The life and works of Mehmet Akif Ersoy: Kosovo comes before me everywhere

From: Agron Islami

If we start from the historical facts, we see that the Albanians are among the oldest peoples of the Balkans who were part of all the events that connected this geographical space. As a result of these developments, in different periods and systems they were forced to move from their dear homeland. However, wherever they found themselves, they never forgot their origins.

There are many people who today world history recognizes for their contributions as soldiers, scholars, pedagogues, etc. One of these undoubtedly was and remains Mehmet Akif Ersoy, who is known as a religious lecturer, faculty lecturer, political advisor, philosopher, and at the same time the most famous poet of Turkish literature - until today. Even today, he is remembered with the greatest epithet, because he was and remained the most beloved poet for every literature researcher and especially for Turkish citizens, since he gave the Republic of Turkey the most precious gift, by writing the national anthem.

This famous personality, who made a name for himself in the history of Turkey, was one of the many Albanians whose ancestors went to Turkey for various purposes and who never for a single moment forgot his place of origin. He also expresses his pride of origin in one of his best poems, "Vefasiz Kosova", where, among other things, he says:

Hear this from me, I am truly Albanian...
I can't say anything else... Here, my homeland is ruined!

Biography

Mehmet Akif Ersoy was born in December 1873 in the Sari-Güzel neighborhood in the suburbs of Istanbul. His father was Tahir Efendi Pejani (from Shushica e Peja). From a young age, he took the escape route to Istanbul with his father. There he continued his education at the Fatihu Madrasa, and after graduating from the madrasa, the school staff expressed the desire for Tahir Efendiu to exercise his duties as a professor in the same place where he worked until his death. Akif's mother was Emine Sherif, originally from Bukhara.

As a child, Akifi was provided with Islamic religious knowledge by his parents and at the age of four, i.e. in 1878, he started learning for the first time at the "Emin Buhari" School (preschool). After two years of schooling, in 1879 he went to primary school (Ruzhdiye), to continue in high primary school (Idadiye). In addition to the lessons he received at school, prof. Tahiri taught his son extra lessons at home, such as: Tafsir (commentary on the Qur'an), Fiqh (basics of Sharia), Arabic language, while he learned old Persian from his grandfather, and from all this it is clear that Akif, as early as at a young age, he had the opportunity to become acquainted with knowledge of various fields.

After three years of high primary education, in 1882 he moved to secondary education in Fatih. During this period, Akifi had a very strong commitment for his age. He continued learning Arabic from his father; in the Fatihu mosque, he presented in the Persian language course organized by his grandfather; and, during this time, the well-known works "Gülistani" and "Mesneviu" were read in the course. At the same time, at school he was among the most distinguished students in all subjects, especially in the subject of Turkish and French language and literature.

As a high school student, he noticed an interest in poetry. At that time, his first attempt at writing poems began with his friend, Ibnulemin Mahmud Kemal.

After his father's death, he enrolled in veterinary school, a school that enabled him to quickly settle into work. During the time he was practicing the profession of veterinarian, he found the opportunity to visit his ancestors in Shušicë i Peja.

The political circumstances within the Ottoman Empire caused him to make his contribution in the political arena as well. As the born poet that he was, he was assigned to hold open lectures to increase popular support for participation in the Balkan Wars. Akifi had already received the epithet of the national poet of Turkey.

Poetic activity

Akifi left behind seven works of poetry, which are summarized in a single book called "Safahat", which compilation is divided into seven volumes according to the works in question. The first book is entitled "Safahat". In the future, he wrote the books: "On the seat of Suleimaniye", "Voices of truth", "On the seat of Fatihu", "Memories", etc.

Akif's works were written in the Ottoman script, but after his death, the entire safahati was transcribed into Latin letters by ME Düzdağ. All his books were published in Istanbul, except for the seventh and last book, which was published in Cairo, Egypt. The word "Safahat" in itself contains a very broad meaning, which in the Albanian language has the meaning; "sheets-periods". From the name of his literary work, it can be seen that in his activity the poet describes (almost) a historical era, not only of Turkey, but of the entire Islamic world. The language used in the poem is the language of Islam that lies at the foundation of the poet's culture. Consequently, in the scale of the vocabulary used in these poems, one encounters a large amount - apart from Turkish - especially lexical units of Arabic origin. Along with the use of Persian analytical words and constructions, the poet has tried to use these three languages ​​in a harmonious and pleasant way for the reader-listener, which we can say with great certainty that he has been successful in trying to own.

Almost in the seven aforementioned books, the poet does not pass without articulating the pain he has for the wars that were taking place in the Balkans by the great forces, which aimed at the division of the states, and in particular for the land of the ancestors from which he came. In one of his most famous poems, he says:

Three million people are suffering from three brainless heads

Albania is burning... This time (the fires) are very big
Father, your dearest mother, truest mother,
Will he become a victim of three thieving villains?!
Wherever I am, a bloody field appears before my eyes... Is it you, or your imagination? Kosovo not supported!
What is the thousand-fold cause of your invasion!
What is the purpose of crossing the destructive path
of "lightning" on your grave?

O unbound roots of independence, where are they?
All hopes, I think forever, were extinguished.
Where are you great "union", high fantasy created?
You, even for years, were confused by that cursed dream.
You did not drown the plot at once
Bloody morning horizon?
Montenegrin thief, Serbian donkey, Bulgarian snake,
Then the Greek "dog", they have surrounded the homeland all around.
Most of you, it is understood, do not see the wrong way... Hain, who now serves as your advisor, expel him
Hear this from me, I am truly Albanian...
I can't say anything else... Here, my homeland is ruined!
Rise father, rise from the grave!
And see for the fun of the three crazy people
how to kill a people of three million!
Come quickly, because the living are not coming
to save our country...
Albania is on fire...
Dad! Your dearest mother, who is your homeland,
your hometown is being sacrificed
for the ambitions of three big-headed people
Land tilled by our grandparents
and the sown fields are being taken away by the river...
Too bad, that the foreigner's cross is already being embedded in the ground...
and dance at your feet?
Oh! Everywhere, Kosovo comes before me!

/Telegraph/