Hafiz Ismet-ef. Spahić Passes Away

(Patria) - Hafiz Ismet-ef. Spahić, former Deputy Reis-ul-ulema, long-time professor at Gazi Husrev-beg Madrasa and preacher at Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque in Sarajevo, passed away last night at the age of 84.

Hafiz Spahić was a distinguished scholar who dedicated his entire life faithfully and persistently to serving the Islamic Community and his people.

He received the "City of Sarajevo Plaque" and numerous other recognitions, including an award for his contribution to the work and promotion of memorizing the Quran in our country.

Hafiz Ismet-ef. Spahić was born in 1940 in Puhovac near Zenica, and he graduated from Gazi Husrev-beg Madrasa in 1959 in Sarajevo.

He completed the first cycle of Economics in Zagreb in 1968, and continued his studies in Belgrade.

He began his imamate duties in Visoko in 1962. From 1965 to 1978, he served as the chief imam for the Islamic Community Board in Visoko.

He was a professor of qira'at at Gazi Husrev-beg Madrasa from 1978, and he earned the honorable title of Hafiz in 1980.

He was appointed the first imam and preacher of Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque in 1985.

He was elected Deputy Reis-ul-ulema in 1993. He was appointed acting director of Gazi Husrev-beg Madrasa in 1998.

During the siege of Sarajevo, on August 23, 1993, in the massacre in Halači street, eight citizens were killed and three wounded by a mortar shell fired from Serbian positions while they were in line for water. On that day, three daughters (Meliha Muratović-Spahić, Almasa Spahić, Mahira Spahić, and Ismet Suljić) and a grandchild of Ismet ef. Spahić were killed.

The funeral prayer time will be announced later.