Opening of the renovated mosque in Svirac near Gradačac scheduled for October 4

(Patria) - The renovated mosque in Svirac, a suburb of Gradačac, will open its doors to believers on October 4.

This is the culmination of works carried out on the mosque and its courtyard for over a year.

The imam of the mosque, Ahmet-ef. Osmanović, stated that the Svirac mosque is a endowment of the Gradaščević family and that the vakufnamas of Osman-kapetan mention a mesjid near which there was a madrasa, which was closed in 1947.

– The mosque has undergone several renovations. The first was about 30 years after its construction, later, in 1875, it was renovated by the residents of this neighborhood, and this is inscribed on the date stone on the mosque's door. The next renovation was in 1936, then in 1980, when the minaret tilted. The current renovation is the fifth in its history – explained Osmanović.

He emphasized the significance of this renovation, which included both the interior and exterior parts, as well as the courtyard.

– We started with the intention of a partial renovation, but with God's help, we have renovated the entire complex. Religious activities were not stopped during the renovation, which began on January 15, 2024 – noted Osmanović.

He emphasized that they performed prayers "in the air" because the foundation of the mosque was being dug beneath them, for the renovation of the floor.

Ahmet Osmanović succeeded Safet-ef. Brkić in the Svirac community, who served the community for 43 years.

– He left me a community that is at the forefront of activities in this area. Our mekteb is one of the most numerous, with about 120 students. In addition to mekteb, we also have a Sufara and Quran course for adults. We recently had a promotion for the graduates of that course, ten participants successfully completed the Quran learning course – Osmanović told us.

The Svirac mosque was last renovated about fifty years ago. The reconstruction was initiated due to the deterioration of the mosque's floor.

At that time, as explained by the President of the Community Board, Jakub Džinić, they saw that the foundations of the mosque, as well as the minaret, were in poor condition.

– We presented our problem to the former Prime Minister Fadil Novalić, who, through the Government of FBiH, provided initial funds in the amount of 100,000 KM. We thought that would be enough for the initial works, but it required much more – explained Džinić.

Excavation of the foundations began, their reinforcement, but they encountered the problem of soil that diligent workers dug by hand through a shaft.

– I was truly afraid, especially when we saw these cracked walls, when the floor shifted and the lower part was excavated, the mosque was simply hanging on a few corners, nothing was holding it. It was even worse when we came to determine the condition of the minaret, we were in a panic because the minaret was practically hanging in the air. The minaret was held only by its connection to the mosque, which is how it was built, and that contributed to it remaining – Džinić told us.

He added that the excavations under the mosque created a space that, God willing, will serve its purpose.

– Discussions are currently underway to make this a museum of northeastern Bosnia – explained Džinić.

The Svirac mosque will adorn Gradačac for years to come.

– On one side of the Gradaščević tower will be the Svirac mosque and, God willing, when the captain's mosque Husejnija is also completed. There will be two beautiful mosques that will serve believers for years to come – Imam Osmanović told us at the end