Author: Behar Kaçeli. Translation Petrit Latifi
With the establishment of Ottoman rule in Albania, measures were also taken to organize education and administration. On the basis of these educational institutions, administrative cadres were also cultivated, especially in the legal apparatus – kadils, naibles, vekils, mytevels, etc.
Educational institutions in the Ottoman Empire were closely linked to the object of worship, so wherever there was a mosque, it also served as a mektep, an elementary school for the children of the neighborhood. In every city or residential neighborhood, at least, there was a mosque that also performed this function, while in large cities there were also madrasas, which at that time were considered higher education.
Madrasas were mainly founded by high-ranking officials of the local administration and functioned as endowments, that is, financially independent from the state. The financial independence and support that the teachers had made the teaching very qualitative.
The collected evidence shows that the students of these madrasas were excellently versed in the sciences of Sharia, mathematics, and law. From the testimony of Ali Emir, who visited the Vilayet of Ioannina and Shkodra at the end of the 19th century, his testimony that the inhabitants were excellently versed in Arabic, Ottoman, and Persian stands out.
He mentions dozens of poets and authors of books as well as the large number of poems learned by heart by the inhabitants of this area.[1][2] Ali Emir was an inspector in these vilayets and his notes have been published in a book that we will bring to the reader in the future.
According to the data provided by the famous traveler Evliya Çelebi, during his visit to the city and Albanian lands in the middle of the 17th century, he counted about 45 madrasas, 100 mekteps (primary schools) and about 40 schools for teaching the Quran. He mentions cities such as Delvina, Gjirokastra, Berat, Vlora with 3 madrasas each, while Shkodra, according to him, had about 10. [3]
We have very little information about religious education in Albania, because with the prohibition of religion, along with the destruction of religious buildings such as mosques, tekkes, madrasas, kutuphane (libraries), the documentation they contained was also destroyed. With the disappearance of this documentation, which consisted of ledgers, endowments, and sigils of the kadilers, the data about these educational institutions or about scholars, imams, and influential people in public life were also buried.
Despite the massive destruction of this documentation, if we delve deeper into archival work and research in the archives and libraries of neighboring countries and especially in those of Istanbul, which escaped the barbarity they experienced in Albania, we will encounter extraordinary data that illuminate this period and make it clear to us that that period was not as dark as the communist curricula have taught us.
To return to the topic and without wasting time with this article, I intend to bring to the reader a list that was compiled based on the yearbook kept by Meshihati İslam in Istanbul. By the nature of the yearbooks (Salname) is that they are new as documents, they began to be compiled in the second half of the 19th century, therefore the information they contain is considered late.
The data that I have extracted belong to the yearbook of 1916 (İlmiye Salnamesi 1334/1916). From this yearbook we will try to extract the names of those students who are of Albanian origin and who have graduated from the High School of Judges (Medresetul-Kudat) in Istanbul.
Since there are many of them, we will try to provide as brief information about them as possible, such as; name, city of birth and last position held. In this paper, only graduates of the High School of Judges – Medresetü’l-Kudat have been included and students who graduated from other madrasas in Istanbul have not been included.
So far, no one can give an exact number of how many Albanian students there were in the madrasas of Istanbul. In this paper, we have extracted only students who are from the provinces that remained within the territory of the Albanian state, because if we refer to all Albanian lands, then the number is very high.
If we analyze the table below, we will see that the number of students of Albanian origin who graduated from this madrasa is 165 students. The first graduates graduated in 1274/1858 and continued until 1332/1915.
The largest number of students who later became scholars of the Ottoman Empire are from Gjirokastra, this shows that the Gjirokastra region was a region with a strong religious tradition. As we can see in this table, Gjirokastra and Libohova also have the largest number of students with over 100 of them. This shows not only the religious tradition of the area but also the high level of the Gjirokastra madrasa and its imams, which made it possible for the students of the Gjirokastra madrasa to win the admission competition in Istanbul.
What is striking and cannot be overlooked is the high number of dismissed kadilers a but resigned due to the Albanian uprisings, especially after 1900. It should be noted that the largest number of those dismissed is in the kazats that were occupied by the Greek army during their war, this caused the kadilers to be dismissed from their jobs.
It cannot be left without mentioning that even after 1912, the independence of Albania, Albanians continue to go to study in this madrasa. As in 1912 Mehmet Efendi, İsmet Efendi, Rifat Efendi all from Gjirokastra. In 1913 Shevket Efendi also from Gjirokastra. Ahmed Hamdi Efendi, Fazil Efendi from Tirana in 1914 and a year later Hafiz Xhemaledin Efendi from Dibra results as a student of this madrasa.
Table: High School of Judges – Medresetü’l-Kudât[4]
No. Name Place of birth Graduation year Last position (Judge) held.
1 Abduselam Efendi Gjirokastër 1274/1858 In the Jozgat cassock
2 Mehmet Rashid Efendi — 1276/1860 In the Nevrokopi cassock
3 Ahmet Shevki Efendi — 1276/1860 In the Denizli cassock
4 İbrahim Efendi Berat 1276/1860 In the Petriç cassock
5 Mehmet Rushdi Efendi Tomorica 1277/1861 In the Kars cassock
6 Zeynelabidin Efendi Gjirokastër 1277/1861 Chief Judge of the Vilayet of Trabzon
7 Mahmud Hilmi Efendi — 1277/1861 In the Gjirokastër cassock
8 Canozade Mustafa Ragip Efendi — 1278/1862 In the Nazlı cassock
9 Mehmet Vahid Vehip Efendi Libohova 1278/1862 In the Mudlu cassock
10 Mehmet Necip Efendi Gjirokastër 1278/1862 In the Loros cassock
11 Yusuf Efendi — 1278/1862 In the Pripol cassock
12 Abbas Efendi — 1279/1863 Died
13 Mehmet Reshit Efendi — 1280/1864 Advisors in the Ministry of War
14 Said Ferahi Efendi — — In the Kerxha-ali cassock
15 Mehmet Said Efendi — — In the Tetovo cassock
16 Osman Hayri Efendi — — In the Gjirokastra cassock
17 Abdülmuin Efendi — — In the Elbasan cassock
18 Ebu Bekir Efendi Delvina — In the Margelliç cassock
19 Musa Riza Efendi Gjirokastra 1281/1865 Died
20 Ahmed Efendi Libohova 1282/1866 In the Mersin cassock
21 Ragib Efendi Berat — In the Korça cassock
22 Tahmas Remzi Efendi Gjirokastër 1283/1867
23 Veysel Efendi — —
24 Abdurrahman Nesip Efendi Libohova 1284/1868 Worked in the Meshehat in Istanbul
25 Uvejs Efendi Gjirokastër — Deceased
26 Ahmet Shakir Efendi Gjirokastër 1285/1868 In the Serfixhe cauldron
27 Talha Efendi — — In the Golos cauldron
28 Mahmud Efendi Elbasan — In the Elbasan cauldron
29 Selim Efendi Gjirokastër — In the Gjirokastër cauldron
30 Ejup Sabri Efendi — — –
31 Fejzullah Efendi — — In Grebene
32 Yusuf Zijaudin Efendi — — –
33 Kasım Teufik Efendi — — In the Kirmasti cauldron
34 Mehmet Nuri Efendi Libohova 1287/1871 In the Tashlıxha cauldron
35 Necip Efendi Efendi Gjirokastër — In the Prishtina cauldron
36 Ferhat Efendi Libohova — In the Berat cauldron
37 Hasan Riza Efendi Gjirokastër — In the Soka cauldron
38 Ahmet Necip Efendi Libohova — In Kudsi-Sherif
39 Ahmet Sadik Efendi Gjirokastër 1288/1872 In the Lofca cauldron
40 Adem Fehmi Efendi — — Chief Judge of the Vilayet of Manastir
41 Kemal-Pashazade Mehmet Teofik Efendi — — Judge of the 1st instance in v. Monastery
42 Mehmet Ashir Efendi Libohova — In the Salihli cassock
43 Abdulxhelil Efendi Gjirokastër — In the Kesrije cassock
44 Halil Hamidullah Efendi Gjirokastër — Retired
45 Mehmet Said Efendi Gjirokastër 1289/1873 Martyred, In Herzegovina
46 Zybeyr Efendi Berat —
47 Ragip Efendi Gjirokastër — In the Avret-hisar cassock
48 Shuayb Efendi — —
49 Fejzullah-Efendizade Mustafa Asim Efendi Gjirokastër 1290/1873 Chief Kad in the Kosovo vilayet
50 Mehmet Vecih Efendi — — Chief Kad in the Ioannina vilayet
51 Abdulmuin Efendi — — In the Nazlı cassock
52 Jahja Efendi Berat —
53 Mehmet Xhemaluddin Efendi — —
54 Mehmet İzzet Efendi Gjirokastër — Deceased
55 Hajrullah Efendi — — Retired
56 Islam Fejzi Efendi Korça — Deceased
57 İzzet Efendi Gjirokastër 1291/1874 In Gjirokastër
58 Ahmet Nazif Efendi Libohova — In Berat
59 Muharrem Sidki Efendi — — In Berat
60 Ali Hifzi Efendi Gjirokastër — In Karaburun
61 Ahmet Nuredin Efendi — — In Tashlıxha cauldron
62 Mesud Efendi Luma 1293/1876 In Dibra cauldron
63 Mehmet Avni Efendi Gjirokastër — Deceased
64 Mehmet Edip Efendi — — In İğnebol cauldron
65 Abdurrahman Efendi Shkodra 1294/1877 Chief Judge of the Vilayet of Shkodra
66 Mahmud Nedim Efendi Libohova — In Prishtina cauldron
67 İs’hak Efendi Gjirokastër — Deceased
68 Mustafa Asim Efendi Libohova — In Berat
69 Sali Efendi Efendi Gjirokastër — Deceased
70 Rushdi Efendi — — In Ajvallëk kazane
71 Mehmet Teufik Efendi Libohova — In Llagana kazane
72 İs’hak Efendi Gjirokastër —
73 Rashid Efendi-zade,Mehmet Afif Efendi — —
74 Adem Efendi Libohova 1297/1880 In Elbasan kazane
75 Ahmet Nazif Efendi Gjirokastër — In Gjirokastër kazane
76 Ali Riza Efendi — — In Vlora kazane
77 Ahmet Sabri Efendi Libohova — In Nazlı kazane
78 Abdulmuin Efendi — — In Tomorica kazane
79 Zeynelabidin Efendizade Ahmet Selami Efendi Gjirokastër 1298/1881 Member of the Sharia commission
80 Naim Efendi — — In Adana kazane
81 Hysen Efendi — — In the cauldron of Diyarbakırrit
82 Hasan Rafet Efendi Libohova — In the Kutahja cauldron
83 Ahmet Fazli Efendi Gjirokastër 1299/1882 In the Elbasan cauldron
84 Mehmet Kazim Efendi Libohova — In the Ajdën cauldron
85 İbrahim Ethem Efendi Gjirokastër — In the Kesindere cauldron
86 Vehip Efendi — — In the Timurhisar cauldron
87 İdris Galip Efendi — — In the Loros cauldron
88 Jahja Efendi Gjirokastër 1300/1883 In the Molova cauldron
89 Kasim Efendi — — In the Odamesh cauldron
90 Vehip Efendi — — In the Karafirje cauldron
91 Zeynelabidin Efendi — — In the Adalar cauldron
92 Husejn Hysni Efendi — 1301/1884 In the Burdur cauldron
93 Abdulaziz Efendi Gjirokastër 1302/1885 In the Berat cauldron
94 Hayrudin Efendi — — In the Soğüt cassock
95 Mehmet Efendi — — In the Salihli cassock
96 Talib Efendi — — In the Kemer-edirmit cassock
97 Ahmet Shahin Efendi Gjirokastër 1303/1886 In the cassock of Gjirokastër
98 İbrahim Ethem Efendi — — In the cassock of Gjirokastër
99 İsmail Efendi Libohova — In the Sandzak of Ajdın
100 Suleyman Efendi Gjirokastër — In the cassock of Gjirokastër
101 Ahmet Muhtar Efendi — — In the cassock of Çamllek
102 Mehmet Rushdi Efendi — — In the cassock of Katirin
103 Avni Efendi — — In the cassock of Kolonja
104 Mehmet Vehip Efendi — — In the cassock of Kesrije
105 İsmet Efendi — — In the cassock of Leskovik
106 Hysen Efendi Efendi Gjirokastër 1304/1887 In the cassock Kesrije
107 Mehmet Shemsettin Efendi — — In the Pargama prison
108 Mehmet Vehip Efendi — — In the Labsiki prison
109 Ali Riza Efendi — 1305/1888 In the Durrës prison
110 Mehmet Efendi — 1306/1889 In Yemen
111 Mehmet Asif Efendi Gjirokastër 1307/1890 In the Pruze prison
112 Nevzat Efendi Gjirokastër 1308/1891 In the Samon prison
113 Hysen Efendi İshkodra — Died
114 Uvejs Naili Efendi Libohova — Judge of Thessaloniki, dismissed as a result of the uprisings in Albania
115 Sulejman Efendi Gjirokastër 1309/1892 In the Tashllëxha prison
116 Hysen Efendi Gjirokastër 1311/1894 Dismissed from the court of Pogunit
117 Ahmet Shahin Efendi — — Dismissed from the Buzxha court
118 Xhemaledin Efendi Gjirokastër 1313/1896 Is a judge in Pargama
119 Velijudin Efendi — — Is a judge in Erden
120 Hysen Nafiz Efendi Libohova — Court of First Instance in Syria
121 Emra Efendi Gjirokastër 1314/1897 In the Sandıkllı cauldron
122 Ali Zyhdi Efendi — — Dismissed from the Akşehir court
123 İsmail Efendi — — Dismissed from the Nazlı court
124 Hajrudin Efendi — 1315/1898 Dismissed from Serezi
125 Halit Efendi Gjirokastër 1316/1899 Dismissed from the Vlora court
126 Behxhet Efendi — — Dismissed from the Göklü court
127 Hamit Efendi — — Dismissed from the court of Kesdentire
128 Shevket Efendi — — Dismissed from the court of Urfa
129 Naim Efendi — 1317/1900 Dismissed from the court of Edirne
130 Kahraman Sejfi Efendi Gjirokastër 1318/1901 Dismissed from the court of Kırık
131 Mehmet Nazif Efendi Debre — Dismissed from the court of Diyarbakir
132 Mehmet Celaledin Efendi Gjirokastër — Chief Judge in Xidde
133 Hasan Efendi — — Dismissed from the court of Peja
134 Rifat Efendi — 1320/1903 Former judge of Tirana
135 Tahsin Efendi Gjirokastër 1321/1904 Judge of the kaza of Sivrihisar
136 İljas Efendi — — Dismissed from the court of Pripol
137 Uvejs Efendi Gjirokastër 1322/1905 Former judge of the kaza of Skrapar
138 Hasbi Efendi — — Judge of the Himara kaza
139 Elmas Efendi — — Dismissed from the Tepelena court
140 Fehim Efendi Gjirokastër 1323/1906 In the Has kaza
141 Mustafa Shevket Efendi — — In the Sasun kaza
142 Arif Hikmet Efendi Gjirokastër 1324/1907 In the Kërëk kaza
143 Ramiz Efendi — — As a result of the uprisings, dismissed in Loros
144 İdris Efendi Gjirokastër 1325/1908 As a result of the uprisings, dismissed in
145 Abdi Efendi — — Former judge of the Drama kaza
146 Nafiz Efendi — — Dismissed from the Katirin court
147 Neki Efendi — — Dismissed from the Muradije court
148 Mersin Efendi — — Dismissed from the Sinjar kaza
149 Nazif Efendi — — Teacher in the Fatih mosque
150 Mehmet Nexhip Efendi Delvina — dismissed from the Mila kaza
151 Halil Efendi Gjirokastër 1326/1909 dismissed from the Konica kaza
152 Mahmud Efendi Libohova — dismissed from the Tirana kaza
153 Servet Efendi Gjirokastër — In the Keshan kaza
154 Salih Efendi Gjirokastër 1327/1910 dismissed from the Tekirdağ kaza
155 Ali Efendi — — dismissed from the Naslic kaza
156 Sejfullah Efendi — — dismissed from the Shile kaza
157 Hajrudin Efendi — — dismissed from the Kordos kaza
158 Agush Efendi Gjirokastër 1329/1912
159 Mehmet Emin Efendi — — dismissed from the Gjirokastër kaza
160 İsmet Efendi — — dismissed from the Alasonja kaza
161 Rifat Efendi — — İ dismissed from the Zaho kaza
162 Shevket Efendi 1330/1913
163 Ahmed Hamdi Efendi Tomorica 1331/1914
164 Fazil Efendi Tirana 1332/1915 In the Mean kazan
165 Hafiz Xhemaledin Efendi Dibra madhe — Clerk in the Fatvahane
References
[1] The terminology of that time, qadi or naib, is the equivalent of the word court used today in modern administrations. In the Ottoman period, the qadi was the highest local official and had direct ties to the sultan. Therefore, their role and influence in society was very gold.
[2] Ali Emiri “ İshkodra Vilayeti, Osmanlı SHairleri” Prepared by Dr. Hakan T. Karateke. Ankara 2018.
[3] Evlija Çelebi. “ Albania before three centuries”. BESA 2000. For more on the number of mosques, madrasas and mektebs in the Ottoman period see; Edmond Sharka “ Madrasas in Albanian lands during Ottoman rule”. Magazine –Drita İslame. October 2013
[4] İlmiye Salnamesi 1.defa. 1334/1916, p.690-736
Original article
Balkan Academia 