Islam in Albania

Mosque in Shkodër.

During the Ottoman occupation, according to Ottoman data, the majority of Albanians were of Muslim affiliation (Sunni and Bektashi). However, decades of State Atheism which ended in 1991 brought a radical decline in religious practice in all traditions. Today the majority of the population are irreligious.

Et'hem Bey Mosque in Tirana, the oldest mosque in Albania.

Although religious freedom has returned to Albania since the regime's change in 1992, the majority of Albanians , 60 to 75% today do not practice any religion whatsoever, but affiliate themselves with one of the four traditional religions. Citizens of Muslim background make up the largest traditional religious group (50-70% of the population), followed by Albanian Orthodox (30-20%) and Catholic (20-10%).

According to other statistics, 38% of Albanians are Muslims (Sunni majority and Bektashi Sufi) and 41% Christians (Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Protestants).

History

Ottoman occupation

Islam came to Albania through the Ottoman invasion in the 14th century and had to confront with Christianity. In the North, the spread of Islam was slower due to Roman Catholic Church's resistance and the mountainous terrain which contributed to curb Muslim influence. In the center and south, however, by the end of the seventeenth century the urban centers had largely adopted the religion of the growing Albanian Muslim elite. The existence of an Albanian Muslim class of pashas and beys who played an increasingly important role in Ottoman political and economic life became an attractive option career for most Albanians.

The Muslims of Albania during were divided into two main communities: those associated with Sunni Islam and those associated with the Bektashi, a mystic Dervish order that came to Albania through the Albanian Janissaries that served in the Ottoman army. Sunni Muslims have historically lived in the cities of Albania, while Bektashis mainly lived in the country.

Independence

Mosque in Fier.

The country won its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912. Following the National Renaissance tenets and the general lack of religious convictions , during the 20th century, the democratic, monarchic and later the totalitarian regimes followed a systematic dereligionization of the nation and the national culture. Due to this policy, as all other faiths in the country, Islam underwent radical changes.

In 1923, following the government program, the Albanian Muslim congress convened at Tirana decided to break with the Caliphate, established a new form of prayer (standing, instead of the traditional salah ritual), banished polygamy and the mandatory use of veil (hijab) by women in public, practices forced on the urban population by the Ottomans.

The Muslim clergy, following suit with the Catholic and Orthodox clergy, was totally eradicated during the communist regime of Enver Hoxha who declared Albania the only non-religious country of the world banning all forms of religious practice in the public in 1967.

Today Albania is the only entirely European member of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference.

References

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See also

• Religion in Albania
• Islam by country

External links

• The Muslim Forum of Albania
• Albanian Institute of Islamic Thought & Civilization
• The Bektashi Community
• Muslim Albania