what threatens Europe is the hidden strength of Islam. Precisely, even those persons who seek necessarily to identify with European Christian identity are the product of that system.

It is not true that Albanian Muslims do not want Europe, because, intentionally or unintentionally, God has placed us in this part of the world, and we are much more connected to Europe than to the Orient, but the problem is that, again turning to the words of Gardner mentioned above, Europe should not fear Islam among the Albanians, but must accept us as we are, and let her not drag her feet on us just as Turkey is being dragged for years.

Islamic religious identity of most Albanians as members of the old continent will exist until Europe will try to bring back us strongly to Christianity by missionaries and delegates, internal and external, as it seems to have done with some of the known personalities (with payments or any positions), or divide us and wait until we ourselves accept the conditions it requires of our people in Albania.

Translated from Albanian:

Armir TARAJ

"URA" magazine, Spring/Summer 2010, No. 1 (4)

2010-08-18T18:11:00.002+02:00

CULTURAL-SCIENTIFIC MAGAZINE

FOR ORIENTAL STUDIES

PUBLISHED BY:

“ALBANIAN CENTER FOR ORIENTAL STUDIES”

attend:

Albanology

Balkanology

Orientalism

Architecture

Archivism

Civilization

History

Philosophy

Linguistics

Literature

Moral

Art

Science

Culture

Notable Personalities

Sociology, etc.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prologue (On the 25^th occasion of the jubilee year of the first translation on the Kur’an into Albanian language, 1985-2010)

1. Dr. Edward W. SAID

Orientalism - 25 years later

2. Abu Ammar Jasir al-KADHI

An Introduction to the Sciences of the Qur’an

3. Dr. Murad W. HOFMANN

Governing under Islam and the Islamic Political System

The jubilee articles about the first complete Kur’an in Albanian language

by the Academic Feti MEHDIU (1985)

Presentation

1. Idriz DEMIROVIÇ

An eveniment of the Albanian culture

2. Engjëll SEDAJ

Reading the Kur’an in Albanian language

3. The translation of the Kur’an in Albanian language

4. Liridon KADRIU

25 years later after the first entire translation of the Qur’an in Albanian language

5. Mexhid YVEJSI

Why did the Albanians take so long in translating the Kur’an?!

Critical views and discussions

1. Emin BEHRAMI

A view towards the Kur’an translated in Albanian language by Feti Mehdiu

2. Feti MEHDIU

On the Kur’an with the Kur’an

3. Isa BAJÇINCA

On the translation of the Kur’an in Albanian language

Interviews

1. Intervista 1

The Kur’an - An axis of the Islamic literature

2. Intervista 2

An interview with Dr. Feti MEHDIU

3. Intervista 3

25 years after the first complete Kur’an in Albanian language

Oriental Poems

1. Khalil GIBRAN

On Love

2. Nizar KABBANI

Would you love me if I am blind?!

Cultural activities

Invitation to collaborate

Published by:

“ALBANIAN CENTER FOR ORIENTAL STUDIES”

Tirana-Albania

P.O.Box 8203

www.acfos-albania.org

E-mail: uramagazine@gmail.com

"URA" magazine, Autumn/Winter 2009, No. 1 (3)

2010-02-11T22:25:00.003+01:00

CULTURAL-SCIENTIFIC MAGAZINE

FOR ORIENTAL STUDIES

PUBLISHED BY:

“ALBANIAN CENTER FOR ORIENTAL STUDIES”

attend:

Albanology

Balkanology

Orientalism

Architecture

Archivism

Civilization

History

Philosophy

Linguistics

Literature

Moral

Art

Science

Culture

Notable Personalities

Sociology, etc.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Dr. Edward SAID

Preface to Orientalism

2. Dr. Feti MEHDIU

The educational situation in Kosova during the Ottoman and post-Ottoman period

3. Dr. Murad HOFMANN

Islam and the West - Islam in the West

4. Dr. Genciana ABAZI-EGRO

Nezim Berati or Nezim Frakulla?!

5. Mr. Gëzim SELACI

Orientalism today - Is the Orientalism of Said a valid critique for analysis in the globalized world

6. Dr. Alibeman Eghbali ZARCH

The science, Iranin civilization and Islam

7. Dr. Ilber ORTAYLI

Nationalism in the Ottoman Empire

8. Mr. Hamdi THAÇI

Esoteric gnosticism and the literature of technical anticipation

9. Mr. Abdullah REXHEPI

Islamic mystical literature and Mevlana Jalal ad-din Rumi

10. Alban ÇULI

Hania - A city between Orient and Occident

11. Xhemal BALLA

The contribution of Hafiz Ibrahim Dalliu in the history of culture and Islamic science

12. Muhammad HOZIEN

Ibn Khalduni - His life and work

Book reviews

1. Dr. Muhamed MUFAKU (ARNAUTI)

“The map of Arabic literature in Albanian language” by Dr. Feti Mehdiu

2. Hasan KELMENDI

“From Kërçova - For Kërçova” by Dr. Feti Mehdiu

Poezi orientale (Oriental Poems)

1. Khalil GIBRAN

On Children (Poem)

2. Fahredin SHEHU

This drink (Poem)

3. Nizar KABBANI

Increase my love (Poem)

New books from A.C.F.O.S. - Albania

Summary (English)

Invitation to collaborate

Published by:

“ALBANIAN CENTER FOR ORIENTAL STUDIES”

Tirana-Albania

P.O.Box 8203

www.acfos-albania.org

E-mail: info@acfos-albania.org, uramagazine@gmail.com

"URA" magazine, Spring/Summer 2009, No. 2 (2)

2009-10-11T10:41:00.004+02:00

CULTURAL-SCIENTIFIC MAGAZINE

FOR ORIENTAL STUDIES

PUBLISHED BY:

‘ALBANIAN CENTER FOR ORIENTAL STUDIES’

attend:

Albanology

Balkanology

Orientalism

Architecture

Archivism

Civilization

History

Philosophy

Linguistics

Literature

Moral

Art

Science

Culture

Notable Personalities

Sociology, etc.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Dr. Edward SAID

Living in Arabic

2. Mr. Sc. Sadik MEHMETI

The Orientalists - in different view

3. Dr. Iljaz REXHA

The memorandum of Abdyl Frashëri against the treaty of San Stefano

4. Dr. Murad HOFMANN

The European mentality and Islam

5. Mr. Azem XHELADINI

General knowledge of Arabic language

6. Dr. Muhamed MUFAKU (ARNAUTI)

Maruf Arnauti, the first novelist in the Syrian literature

7. Roald HYSA

The transformation of the urban area in Tirana

8. Sabina MORANDI

The Western civilization, will not exist without Islam

9. Osman MYDERRIZI

Notes from the records of the Sheri-a of Berat city

Reviews

1. Dr. Muhamed MUFAKU

Review of the book “Escape from the East” by Enis Sulstarova

2. Dr. Ali Fuat BILKAN

Review of the book “The misconceptions of the Orientalists” by Dr. Suat Yıldırım

Oriental Poems

1. Ermal BEGA

Damascus, eye of the East & Damascus-Sham (Poem)

2. Dr. Abdul Latif ARNAUTI

Dobërlluka (Poem)

3. Nizar KABBANI

Impossible love (Poem)

New books

Invitation for collaboration

Published by:

“ALBANIAN CENTER FOR ORIENTAL STUDIES”

Tirana-Albania

P.O.Box 8203

www.acfos-albania.org

E-mail: info@acfos-albania.org, uramagazine@gmail.com

"URA" magazine, Autumn/Winter 2008, No. 1 (1)

2009-10-10T21:41:00.020+02:00

Editor in Chief

Ermal BEGA

Editorial board

Azem XHELADINI

Edvin CAMI

Alban ÇULI

Advisory board

Dr. Murad HOFMANN - (Bonn-GERMANY)

Dr. Muhammad al-ARNAUT - (Amman-JORDAN)

Dr. Abdulateef al-ARNAUT - (Damascus-SYRIA)

Dr. Dritan EGRO - (Tirana-ALBANIA)

Dr. Feti MEHDIU - (Prishtina-KOSOVA) etc.

CULTURAL-SCIENTIFIC MAGAZINE

FOR ORIENTAL STUDIES

PUBLISHED BY:

‘ALBANIAN CENTER FOR ORIENTAL STUDIES’

attend:

Albanology

Balkanology

Orientalism

Architecture

Archivism

Civilization

History

Philosophy

Linguistics

Literature

Moral

Art

Science

Culture

Notable Personalities

Sociology, etc.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prologue

1. Nexhat S. IBRAHIMI

Orientalism and the Orientalists

2. Sejjid Alim ASHRAF

Islam and Orientalism

3. Dr. Muhammad MUFAKU (al-ARNAUT)

Hafiz Ali Korça, Symbol of interlacing Islam and nation in the Balkans

4. Prof. Dr. Feti MEHDIU

The coexistence of the three holy books and their future in the Balkan

5. Dr. Alibeman Eghbali ZARCH

Dialogue among cultures and religions in the World

6. Mr. Olsi JAZEXHI

Homage on an Arab mind: Edward SAID

7. Mr. Azem XHELADINI

The roots of Arabic literary language

8. Belina BUDINI

“Tabakët”, The family who gave the name to the Bridge and the Mosque

9. Sadik MEHMETI

“Sherh Rahati al-Kulub” of Pir Muhammed Efendi – a unique work/manuscript in the Archive of Kosova

10. Skerdi MAHMUTAJ

Introduction with the Persian civilization

11. Bujar SPAHIU

The Art & Caligraphy of Arabic language

12. Ramadan SHKODRA

Islamic publications in Albanian language in Kosova

13. Halil XHIBRAN (Khalil GIBRAN)

Mrs. Roza Hanaj

14. Nuredin A. AHMETI

Presentation of the book: “Albanian League of Prizren in Egyptian press (1878-1881)”

New books

Invitation for collaboration

Published by:

“ALBANIAN CENTER FOR ORIENTAL STUDIES”

Tirana-Albania

P.O.Box 8203

www.acfos-albania.org

E-mail: info@acfos-albania.org, uramagazine@gmail.com

Damascus - Sham (Poem in English)

2009-09-21T18:08:00.010+02:00

by Ermal BEGA

Damascus! Sham!

How wonderful you are!,

With your beauty,

your illumination,

your streets,

your magnificent mosques,

your great personalities,

your history,

your people,

your girls...

I miss you so much

Ya Sham.

I miss smelling your fragrance,

Yours Ya Sham,

I miss your people,

wonderful Sham,

I miss your ‘Ilm (knowledge),

Ya ‘Sham ash-Shareef’,

I miss your girls,

I miss my petal, Ya Sham...

It’s been so long since I smelt your aroma,

It’s been so long since I enjoyed your gardens,

It’s been so long since I touched your petals,

It’s been so long since I touched you,

It’s been so long since I looked at you,

It’s been so long since I felt you...

Ya Sham, I love you so much,

With everything within you...

I will return again,

Wait for me, soon, InshaAllah,

To have your nectar again,

And I wish, I please,

To die there,

Beside you,

I love you,

Ya Sham...