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Iljaz Bey Mirahori Mosque, a symbol of the stability of faith/ Community challenges and the preservation of values

2025-10-10 11:55:00, Qyteti im CNA

Iljaz Bey Mirahori Mosque, a symbol of the stability of faith/ Community

In an interview with CNA Media, the Mufti of Korça, Ledian Cikalleshi, discusses the historical and spiritual values ??of the Iljaz Bey Mirahori mosque, the challenges faced by the Muslim community, the inherited problems of religious properties, and the issues of public debate related to the preservation of moral values ??in Albanian society.

Iljaz Bey Mirahori Mosque, a symbol of the stability of faith/ Community
Mufti Ledian Cikalleshi

According to him, the Mirahori Mosque constitutes one of the most important monuments of the country's religious and cultural heritage. Built in 1496, it is one of the few mosques in Albania that has remained functional since its construction until today. Through continuous restoration interventions, it has preserved its authenticity and continues to attract local and foreign visitors, becoming one of the main points of Korça's cultural identity.

Iljaz Bey Mirahori Mosque, a symbol of the stability of faith/ Community
Mirahor Mosque

The mosque, in addition to being a place of prayer, is seen as a symbol that connects the centuries and testifies to the continuity of faith and historical memory of the city. The institution that administers it has always seen its preservation and maintenance as an obligation, considering it not only a religious but also a civic value.

" The Iljaz Bey Mirahori Mosque is one of the oldest mosques that is currently in functional condition in all of Albania. Other mosques were built before it, but none are functional and none have withstood the centuries. Starting from 1496 when it was built by Iljaz Bey Mirahori, it has been functional and standing today. Normally thanks to the continuous interventions that have been made to preserve this great value that the Korça area has. Since it carries these values, it is visited by many tourists outside of Albania and within it, it is one of the destinations of Korça. For this reason, we try to maintain it and highlight the historical and civic values ????of the Korça area ," the Mufti told CNA.

 

In the interview, the Mufti also spoke about the challenges facing the Muslim community in the south of the country today, where emigration remains one of the biggest problems. The departure of people, especially of the active generations, has also affected religious life, as along with the believers, trained clerics are also leaving, creating gaps that are felt in the community.

 

" The challenges of the Muslim community are almost similar to those in all of Albania, but there are also local challenges. The main challenges we face in the south are the massive emigration of people and this is also a challenge for us as a community because believers are leaving us, especially those who have taken years to reach a certain level, whether intellectually or civically. The moment these people leave us, the community feels their absence. This is because not only believers are leaving us, but imams are leaving us. This makes us feel even more the departure of the people and believers that we have here ," said Mufti Ledian Cikalleshi.

 

Another difficulty mentioned is related to election periods, where religious communities often become part of political demands to influence the vote of believers. In Korça, this issue has been managed carefully, maintaining an independent and impartial stance.

Iljaz Bey Mirahori Mosque, a symbol of the stability of faith/ Community

According to Cikalleshi, the role of religious institutions is not political, but moral and social, and their mission lies in spreading the values ??of faith, solidarity and citizenship.

 

" Another challenge is the challenge when there are local or general elections. We as a religious community are in the target group where they try to get the vote of believers, but sometimes there are cases when this part of the request is abused a little, where people go to the imams or the mufti so that we can get the vote of believers. Something that we have reached a maturity that we have regulated these things and the political parties know. Sometimes the insistence or request starts and annoys both the believers and the clerics because the religious clerics are to maintain values, we are not from a certain party. We may have a position or criticize a government but we are not its opposition or a party. We are to improve morality, faith, to spread the values ??of faith in society and not to become part of a party or challenge another party. We have made this clear, we have found some understanding from certain parties or candidates when there are elections, but there are still cases that do not know the limit and we must tell you that there is a "border," said Cikalleshi.

 

An important part of the interview was also dedicated to the issue of the properties of the Muslim community. The process of their return, which has been ongoing for decades, still remains incomplete. Properties confiscated during the dictatorship period have not been returned in a fair and sustainable manner, leaving the community in difficulty in ensuring its economic independence.

Iljaz Bey Mirahori Mosque, a symbol of the stability of faith/ Community
Mirahor Mosque

These properties, known as “waqfs,” constitute a sacred legacy left by believers to support religious activities and community services. Their loss is seen as a major obstacle to maintaining the full function of religious institutions.

“Çështja e pronave është një nga ato sfidat më të mëdha që ka komuniteti mysliman jo vetëm në Korçë por në të gjithë Shqipërinë. Është një sfidë e përbashkët e të gjithë komuniteteve fetare pasi pronat të cilat u konfiskuan me një ligj në vitin 1967, nuk u kthyen po me një ligj. Kjo i futi në një kalvar të madh të gjatë ku ende sot nuk ka zgjidhje. Ne kemi arritur të marrim disa prona por ka edhe të tjera që nuk janë kthyer. Jemi në atë procesin e gjatë të gjyqeve të Agjencisë të kthimit të pronave, dhe shumë agjencive të tjera që herë bëjnë sikur punojnë, shkrihen nga ligji dhe rihapen, ende sot është e paqartë. Kjo është sfidë jo thjesht për pronën që e merr ose jo, këto prona dikur kanë qenë garanci e komuniteteve fetare. Në momentin që pjesa e një komuniteti fetar nuk e ka zgjidhur çështjen e pronave apo pavarësisë ekonomike që mos ketë nevojë ti hedhë sytë për ndihmë jashtë, por ti ketë brenda vetes ato të ardhura. Pjesa e pronave tek ne konsiderohet vakëf, pra diçka e cila është lënë për shërbimin e komunitetit fetar që ai besimtari ka qenë pjesë. Vakëf është term mysliman kur dikush e ka lënë si trashëgimi apo ia ka dhuruar komunitetit fetar, që të ardhurat që dalin nga ajo pronë, të shkojnë në shërbim të atij komuniteti fetar në mënyrë që të përhapen vlera. Kjo është domethënia e vakëfit, ndërkohë që pjesa e shenjtërisë të këtyre pronave nuk është sjellë në vend dhe duhet një zgjidhje sa më e shpejtë. Prona të shkojë tek pronari nëse meritohet të kthehet atje ku i takon. Me këto procedura kanë kaluar gati 30 vite dhe ende jemi në pikën fillestare për disa prona”, tha Myftiu.

 

Në pjesën e fundit të intervistës, Myftiu u ndal edhe tek debatet e fundit që lidhen me çështjet e barazisë gjinore dhe komunitetit LGBT. Ai theksoi se komunitetet fetare në Shqipëri ndajnë një qëndrim të përbashkët për mbrojtjen e vlerave tradicionale dhe të asaj që konsiderohet “e natyrshme” për shoqërinë shqiptare.

Iljaz Bey Mirahori Mosque, a symbol of the stability of faith/ Community

Ndërkohë, është nënvizuar se feja islame nuk mbështet asnjë formë diskriminimi ndaj individëve, por kundërshton çdo nismë që synon të ndryshojë strukturën e familjes apo të minojë rolin e saj në shoqëri.

 

" Religious communities in Albania have their own council where common challenges are discussed and in the last meeting, they made a joint press statement where they expressed that they are against such packages that undermine our society with all kinds of approaches or beautiful names that could be gender equality. We are against any kind of discrimination that is done to people, everyone has their right, just as every believer has the right to go to the mosque or somewhere else, we cannot impose on them how they should act in their private lives. From associations or various organizations with such forms, to introduce a law, we have declared that we are against it because they are not natural forms of man or societies. Even in countries where these have progressed, it is not without opposition or problems. I have seen families suffering from this problem even in those areas, it is not that they are satisfied. Therefore, the solution has always been to preserve what is natural" , said Mufti Ledian Cikalleshi.

 

For the Mufti of Korça, the family and the preservation of moral balance remain the foundation of society. He sees it as the duty of religious communities to convey the message of values, without getting involved in the ideological or political clashes of the time.

Iljaz Bey Mirahori Mosque, a symbol of the stability of faith/ Community

 

" The natural thing is the family, any other kind of different agendas that try to undermine the family or society, which are not healthy things, remain a threat to society. Even more so when a small group tries to impose such things on a large society. We have been against this because it is not that they are distinguished by values, and bringing these anti-values ??to our country with these beautiful names like gender equality, are ways of manipulating and trying to destroy society and the family. Even from our religious stance, and from the values ??we believe in, we do not accept them, but we have always emphasized that it is not something natural ," Cikalleshi told CNA.

 

In conclusion, between tradition, history and today's reality, between preserving heritage and modern challenges, the stance of the Mufti of Korça remains clear. The Muslim community aims to strengthen morality, coexistence and religious harmony, remaining a consistent voice for the preservation of the spiritual and national values ??of Korça and Albanian society./ CNA





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