Prayer for the Homeland Performed on Igman: Its Foundations Must Be Strengthened Daily

(Patria) - The Prayer for the Homeland was performed today in the presence of several thousand believers on the plateau of the Igman Mosque, as part of the event "Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina - Igman 2024".

After paying respects at the martyr cemeteries and memorials, and the reception of the standard-bearers and war flags, a religious programme was held. Nesib-ef. Hadžić, the military mufti, said that Bosnia and Herzegovina is a land defended by its finest sons, the finest Bosnians and Herzegovinians, the finest Bosniaks, the finest Serbs and the finest Croats, who stood together, shoulder to shoulder.

"Much Bosnian-Herzegovinian blood has been shed for this homeland. We who survived the aggression carry an important trust on our shoulders, which must never be a burden to us, but must be a source of pride. Just as two days ago we organised a requiem mass and a memorial service for the fallen Catholics and Orthodox members of the Army and the Ministry of Interior, today we visited the white tombstones, the martyrs' graves, symbolically here on Igman. We speak the truth about the aggression and the defence. But we are not telling a story for the sake of the past or for yesterday. We are here to look at each other and say what we will do tomorrow," said Mufti Hadžić in his address.

He stated that "we are here to say, united, all of us who have one important, clear connection—that we love the homeland—that we will prevent any further attack on Bosnia and Herzegovina and be ready to defend it, just like those we visited yesterday and today and commemorated."

"This country is, thank God, stronger day by day, but various negative aspirations and attacks are still here, around us. Therefore, the more responsible and prepared we are, the stronger the challenges and attacks will be, but with the help of Allah Almighty, we will emerge from the challenges even stronger and better. Therefore, we must be united in our positions on our most important issues, dedicated in our work and activities, committed to the truth, obedient to Allah Almighty, and reliant on His help," the military mufti emphasised.

Salih-ef. Grabus, the Chief Imam of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, stated that when we mention the "Prayer for the Homeland" today, we think of every Bosnian-Herzegovinian hill, ridge, mountain, every dugout where members of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina fought battles against the aggressor, every martyr and fallen soldier, every single war military invalid, parents who lost their sons and daughters, martyr children who lost their parents, every tear and sob, camps, execution sites, all crimes and atrocities committed by the aggressor, genocide and culturocide."

"Today, let us be proud, because the ARBiH and the MUP RBiH prevented the aggressor in their intent and preserved a unique and integral Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Army preserved the face and honour of today's modern civilisation and became a moral vertical.

The flags of the ARBiH waved and continue to wave honourably and high. We testify that the members of the ARBiH and the MUP RBiH chivalrously carried the flags with the lilies, as if they found inspiration in the standard-bearer of the Muslim army at the Battle of Uhud, Mus'ab, r.a., whose right hand was cut off by the polytheists, yet he continued to fight; then they cut off his left hand, but he did not allow the flag to fall to the ground until he became a martyr," said Grabus during the reception of the war flags and standard-bearers.

The Friday prayer, as the envoy of the Reis-ul-ulema of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was led by the Mufti of Tuzla, Dr. Vahid-ef. Fazlović.

"For decades, Muslims, both men and women, have been flocking to this noble congregation near the famous Igman Mosque from all sides, with the intention of permanently preserving the memory of the example of the greatest struggle and sacrifice of the honourable martyrs, veterans, and all good people of this country. Along with the immeasurable gratitude we express to all the proud defenders of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is our duty to take a lesson from their imperishably valuable deed and to care for the trusts entrusted to us with due responsibility," said the mufti.

He emphasised that we have inherited fundamental achievements from our righteous predecessors: faith, homeland, language, culture, tradition, and many other goods at our disposal, and that it is our duty to improve and preserve all of this for future generations.

"Our children have their homeland, thank God Almighty. Its foundations must be strengthened daily, and its entire edifice constantly repaired, just as the greatest and most deserving pioneers before us did. We do this in the aspiration that this land of ours endures in peace and progress, and that all people live here in their safe home and native region. Let us value and respect all people in accordance with noble Islamic ethics and our centuries-old Bosnian tradition," said the Mufti of Tuzla, Dr. Vahid-ef. Fazlović, today on Igman.

The mufti stated that the homeland is loved, that one cares for the homeland, that the homeland is built with knowledge, responsibility, diligence, that the homeland is preserved through just conduct and honesty.

"Justice and honesty are in the foundations of our homeland and every institution; we must not forget that. In these circumstances, we must be deeply inspired by the readiness of the martyrs, veterans, and many good people of this country to lay down even their lives for the homeland. We should not begrudge our sweat for our homeland; if those better than us did not begrudge their blood, neither should we begrudge our sweat for the homeland. We should especially look towards the future," stated the Mufti of Tuzla, Dr. Vahid-ef. Fazlović.

The Prayer for the Homeland of Bosnia and Herzegovina was recited by Dr. Mustafa-ef. Gobeljić, the Chief Imam of the Majlis of the Islamic Community of Brčko.

"Igman is a symbol of the defence of Sarajevo and, in a certain way, a symbol of the defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We are pleased that this event has been organised for years; it is important for Bosniaks and for the Islamic Community, and it contributes to the culture of remembrance of our past. We remember our past with pride, the heroic and pure struggle of our sons and daughters for the homeland. This event contributes to ensuring that younger generations do not forget what their parents gave for this beautiful country of ours," he said.

A special programme was performed by imams of the Majlises of the Islamic Community of Sarajevo and Brčko, and military imams.