The Influence of Sufism on Poetry and Music Performed in Albanian Tekkes

Abstract

In this paper we have taken in view the types of taweed (poetry of sensitivity to God), gazelles (lyrical poetry), nasheets (songs with religious themes), nafs (Bektashi poetry), that in the essence of their presentation they have tasavvuf and Sufi Islamic thought. As it is known, there is a close connection between Sufi poetry and the discipline of art that studies the harmony of sounds, respectively music. If we analyze, even superficially, the form of Sufi poetry and music, we will see that there is an organic connection in the field of their respective texts and melodies. Since the rituals of the tariqats are performed with poetry and music, these poetic and musical forms have been developed more in tekkes. This has influenced the tekke to be rightly considered by many scholars as the only space for poetry and music and as a source of knowledge. Therefore, for a long time has used these poetic and musical forms and has contributed to their upliftment and cultivation to the highest artistic level. So, through this research paper, we will try to approach poetry and music through the Sufi-metaphysical prism. As is well known, Sufism or Tasawwuf is a school that incorporates cognitive (gnostic) thought and considers the deep spiritual dimensions of the Islamic religion, from which the visible emerges.