The Arnaouts - The un (known), yet famous Albanians

Ermal BEGA*

THE ARNAOUTS

~ THE (UN) KNOWN, YET FAMOUS ALBANIANS** ~

Ermal Bega

Many of us have heard about the Arnaouts, or the Albanians who have lived in the Orient for many centuries. However, very few of us are well-informed about them, their lives and traditions, their social influence in the places where they live, their contributions to those places etc.

The term Arnaout was used for the first time during the Ottoman Empire, where Albanians were known as Arnaouts, and Albania as Arnautluk.

There exist different theories on the origin of the word أرناؤوط (Arnaout), but to go into this subject requires a whole separate article.

The use of the term Arnaout to reference the Albanian origin of a certain people living in Oriental countries increased during the weakening and then collapse of the Ottoman Empire, where with nationalism entering the scene, the different nations within this empire started forming their own states based on ethnical or religious affiliations. At this time, the Albanian Muslims who were living in these Oriental countries and who were not included in the newly formed Albanian nation-state, started appropriating the term Arnaout to indicate their Albanian origin.

It is interesting to note that, besides the Albanian Muslims (who made up the majority of the Albanian population), this name was also used by the Albanian Christians, many of them Catholics, to indicate their Albanian origin. For example, besides the Muslims of Albanian origin 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., we can still find entire Christian families of Albanian origin, especially in Lebanon, where their history begins with the appointment of Albanian Catholic Vaso Pasha by the Ottomans as the governor of Lebanon, where he took with him several Albanian Catholic families who decided to live in Lebanon and who, to this day, proudly carry the last name Arnaout as an indication of their Albanian origin. According to the latest researchs, we have found several Albanian Orthodox families that live in Ukraine and carry the name Arnaout.

While the majority of the Arnaouts who live in the Orient carry the last name Arnaout to distinguish themselves as part of the Albanian nation, many other families in different Arab countries and in Turkey carry other last names, many of which are names of places or names of well-known families in Albania. Here we can note the Albani family in Jordan, from which the famous Muslim scholar Nasiruddin Albani (from Shkodra) came forth, the other famous Albanian Muslim scholar Wahbi Sulaiman Gavoçi (also from Shkodra), etc. Among the families whose last name indicates their place of origin is the large Shkodra family in Lebanon.

Among the most well-known Arnaouts (Albanians) in the oriental world we can mention: Muslim scholars Abdulkadr Arnaout and Shuaib Arnaout, the famous writers Ma’ruf Arnaout and Dr. Abdulatif Arnaout, the famous writer and historian Dr. Muhammad Mufaku (Arnaout), the poet and writer Aisha Arnaout, the famous Muslim scholar Nasiruddin Albani, the pioneer in the opening of schools for the lay people of Lebanon Nadim Arnaout, the famous actor from Damascus Yasin Arnaout, the writer and teacher Shawkat Gavoçi etc. In addition, the majority of Albanians who live in the Orient are well educated, most of whom have finished higher education and carry high positions in the societies where they live.

In this context, considering the importance and the great role that Albanians have played and continue to play in the Oriental countries, the editorial board of the cultural-scientific magazine for Oriental Studies “URA” (the Bridge) has decided to dedicate this exclusive issue to them, the Arnaouts.

Translated from Albanian: Armir TARAJ

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* Ermal Bega is the Executive Director of the Albanian Center for Oriental Studies, Tirana, Albania.

** This article is taken from the introduction of issue nr. 5 of “URA” magazine, which is published in Tirana - Exclusive issue for the Arnaouts (Albanian) who live in the Orient. The title has been chosen by the author of the article.

The Albanians (Arnaouts) of Syria

THE ALBANIANS (ARNAOUTS) OF SYRIA

Interview with Ermal Bega, Executive Director of ACFOS-Albania

(Albanian Center for Oriental Studies)

Full interview (published in some Albanian websites with reduction)

Ermal Bega

Question 1: What’s your name, where do you live, and what do you do?

Answer 1: My name is Ermal Bega from Tirana, and I am the Executive Director of ACFOS-Albania and the editor-in-chief of the scientific and cultural magazine for oriental studies “URA”, published by ACFOS.

Question 2: How long have you lived in Syria and where (what was your occupation there)?

Answer 2: I was in Syria twice within a year and I lived there for about one year all together, October 2003 - October 2004. I lived in Damascus, but I had the opportunity to visit a great part of Syria. During my stay there I was attending an Arabic language course, since I had studied for oriental studies and this language was one of my requirements, but at the same time I obtained a certificate of the Italian language from a private course there, using my evening time after my Arabic studies. I also visited many places, people, cultural institutions, castles, monuments, bazaars, mosques, old and new neighborhoods of Damascus and Syria, where every place you visited had much history and livelihood.

Question 3: What impression do you have from life over there? How about the Syrian people?

Answer 3: The time I spent in Damascus and Syria is the best time of my life, the happiest year of my life so far. The place itself, with a very long history (let’s not forget to mention that Damascus is known as the oldest city in the world), with a mix of historical influences, with a wonderful and peaceful mix of religions, ethnicities, cultures, and languages, gave me the impression that I was living among many civilizations in one place. A city blessed by Allah, Lord of the worlds, and prophet Muhammad a.s..

I can say the same words about the Syrian people. I was lucky, also because of my curiosity and desire to see many places and meet many people, to make many friends in Damascus and Syria. To this day I still remember almost every person I met there and with many of them I keep in touch. I had and still have a deep respect and longing for the inhabitants of Syria, especially the friends I met most often, be they Arabs, Kurds, Albanians (Arnaouts) etc.

Question 4: Did you get a chance to meet many Albanians there? How about the old generation Albanians (Arnaouts)? Is there a proper Albanian community in Syria?

Answer 4: For the Albanians of Syria, who are known as Arnaouts, a name many use as a family name, I can proudly say that I am one of the only Albanians from Tirana and Albania that have contributed the most in the last times to promote them and to make them known in different ways, through interviews, conversations, articles etc.

When I was living there, I had the occasion to meet many of the old Albanian personalities that live in Damascus. Here I can mention the great Albanian Muslim scholar Abdulkadr Arnaout, on whose life and works our center published a book in 2009. Then I met Imam Wahbi Sulaiman Gavoçi, whom I interviewed in 2004, then Dr. Abdulatif Arnaout, Dr. Muhammad Mufaku-Arnaout, Shawkat (Shefqet) Gavoçi (who was the first teacher of the Albanian language for Albanians there) etc.

In Damascus there used to be a well developed community of Albanians. From what prof. Shawkat (Shefqet) Gavoçi told me, the Albanians of Damascus and Syria used to be closer to one another, be it physically as neighbors, and also in the preservation of Albanian tradition, culture, and language.

In Damascus there are distinct neighborhoods of Albanians (Arnaouts) which exist since the beginning of the 20^th century. Here I can mention the Diwaniya neighborhood, which has been known as the Albanian Neighborhood since early on, where you can find the Arnaout Mosque, built by Sulaiman Gavoci from Shkodra. The Albanians there have become well integrated with the local population and have been well received. They have also done well in representing themselves in different areas of society, such as culture, religion, literature, economics, politics, the military etc., where many Albanian names have achieved the very top of success.

A small street in one of the old neighborhoods of Damascus, Rukn ad-din, bears the name of an Albanian who lived and died there, Haitham al-Arnaout.

It is a sad truth that the Albanian government has not contributed anything for the Albanians there either in the cultural or national aspect. There are very few writings about the Albanians who live in generally in the Orient, from Turkey to Tunisia, and especially Syria (or the Sham region.)

We should mention that the magazine for cultural-scientific oriental studies “Ura” in Tirana, dedicated its 5^th issue in 2010 exclusively to these Albanians, the Arnaouts.

The Albanians can be found in considerable numbers in the largest cities of Syria such as Damascus, Aleppo, Hama, Homs, Suwayda, Lattakia etc.

Meanwhile, from the newer Albanians in Damascus I have known a large number of them from different regions of Albania, as well as Kosova and Macedonia, who, like me, were there to attend studies.

Question 5: What do you think about the present situation in Syria? Do you think that the Asad regime will fall? How long can this crisis go on?

Answer 5: I am very troubled by the present situation in Syria. I think that the people of Syria has suffered a great deal after the colonization of the beginning of the 20^th century, with the brutal communist dictatorship, supported mainly by Russia, to oppress a large mass of people of different religion, ethnicity, or political views, for the sole purpose to preserve the political and military power of its leaders.

I am following the latest developments with anger and longing, with tears in my eyes and pain in my heart.

The Asad family regime, taken over unjustly from the beginning, with initial support from France, as the former colonial power of Syria (from which they have almost entirely copied and installed the political and education system), is ruling Syria for a very long time of about 40 years.

During my stay in Syria in 2004, I was very reserved in speaking out because it was a socialist country and you couldn’t speak everything you were thinking. I met old Arabs and Albanians who told me about the difficulties they were going thru, especially in the political aspect. There were people who felt discriminated by the government because they didn’t accept the ruling elite, and some of them would speak openly and angrily against the regime.

Syria, from the time Hafiz al-Asad took power and throughout his rule, has waged a brutal campaign against the ruling party’s adversaries, and I believe that many Syrian people, not just now that the “Arab spring” is passing thru, but throughout this rule have suffered in many ways, and now their suffering is visible for the entire world.

Such a regime that oppresses its own people for religious, political, or ethnic reasons is not acceptable for a place like Syria with such an ancient culture and civilization. Unfortunately, if this regime continues to stay in power, but which I feel will collapse soon, Syria could suffer great losses. I believe that this crisis, if we can call it thus, will come to an end very soon, and I believe that with God’s help, a people that believes in its strength and ability will triumph, and I hope that a new and better generation will lead Syria with justice.

Syria really deserves to be in peace with its people and other nations in the Middle East, as well as the world.

Question 6: In the Western media we often hear that the Alawi and Christian minorities in Syria fear a coming to power of the Sunni majority because then minorities might be persecuted. Do you think that such a fear is justifiable?

Answer 6: Wherever Muslims ruled throughout history, we can say that based on historical facts and arguments they always brought peace. From this aspect Christian minorities in Syria and elsewhere in the Islamic world have always lived in peace with the Islamic state.

The Alawi minority (which has the power in Syria), with some support from Iran, I think fears the coming to power of a Sunni-based government, which is the majority of the people. I personally believe that the majority should always rule over the minority, because this way the minority will also be at peace. Here I’ll draw a parallel with Albania, where even though the majority of the population is Sunni Muslim, the rulers are mostly from the Christian minority. I am not against the minorities participating in government, but only if they are able to provide justice for the majority of the population, which I don’t think is the case neither in Syria nor in Albania.

Meanwhile, as far as the Christians of Syria, they are about 23% of the population. I don’t think their fear is justifiable because history tells us otherwise, that the rights of all minorities have always been respected, and their persecution for religious reasons is not allowed in Islam.

I can also add that this type of fear that is being propagated in some Western media has existed even before, since the fall of the Ottoman Caliphate, but it never became reality.

Question 7: Do you think that between Albania and a democratic Syria in the future there could be greater economical, cultural, and diplomatic relations?

Answer 7: In Albania, since 2009, there is a Syrian consulate, which reports to the Syrian embassy in Athens, and Albania is covered by an honorary consul, the Syrian-Albanian businessman Yahia Farwati. In fact I would say that not only between Albania and a democratic Syria, but I believe that bilateral economical, cultural, and diplomatic relations should have existed for a long time now. Syria has a huge cultural treasure which should be “used”. I have seen very few interested Albanians when it comes to Syria, while I have met Syrians who are very interested in Albania and the possible relations between the two nations.

I think that the Albanian government should consider the opening of a consulate in Damascus, which can serve as a bridge for different relations with the entire region of the Middle East. This would be a particularly good occasion for the Albanians who live in Syria, Jordan, Palestine, and Lebanon, to establish stronger relations with Albania. But I think that the appointed Albanian representative to Syria should be someone who knows the country and the region well, in order to contribute the most to the relations between our two countries.

Interviewed and translated from Albanian by: Armir TARAJ

March 2012

Interview with Dr. Murad Hofmann for "URA" magazine

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

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

Exhibition of Oriental documents and manuscripts

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

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

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

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* Questo viaggio si e realizato due settimane dopo.

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

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.

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* This trip to Germany was undertaken two weeks later.