Khutbah by Reis-ul-ulema Kavazović: In times of strife, epic violence, and suffering, remain composed

(Patria) - Reis-ul-ulema of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina Husein-ef. Kavazović called on believers this morning to remain composed in times of strife, epic violence and suffering, in times of division and despondency, and not to allow others to drag them into their whirlpools of evil.

– Our hearts should remain with those who suffer the most. We are a small community of people; we should not fear evil, but we must take care of ourselves. If the flame of evil could be extinguished by tears, the tears of our mothers would be enough for weapons to fall silent forever – said the Reis-ul-ulema during the Bayram khutbah at the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque in Sarajevo.

He emphasized that "a serious threat of religious fanaticism and Zionism looms over our heads".

– It is a blind force of power and hatred that destroys worlds, cultures, and civilizations. We believe that there are still healthy hearts that will resist it, hearts that walk the path of love and brotherhood among people. It is the path on which, in the past, cities and villages were created, grew, and flourished, where people celebrated the Creator of worlds and competed in goodness. We hope it will continue to be so, because after every dark night comes a new dawn – the Reis-ul-ulema conveyed.

His khutbah is fully conveyed by the MINA Agency:

"Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, the Ruler of the visible and invisible, the hereafter and this world; the Director of peace and harmony among worlds and creatures.

From Him, we seek help and support, we pray and expect; in His mercy, we trust; His peace, we desire.

To Him, we pray that He suppresses all tyrants, punishes their arrogance, and rewards the oppressed with justice and the grieving with mercy.

May peace and blessings be upon the Prophet, peace be upon him, his noble family and companions, and all who follow him in faith until the Day of Judgment.

The Almighty has calmed our hearts in Islam and united us in the brotherhood of believers.

We thank Him on this great day for the blessings of faith that we carry in our souls, for peace in our homeland, and for the brotherhood and good neighborliness among us.

We have welcomed Bayram and bid farewell to Ramadan, strengthened by prayer, fasting, and zakat, but also aware of the challenges and trials that await us.

Dear brothers and sisters!

As Muslims obedient to God, we understand the world as a place of constant confrontation between good and evil, a constant competition between these two opposites, and a place of hardship and tears. We believe that we are constantly exposed to trials and tests to see which of us will act better.

There will be happy and unhappy people among us. They are our test. Let us strive to constantly compete in goodness and to wipe away the tears from the faces of unfortunate people with brotherly and sisterly love. This is precisely our mission, our purpose, and our task.

Let us remember the words of the Almighty: There will be no fear, nor will they grieve, those who believe in God and the Last Day and do good deeds, whether they are (Muslims), Jews, Sabians, or Christians (Al-Ma'idah, 69).

And in order to become hope and comfort for people, we must strengthen our faith, unite our hearts, tame our souls, and connect in the brotherhood of faith, a community of people devoted to the one God.

Our journey on this earth is long and not new. There have been and will be difficult stretches on it. And despite the fact that there are people who wish us destruction, we will not fall into despair. On the contrary, we will strive to preserve our faith and dignity and not be poisoned by hatred.

We are aware that what awaits us on our journey are challenges, difficulties, and obstacles. There will be steep slopes and ascents, traps and deceptions on that path, as there always have been, but despite all the difficulties, we will continue to move and strive on God's path. Indeed, God's mercy is near to those who do good deeds.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, let us not allow the fainthearted to destroy our world, which we have been building for centuries together with our good neighbors. We must maintain composure of spirit at all times and not fall into despair. We must not lose our sense of measure, truth, and justice.

We have learned that in all times, especially in difficult times, God's word is the most healing, and patience is the best quality. Those who adhere to God's word, carry it in their hearts and souls, and are patient, will be closest to righteousness.

The Almighty Lord says:

Let the evil deeds of others towards you not lead you to be unjust; be just, for that is closer to righteousness (Al-Ma'idah, 8).

Brothers and sisters!

There are times when the rows must be straightened better, tightened and strengthened, when people's faces and hearts must come closer and turn in the same direction. Only faith in a common destiny, discipline, order, and structure can save people from chaos and misfortune.

The family is our safe haven, and the community is our strength and the foundation of our brotherhood. All the rituals of our faith point us to unity, including today's – Bayram prayer.

The Almighty says: Whoever honors the ordinances of Allah – it is from the piety of the hearts (Al-Hajj, 32).

A community is healthy when people communicate with respect and consideration, even when they differ in opinions and views. A community is strong when responsibility is shown towards public goods, on which the healthy spirit and strength of a nation depend. A community is responsible when it cares for the weakest: the sick, the poor, and the helpless. A community is safe when each of its members pays attention to order and structure, respects the laws and rules that protect the individual and society as a whole. A community is progressive when it relies on reason and knowledge, not on emotion and populism.

Every part of our community should remain dedicated to what our individual and collective well-being depends on. The security of our community must be paramount over all other concerns. Those among us who carry the trust they sought and were entrusted with must be especially vigilant. Among them are guards and leaders. Their vigilance and determination to oppose the evil that disrupts peace and cohesion in society are guidelines and direction for the entire community.

Believers are like a building, said the Prophet, peace be upon him, whose parts support each other, so, as narrated by Imam Bukhari, he intertwined the fingers of his hands into a knot. In this way, the Prophet, peace be upon him, showed us that only by relying on each other can we preserve our spiritual and physical being. This cannot be achieved by slogans and proclamations, but by constant effort, acquired knowledge, and sacrifice from all of us.

We created man to strive (Al-Balad, 4), says Allah, the Almighty.

Brothers and sisters!

I call on you, in times of strife, epic violence and suffering, in times of division and despondency, to remain composed and not to allow others to drag us into their whirlpools of evil. Our hearts should remain with those who suffer the most. We are a small community of people; we should not fear evil, but we must take care of ourselves. If the flame of evil could be extinguished by tears, the tears of our mothers would be enough for weapons to fall silent forever.

A serious threat of religious fanaticism and Zionism looms over our heads. It is a blind force of power and hatred that destroys worlds, cultures, and civilizations. We believe that there are still healthy hearts that will resist it, hearts that walk the path of love and brotherhood among people. It is the path on which, in the past, cities and villages were created, grew, and flourished, where people celebrated the Creator of worlds and competed in goodness. We hope it will continue to be so, because after every dark night comes a new dawn.

Muhammad, peace be upon him, said: Whoever has fear and hope combined in his heart, Allah will grant him what he hopes for and protect him from what he fears (Bayhaqi).

Now, we need every Muslim, Christian, and Jew who is not poisoned by hatred.

Brothers and sisters!

Every morning we wake up at the door of God's mercy. None of our needs or trials are greater than His mercy. In every darkness, no matter how black, there is a lamp that we must light. We must strive and find a way to it. Trials, even today's, are water that cleanses the heart and soul and strengthens our will.

Has not Allah said in His Book: And never lose hope of relief from Allah. Indeed, no one despairs of relief from Allah except the disbelieving people. We will grant you a clear victory.

The path of faith is the safest path, the best way to fulfill happiness in this life and the hereafter. Faith keeps us together, within the circle of God's mercy, family happiness, and brotherly love. Therefore, let us fulfill the covenant given to God that we will worship only Him, that we will be good to our parents and relatives, that we will not lie, steal, commit adultery, or oppression, that we will always protect life and respect human rights.

We hope that in this month we have deserved God's mercy, His forgiveness, and salvation from hellfire and torment. Let us continue, as devoted servants of God, to serve His faith and compete in goodness. This is the only right path and the only hope for all of us.

Let us oppose evil and sin, first within ourselves, and then demand it from others.

Do you order people to be righteous and forget yourselves, while you recite the Book? Then will you not reason? (Al-Baqarah, 44). Let us take care of ourselves so that we can help others. Let us take care of our families, preserve and strengthen neighborly relations among us and friendly relations with the world. Let us be joy for each other. Let us improve interpersonal relationships and be mindful of our obligations and the rights of others.

To all Muslim men and women in our homeland Bosnia and Herzegovina and in our Sandžak, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, and in our diaspora, I congratulate you on Ramadan Bayram. I wish you to spend it in peace and tranquility with your loved ones, friends, and neighbors.

I pray to Almighty Allah to grant you good health and that you may always be under God's protection and His pleasure.

I pray to Him to grant health to the sick, strength to the weak and infirm to overcome their difficulties, and for all of us, a good and abundant halal sustenance.

I pray for peace to prevail in the world, for weapons to fall silent, and for the suffering and agony of people in the Middle East and everywhere in the world to cease.

Our Lord, help us, mend us, strengthen our faith, and guide us to the Right Path.

Bayram Sheriff Mubarek Olsun!"