NEUM MUNICIPALITY Tarawih prayer held in Rabrani, a congregation where the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina prays

(Patria) - In the Rabrani congregation, located in the municipality of Neum, in the south of our homeland, the sixth joint iftar of this Ramadan was held last night, gathering locals, displaced members, but also guests from other parts of our country.

The iftar was initiated and financed by Ibro Tucaković, originally from Rabrani, who now lives in the United States of America, while guests were welcomed in front of the mosque by members of his family and the congregation.

One of them is his paternal uncle, Ejub Tucaković, who recalled the long continuity of religious life in this place, regardless of how the number of residents changed over the years.

– This mosque will always be alive in terms of performing religious life, because the continuity of organizing religious activities is not interrupted here. Not in winter, when 20 people pray here, nor in summer, when there are 150 to 200 people in the mosque – said Ejub.

Recalling older times, he says that the mosque has always been the center of gatherings for the Tucaković family and the locals of this region.

– There has been a mosque here as long as the Tucakovići have existed. In fact, it was a mekteb, but we always called the building a mosque. So, the building is 300 or 350 years old. Until the beginning of World War II, there was always an imam here and all religious activities were performed. After World War II, the number of congregation members decreased, and then religious life mainly took place during Ramadan – Ejub explained.

The imam of this congregation, Adem-ef. Jakupović, explains that today the life of this place relies on people who have left but regularly return.

– Rabrani is a small place where about ten people stay overnight. A place that was significantly depopulated after the war operations. Many people are in Mostar and Čapljina, and in America alone there are more than a hundred Tucakovići who, thank God, come during the summer, visit their properties and houses. Iftars are situations where all of them, as many as there are, gather in one place – said efendija Jakupović.

He adds that during the summer, this congregation is special because it is mostly made up of passers-by, believers from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Mersad-ef. Šabanović, the chief imam of the Islamic Community (MIZ) Council Stolac, to which the Rabrani congregation administratively belongs, said that such visits are a special support to the congregation members who maintain the community life in Rabrani.

– Every visit here is a great support, especially when people make a special trip. There are many who stop by here and are significant. However, we are especially pleased by special visits for the sake of these people here – said efendija Šabanović.

According to him, religious activities, and above all the renovation of the mosque in Rabrani, represent an important foundation for the survival and protection of the identity of Bosniaks in this area.

– Every one of these activities testifies to this and further strengthens this area, our people, and our identity. They are a guarantee of our survival and future, and a message that there is good in this country – efendija Šabanović concluded.