Ibrahim Dalliu

Hafiz Ibrahim Dalliu (1878–1952) was an Albanian ulama, writer, publisher, educator, and activist of the Albanian national cause.[1][2] He is remembered as one of the best exegetes in Albania.

Life

Dalliu was born in Tirana in 1878, in a middle class Moslem family, son of Mustafa Dalliu. He had two brothers, Hysni and Ali, both bearing titles hafiz and hadji. Ibrahim was an early childhood friend of Seremedin and Murat Toptani, with whom he kept close ties for the rest of hist life.[3] He studied theology in Istanbul. There he came in contact with the activists of the Central Committee for Defending Albanian Rights. He returned to Tirana where he started working as a teacher in 1901. At the same time he was a member of the local branch of the Bashkimi (Unity) Club, one of the many of that time throughout all Albanian populated areas. He participated in the Congress of Elbasan, during 2–9 September 1909, as part of the Tirana delegation.[3] One of the Congress's main achievement was the establishment of the Normal School of Elbasan which would prepare teachers for supporting the spread of Albanian education. He was imprisoned by the Ottoman authorities during 1909-1911 due to his nationalist activity.[1] On 26 November 1912, Dalliu was an active participant in the ceremony of raising the Albanian flag in Tirana, 2 days before the National Declaration of Independence. At the same time he drafted a letter-protest which was sent to the Serbian army approaching from the north.[3]
From April 25 to May 3, 1921, he took part in the Congress for National Unity in Vlora, together with Musa Maçi as representatives of the society "Lidhja Kombëtare" (National League), Qazim Mulleti of Tirana's society "Vllaznia-Zgjimi" (Brotherhood - Awakening), and Avni Rustemi for the society "Bashkimi" (Union). During the interbellum period, Dalliu focused on teaching, writing, and translation. He is remembered in Albanian as one of the few high rank clerics who were devoted to the national cause as well as to religion. He taught for many years at the Madrasa of Tirana and wrote many work and studies on Islam. He also wrote satirical poetry,[4] and published the newspaper Dajti (Dajt).[5]
He was part of the National Assembly in 1943.[6] With the rise of the communists in power in 1944, he was arrested and imprisoned due to his engagement in politics and some sharp anti-communist poetry he had written.[1] Dalliu died in jail on 25 May 1952, and was annihilated by the communist historiography.

Works

References

  1. 1 2 3 Robert Elsie; Centre for Albanian Studies (London), A Biographical Dictionary of Albanian History, I.B. Tauris, p. 96, ISBN 9781780764313, OCLC 801605743
  2. ↑ Götz Nordbruch; Umar Ryad (2014), Transnational Islam in Interwar Europe: Muslim Activists and Thinkers, The modern Muslim world, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, p. 55, ISBN 9781137387042, OCLC 876288145, ...one of the most famous Albanian ulamas, Hafiz Ibrahim Dalliu who was officially in charge of the translation and commentary of the Qur'an in Albanian...
  3. 1 2 3 Hafiz Ibrahim Dalliu, patriot dhe atdhetar (in Albanian)
  4. ↑ Arshi Pipa (1978), Albanian Folk Verse: Structure and Genre, Trofenik, p. 150, ISBN 9783878281191, A political satirist of the twenties and thirties was Ibrahim Dalliu from Tirana.
  5. ↑ Stephen Taylor (1935), Who's who in Central and East Europe, Central European Times Publishing Company, p. 192, OCLC 11413324
  6. ↑ - Republika e Shqipërisë KUVEND. Tiranë 2005
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