Numerous guests at the Bayram reception

Reisu-l-ulema Husein ef. Kavazović held a traditional Bayram reception at the Faculty of Islamic Sciences in Sarajevo for representatives of state, religious, diplomatic, political, and social institutions, the intellectual community, and public figures, reported the Patria agency.

In his address at the Bayram reception, Reisu-l-ulema stated that the Bayram days are particularly significant.

- They are significant for us because of the universal messages they carry, which the Muslims of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in a special way, feel, understand, and have nurtured, applied, and developed for centuries in their Islamic tradition and in their mutual relations and relations with their neighbors, friends, and fellow citizens.

In the circumstances we all find ourselves in BiH, our society, our citizens, our state, the messages of the Sacrifice or Pilgrimage Bayram have additional importance and significance. It is important that we constantly remind and urge each other of the need for solidarity, conversation, listening, and understanding. That is why we are happy when we share our joys with our friends.

On the eve of winter, the problems of most people affected by the floods have not yet been resolved. This is an opportunity to appeal once again to everyone to urgently resolve people's problems and to face winter in minimally decent conditions. In this regard, the Islamic Community will be available with all its capacities to all those who need to work on this.

One of the fundamental messages of the Hajj is certainly the message of unity and equality, in accordance with the Quranic principle that the only criterion for distinction among people is piety, the fundamental content of which is benevolence. There are no other differences among people, that is what Almighty God tells us. Therefore, in the rituals of the Hajj, everyone is in white clothes/ihrams, regardless of origin, material wealth, or social status.

The universal messages of the Hajj and the days we are in should be a constant inspiration for us Muslims to strive for social justice and the common good, to do good and call to good, to forbid evil and turn away from evil. And in this lies the most important reason why we should share Bayram joys with our neighbors. We are deeply convinced that we can preserve, nurture, and develop our universal Islamic values only if we share them with others, with our neighbors, if we share them with all people.

The Islamic Community is committed to contributing, as much as it can, to social justice, dialogue, coexistence, solidarity, peace, and the common good in our society based on such an orientation. Allow me to say that in this regard, we sometimes encounter difficulties in our efforts to ensure adequate conditions and equal status for members of the Islamic Community, Muslims in BiH, within the social community and in our relations with authorities, state bodies, and institutions. Thus, we were recently taken aback by the Council of Ministers' attitude towards the adoption of the Agreement between the Islamic Community and the State, on which a Joint Team, including representatives of the Islamic Community and the Council of Ministers of BiH, had worked for at least two years.

After long, patient, and diligent work on the Agreement and after harmonizing all positions at a meeting held on January 27, 2014, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Civil Affairs presented their negative opinions, which caused the blocking of further progress in concluding this agreement.

We were surprised, taken aback. Because, in the positions presented by the ministers of the two ministries, issues that represent the specific needs of the Islamic Community and that, as such, occupy a central place in the agreement, such as the right to perform Friday prayers, dress code, choice of halal food, etc., were challenged. On the other hand, negative opinions were expressed on those contents in the Agreement that are resolved identically in agreements with the Vatican and the Serbian Orthodox Church, such as issues of inviolability of religious buildings and premises, treatment of educational and humanitarian institutions, religious education, etc.

Therefore, here and tonight, I express the hope that the representatives of the authorities will have more understanding in the coming period for the rights and needs of our believers, as well as for the social, educational, cultural, and social role of the Islamic Community, its members, all Muslims, as well as other religious communities and all citizens and peoples in our Homeland.

Thank you once again, and I cordially greet you with the Bayram greeting, Bayram šerif mubarek olsun!