Grabus: The Islamic Community has the right to its stance

(Patria) - The policy of the Islamic Community (IZ) in Bosnia and Herzegovina is that our people live in freedom - stated the Sarajevo Mufti, Prof. Dr. Nedžad Grabus, in an Eid interview for Radio BIR.

The Sarajevo Mufti spoke about the position of the Islamic Community in Bosnian society, the development of the Sarajevo Mufti's Office, our country's European path, but also the most important topic these days - Kurban-Bajram (Feast of Sacrifice) and its
messages. Recalling the fact that the Islamic Community's stance on issues concerning Bosnia and Herzegovina and Muslims within it is viewed with disapproval, Mufti Grabus emphasized that the Community "will always fight for its place in Bosnia and Herzegovina, for its rights, and will clearly and openly articulate issues that are important to us".

"Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bosniaks are part of Western European culture and civilization. In spirit, we belong to Islam, which originated in the East. We live in a pluralistic, democratic society, and a Muslim in Bosnia and Herzegovina can speak about all problems.

We are all equal, and every citizen has the right to express their opinion on everything. All members of the Community expect the Reis-ul-Ulema to declare his position on certain issues, for the Islamic Community to have its stance. When the Islamic Community wishes to express a stance, it will not ask for permission from anyone, because we live in a pluralistic, democratic society," said Mufti Grabus, in an interview conducted by journalist Merima Uzunalić.

He added that the Islamic Community has its bodies where it articulates interests. "Within the complex Bosnian society, there are other identities with whom we occasionally exchange views on various issues. Just as there are
stances at the global level - the Vatican dealing with Catholic issues, the Patriarchate of Constantinople with Orthodox issues, so there are bodies that deal with Islamic issues. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Islamic Community is concerned with the general status of Muslims. The Islamic Community cannot remain indifferent to certain issues concerning its members and, of course, the general status of our people. Not a single political decision is made within the Islamic Community. The Community has no jurisdiction for that. The state has levels where laws are articulated and adopted, and the Community will always be in favor of laws and projects that are good for it," said the Sarajevo Mufti.

Mufti Grabus previously held the position of President of the Meshihat of the Islamic Community in Slovenia, and based on his experience from working in an EU member state, he also spoke about what the eventual accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the European Union would mean for Muslims in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"We must preserve, nurture, and develop our identity, but also reflect on how to establish communication with our friends who have little knowledge, and often prejudices, about our identity. We have great opportunities. Firstly, Europe will
provide us with the opportunity for the best education. Secondly, the issue of freedoms in which people can develop. People have problems with identity because they are insecure. No one can change me; I am who I am, and I have no problem sitting with anyone, anywhere in the world. Europe will further enable us to stop nationalistic processes. Approaching the European world gives us the opportunity to talk about the rule of law. That system will enable us to function better, and enable those who are more capable to implement their ideas. I see advantages in that. Bosniaks know where they belong; a long-term process lies ahead of us, and we should remain open on that path," the Mufti assessed.

Emphasizing that every era has its challenges, the Mufti reflected on what has been done since the end of 2021, when he was appointed to the position of Sarajevo Mufti, and also spoke about future plans.

"New segments of activity have been opened in the Sarajevo Mufti's Office. Of course, there are many projects we can undertake, but for any kind of activity in Sarajevo, it is important to have coordination, and that is what lies ahead of us in the future. We will strive to articulate some of the ideas we have, and the results will come if we are good. The Quran tells us: Strive! Allah will see your striving, and so will His Messenger and the believers. Look how much good the believers have recognized that the Islamic Community has done. Imagine if the late Reis-ul-Ulema Čaušević met with Reis-ul-Ulema Kavazović and asked him how things are done in the Islamic Community today. If Reis-ul-Ulema Kavazović only presented the institutions we have in Sarajevo, Reis-ul-Ulema Čaušević would not believe him. We will strive," the Mufti emphasized. Given that we are in the days of Kurban-Bajram, the Mufti also pointed out the messages of this holiday.

"The issue of Kurban-Bajram is connected to a thousand-year tradition associated with the prophets of God. When we talk about the mystery of life and when we talk about how Abraham, peace be upon him, searched for truth, was ready, based on the guidance given to him by Almighty God, to sacrifice his son, we see the message of how a parent, a seeker of truth, was ready to give up even what he held dearest on God's path. Of course, God compensated him. That is actually the deepest message of Kurban-Bajram. Can we as individuals even reach that truth, and what does it mean to us? When a person accepts that truth, when they live with it, then they have no obstacles in this world to do everything in their power and, based on that, based on the light that the Lord sends into the heart, to pass through mountains," he said.

He added that the pilgrimage to Hajj is also a "search for truth, the mystery of life, not just purification from sins".

"That act, when Abraham, peace be upon him, sought to draw closer to the Lord, remains as a deposit for all of us who can occasionally scratch the surface and talk about our understanding of truth, but that Abrahamic ideal is truly something that remains as one of the greatest inspirational historical acts that someone as a person has attempted to achieve in this world. To be devoted to the Lord, that is what Abraham, peace be upon him, succeeded in, we look up to him," Mufti Grabus underlined.

He also spoke about how ready we are today to sacrifice ourselves on the path to truth. "Every change begins with the individual, with ourselves. When we talk about it, it is very important to look at who our teachers, mentors, are, who gives us advice. We, thank God, in our tradition have a large number of responsible imams, muallims, muderris, sheikhs, people who know how to communicate in the environments in which they live. That is perhaps the greatest value - that people teach us. It is difficult to talk about a general change; these are processes, there are different currents and influences. I believe there are people in all structures who are dedicated, quiet, and as long as there are such people, God will protect us. Imagine how many believers, men and women, there are in Bosnian neighborhoods who not only love the Lord but also love people. They are the heroes of our lives in that spiritual sense," concluded, among other things, the Sarajevo Mufti, Prof. Dr. Nedžad Grabus.