MOSQUE DAY: Reisul-ulema in Banja Luka: Let us turn to the values that came to people from God

(Patria) - At the central ceremony marking Mosque Day, held on May 7 in the renovated Arnaudija Mosque in Banja Luka, the reisul-ulema of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Husein-ef. Kavazović, called on believers and all people to turn to authentic spiritual values, which, as he pointed out, are the only way out of the ever-deepening chaos in which the modern world finds itself.

– The world is facing great turmoil, which is growing in scale and deepening. To stop this, it is necessary to return to authentic spiritual values. Only they can turn humanity in another direction. Thus, the role of mosques and temples and their philosophy of existence is multiplied and emerges as, perhaps, the only way out of the chaos in which the world finds itself today. I invite you all to the values that came to people from God, from Heaven, and which can elevate them to Heaven – said the reisul-ulema.

In his address, he emphasized the importance of preserving sacred spaces and collective awareness of their role, recalling the destruction during the aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina, among which the demolition of the Ferhadija Mosque on May 7, 1993, holds a special place.

– On this date, one of the most beautiful mosques in Bosnia and Herzegovina – the famous Banja Luka Ferhadija Mosque – was mined and demolished, after 414 years of its existence. It was not destroyed by an earthquake or war actions, but by deliberate mining by an organized group of evildoers. Today we commemorate the memory of that sad event, which shook and horrified every honest person, but we also remember all 614 mosques, 218 prayer rooms, 69 mektebs, four tekkes, 37 turbets, and 405 other waqf buildings that evil people destroyed in their last and, God willing, final assault on us and our land – reminded the reisul-ulema.

He stressed that maintaining the memory of these destructions is not an act of inciting hatred, but a permanent obligation to protect the future.

– Not to incite hatred, but to protect ourselves, draw lessons, and be more prepared to stop something like that in the future – said the reisul-ulema.

He reminded that building mosques has been a priority of every Muslim community since the time of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, emphasizing that mosques are places of gathering, worship, upbringing, and preservation of identity, and that, as he noted, “the whole Earth has been made a mosque and pure.”

He also spoke about the need to strengthen environmental awareness, warning of the discrepancy between Islamic teachings and everyday practice.

– Unfortunately, there is a great discrepancy between the teachings of Islam and practice. Due to this discrepancy, we have found ourselves in an unenviable place on the list; a place that is not befitting of us and does not belong to us. Among other things, we find ourselves in that unenviable place due to our low environmental awareness, which, as we see, has not been shaped by Islam. Muslims should take care of the condition of their ritual space: are the mosques, prayer rooms, courtyards, and neighborhoods clean and serving their purpose!? – stated the reisul-ulema.

He also warned of the dangers of isolation and alienation, emphasizing that mosques should be doors of integration with the world.

– Isolation is separation from the whole and functioning outside the system, and that leads to human alienation and, ultimately, confrontation with the world. The consequences are always enormous and harmful to man. All the regulations of God's religion, among other things, have the task of integrating man and bringing him into harmony and harmony with the world into which he was introduced. Religious buildings, ritual space, i.e., the mosque, represent one of the doors to that integration and therefore it is indispensable and extremely important. Other places of worship – churches and synagogues – have a similar function, at least in principle, or should have it, and therefore their demolition is also forbidden – said the reisul-ulema, recalling the Quranic message about the protection of monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques.

Concluding his address, the reisul-ulema emphasized that mosques symbolize the inheritance of values and that their cleanliness and functionality reflect the moral state of the community.

As part of the program, four hafizes performed: Aziz-ef. Alili, Nisvet-ef. Omerdić, Muamer-ef. Okanović, and Edin-ef. Fajković. Imams from the area of the Banja Luka muftiship also participated in the program by reciting qasidas, while the prayer at the end of the program was led by the director of the Rijaset's Department for Religious Affairs, hafiz Dr. Mensur-ef. Malkić.

The Mufti of Banja Luka, Ismail-ef. Smajlović, during his address, stated that it is important to work on promoting universal values, both on special occasions and in everyday life situations.

– Our generation witnesses that consumer culture pushes spirituality to the margins. On the other hand, the path towards sublime values, which is our commitment, is more easily traversed with the purity in which a human being should live from birth to death – said Mufti Smajlović.

He reminded that today, from the Banja Luka Arnaudija Mosque, an effort is being made to draw attention to the aforementioned purity and ritual space, which is a kind of motto of the central program of the manifestation "Days of the Jamaat and Mosques."

– From the Banja Luka Arnaudija Mosque, we send an architectural, faithful, and dignified message, and that is support for a better and more pleasant life for people – emphasized Mufti Smajlović.

During this period, two exhibitions about the Banja Luka mosques will be set up in Banja Luka, one right in the courtyard of the Arnaudija Mosque, and the other in the courtyard of the Ferhadija Mosque.