Reis Kavazović: The future is in understanding and mutual respect

(Patria) - We need a generation of people, leaders, who will not look at their homeland solely through the prism of personal ambition, but will strengthen it with personal morality and a call to service, stated today the head of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Husein-ef. Kavazović.

Addressing the members of the Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the traditional pre-Ramadan gathering, Reis Kavazović said that we need leadership and leaders who will believe that the world can be changed, not by killing and division, but by creation and competition in good deeds.

- I believe that obstacles on the path can be overcome by the strength of faith. Today, we must take risks to achieve peace and success tomorrow. Every birth requires effort, and behind every success are many attempts, from which we must learn - said Reis Kavazović.

We present his address in full:

"Esteemed Mr. Minister, employees of the Ministry of Defense, respected Mufti, members of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, ladies and gentlemen, dear friends.

We are on the eve of the blessed month of Ramadan, the month of mercy, forgiveness, and liberation from the Fire; the month of spiritual strengthening, refreshment, and moral elevation. With its arrival, many doors of goodness open to us: the door of fasting; the door of abstaining from sin, the door of intense communion with the Quran; the door of remembrance and prayer; the door of mercy and mutual solidarity. Each of us should enter through all these doors and find ourselves in the space they lead us to.

Indeed, every religious precept is like a building that may look one way or another from the outside, but whose interior is revealed only to those who enter it. Therefore, brothers and sisters, let us enter through all these doors and experience what lies behind them – we will be amazed by the immense beauty and fragrance of that environment!

The Merciful Lord has revealed in the Book: The month of Ramadan is when the Quran was sent down as a guide to mankind, and as clear proofs of the guidance and the criterion. So whoever of you sights the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey, then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship, and [wants] for you to complete the number and to glorify Allah for what He has guided you to; and perhaps you will be grateful. (Al-Baqarah, 185)

Gentlemen officers, soldiers, and employees of the Ministry of Defense!

The world, as we see with our own eyes, is in a very sensitive, tense state. The current world order, it seems, is weakening and cracking under internal pressure. Global world institutions are functioning with increasing difficulty, with less and less success and efficiency, while the forces of arrogance, greed, and unscrupulousness are strengthening and occupying ever-wider spaces.

The world is in great turmoil, entering a period of instability with an uncertain and unknown outcome, and people are overcome by increasing fear. Changes are, without a doubt, inevitable because the previous concepts have been exhausted and, as such, are inadequate for solving the accumulated problems that require resolution.

What these upheavals will lead to – to better and more just solutions or to chaos and destruction, we do not know now, but we hope that reason will prevail and that rational people, with great competencies and broad horizons; and with a strong moral pedigree; and with an honorable intention, will work on the new world order.

Therefore, for us believers, today, as always, God's words are paramount: O you who have believed, enter into Islam completely and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy. And if you deviate after what has come to you the clear proofs, then know that Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise. (Al-Baqarah, 208, 209)

In our beautiful country, we have long been facing instability and internal friction, which prevents our society from normal development and progress, leaving behind significant consequences. We exhaust ourselves in mutual outsmarting, quarrels, and sabotage, thus lagging behind others and losing strength, while evil flourishes and spreads its branches. And Allah does not like corruption. (Al-Baqarah, 205)

So, what should we do to improve the situation?

In all previous meetings, we insisted on establishing and nurturing better relations among ourselves and strengthening trust. We are doing so again this time and will continue to do so.

Nurturing interpersonal relationships is an essential characteristic of Islam and the culture that stems from it. Our faith promises us a beautiful place with the Dear God for maintaining good relationships with others who do not attack us and threaten our existence, regardless of their religious affiliation. El-islah bejnen-nas/Improving interpersonal relationships – is mentioned in the Quran and designated as good. It is also a fundamental prerequisite for a good life in any country.

The second prerequisite for our security and our strength is high morale. This is a key component of a healthy society, but also a key component of a true army.

Therefore, it is extremely important that our army is moral and that it does not have tendencies towards crime and inhumanity in its structure. Islam strictly forbids this. Crime and inhumanity ultimately lead to the loss of a strong position. I ask you to keep this in mind.

We do not know what we will face in the future, not even in the near future, because events are unfolding beyond our influence, but whatever we face, I ask you to always be brave, trained, and ready, but also highly moral and humane people. This should be the emblem of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian army, its trademark. Almighty Allah has said: Those who believed and emigrated and strove in the cause of Allah, they have the hope of Allah's mercy. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. (Al-Baqarah, 218)

Our imams in the Armed Forces have been strongly engaged in this so far, and I express my great gratitude to them on this occasion and congratulate them. Three of them are retiring this year – I ask Allah for their retirement to be spent in health and peace. And from the young imams, I expect them to continue in their path.

The third thing is caring for oneself and caring for others. This, above all, implies guarding the borders of one's country from external attacks, but also consistently and honorably representing state institutions. You represent one of the key institutions of the state, so work diligently to ensure it is healthy, efficient, and fulfills its role to its full capacity.

An institution must be vigilant, organized, and involved in solving the problems of the society to which it belongs, but focused on its primary task – the one for which it was established. Therefore, I ask you to make the institution you represent strong and equipped as much as you can through your work and dedication, and to be as well-trained as possible. In this way, you will also present your country in a good light, and we will all be proud of it. And if it is attacked, you will defend it successfully.

As members of the BiH Armed Forces, you are a symbol of the unity of our people and state. May this blessed month bring you additional mutual understanding, strength, and steadfastness in your honorable mission.

I ask Almighty Allah to protect you and grant you health, strength, and wisdom in carrying out your tasks. May your fasting days be filled with Allah's mercy, and your nights with remembrance and spiritual peace. Allah is the protector of those who believe and He brings them out of darkness into the light... (Al-Baqarah, 257)

Dear attendees, ladies and gentlemen!

This year, with the first day of fasting, came March 1st, BiH Independence Day, followed by its international recognition. In May and July this year, we will mark the anniversary of the UN resolution on Srebrenica and 30 years since the genocide in Srebrenica.
As we know, the International Court of Justice in The Hague ruled that two criminal plans were made against BiH and its citizens, almost a year before the declaration of independence, in August, and then in December 1991, which were carried out until the signing of the Washington and later the Dayton Peace Agreements.

Bosnian-Herzegovinian society and BiH patriots defeated the joint criminal plans, and two UN courts ruled that genocide was committed in Srebrenica. Despite this, we continued to live with our neighbors, and the UN resolution on Srebrenica, from May last year, was the best international confirmation of the truth about BiH.

We will also mark this first of March with dignity; this year, on that day, we will be reminded of the democratic world that, individually and collectively, recognized the state of BiH, which is today a proud member of the world community and the UN. Today, more than ever, we need to thank all those who enabled our BiH to be an internationally recognized state, but also those who, in the conditions of two joint criminal enterprises and an unjust embargo, managed to preserve the international subjectivity of our state. Let us keep in our memory the brave sons of this country and their sacrifice, let us never forget it.

Today, more than ever, we need to call for respect for the independence and international subjectivity of BiH and the laws of this state. The experience of war and genocide must be a warning to everyone, and the aforementioned facts are proof that BiH is indestructible and that any attacks on its sovereignty and independence are doomed to failure in advance. We call on all those who dream of building other states in BiH to come to their senses and turn to prosperity, reason, but also peace and a common future. Our people are ready to accept words of repentance and the hand of reconciliation, but they are not ready to accept insults and humiliation and the hand of those who deny war crimes and genocide and who glorify war criminals.

The future is in understanding and mutual respect, not in secession and the realization of Greater-state plans at the expense of BiH.

We have all collectively voted for our path in BiH, it is the path towards Euro-Atlantic integration. Therefore, we call on the state institutions of BiH to engage and commit to this path to the maximum extent: to join the community of the democratic world, although we know what geopolitical challenges the whole world faces today. And the laws of this state must be respected and applied.

The international subjectivity of BiH has been supported by the strongest states today, and the truth about the events in BiH from 1991 to the end of 1995 has been secured by the institutions of the international community. Both of these have survived and will survive, only with our strong and patriotic engagement and intellect. Life together in BiH, brothers and sisters, has no alternative. Everything else is misfortune, destruction, and self-destruction.

We need a generation of people, leaders, who will not look at their homeland solely through the prism of personal ambition but will strengthen it with personal morality and a call to service. We need leadership and leaders who will believe that the world can be changed, not by killing and division, but by creation and competition in good deeds. I believe that obstacles on the path can be overcome by the strength of faith.

Today, we must take risks to achieve peace and success tomorrow.

Every birth requires effort, and behind every success are many attempts, from which we must learn. What will be, is not within our knowledge; there is no expert for what is yet to come. Nevertheless, we live in the hope that we will realize the dream of our ancestors and that our children, like us, will plow their land and live in peace with others; learn from others and inspire others with their faith, their readiness for sacrifice in defense of our values, and their perseverance. May these words of God always be in our minds: If you support Allah, He will support you and make firm your feet. (Muhammad, 7)

I invite you to spend Ramadan in full devotion to God and use it for mental and spiritual strengthening. Fasting is magnificent by nature and leads to all that is magnificent. It educates, disciplines, strengthens willpower and endurance, encourages orderliness and responsibility, purifies and develops humanity. And all of this is close to your work and duty.

Our Lord, we ask You to lead us gently into Ramadan and open the ways to its blessings for us. And to accept all the good we do in it. Amen."