Imam Skorupan: It is our obligation to fight for our homeland

(Patria) - The chief imam of the Islamic Community Council of Višegrad, Hasan-ef. Skorupan, stated that it is our obligation to return, come, and visit our cities, for all our martyrs, and above all, for the pleasure of Allah.

Imam Skorupan spoke to the MINA Agency on the occasion of the Day of the Conquest of Mecca, which is celebrated today. As he reminded, Prophet Muhammad is the best example, role model, teacher, from whose life "we learn how to firmly believe in Allah, how to trust and rely on Allah, how to behave and conduct ourselves well, how to build an army, how to establish, defend, and strengthen a state".

"Muhammad, peace be upon him, and his companions, through their deeds and lives, show the path to follow and how to walk that path. Solely because they were Muslims, that first group of believers, women, children, youth, elderly, along with their families and Prophet Muhammad, were isolated in a valley near Mecca for a full three years.

From the seventh to the tenth year from the beginning of prophethood, that group of early believers ate leaves and roots to somehow survive. Children cried from the hunger that tormented them. Our cities of Sarajevo, Goražde, Bihać experienced a similar siege… The whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina was isolated and under embargo for three and a half years, just as we see the isolation, siege, and suffering of our Palestinian brothers in Gaza today," he stated.

The Prophet and his companions were expelled from their city and, as muhajirs - refugees, found refuge in Medina.

"They repelled military campaigns and attacks from a far superior, more numerous, and better-armed enemy at Badr, Uhud, and Khandaq, and then by Allah's command, Muhammad, peace be upon him, and his companions took the initiative, thereby showing us today how to fight and liberate occupied territory. They decided and set out on a campaign to Mecca. Unarmed, without any weapons, announcing that they were going to perform the pilgrimage - Hajj.

The intention is clear: besides performing the rituals of Hajj, the muhajirs wanted to visit their abandoned homes. It is as if they are telling us too - come to the places, cities, and regions from which you were expelled, to see and visit your land and your homeland, because it is said, 'Hubbul vattani minel imani' - love for the homeland (native soil, homeland) is from faith," emphasized Imam Skorupan.

He reminded that near Mecca, Muhammad, peace be upon him, and the 1,500 companions who set out with him, were stopped, and an agreement was signed, which at that moment was unjust and unfavorable to the Muslims.

"Muhammad, peace be upon him, accepted that treaty, even though the companions felt they had the strength and firmness of faith to overcome the polytheists and conquer Mecca, but the sanctity of Mecca was more important, and Muhammad, peace be upon him, did not want any conflict to occur in or near Mecca, or any bloodshed. But he told his companions - this peace treaty, it is our victory. That peace treaty opened the doors to Mecca and Khaybar and the entire Arabian Peninsula, which Muslims would liberate in the next two years. After signing that treaty, the angel Gabriel came to Muhammad, peace be upon him, with a revelation and revealed the Surah 'Fath', which means victory. Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, said: 'The greatest Fath was Hudaybiyyah.

However, people are short-sighted to see the reality that was between Allah and His Messenger, peace be upon him. This is because servants hasten. And Allah does not hasten; He does not bring about what He wills until it ripens and reaches the necessary stage,'" the imam stated.

The following year, Muslims came in large numbers and, without incidents, conflicts, or bloodshed, entered Mecca, liberated it from polytheists and idols, and the inhabitants of Mecca accepted Islam, he added.

"Upon entering Mecca, the Prophet, riding his camel and reciting Surah Fath, recalled the words he said with tears in his eyes when, as a refugee, he had to leave Mecca with nothing: 'O my city, if my people had not driven me out, I would never have left you'", the imam reminded.

He conveyed that "perhaps we, as members of the Ummah, should also take inspiration from this example and come and visit the places and regions from which we had to leave to save our lives, more often and in larger numbers".

"Many stayed, even if their graves are unknown, but they stayed here. It is our obligation to return, to come, to visit our cities, for all our martyrs, and above all, for the pleasure of Allah. It is our obligation to fight for our land, for our homeland, for our state, for our Bosnia and Herzegovina," he concluded in
an interview with the MINA Agency, Hasan-ef. Skorupan.