Reis Kavazović sees off first group of Bosnian pilgrims

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - A plane carrying the first group of pilgrims from Bosnia and Herzegovina took off this morning from Sarajevo International Airport for Medina. The departure was preceded by a gathering at the „King Fahd“ mosque in Sarajevo, where a collective prayer (ikrar dova) was recited by the envoy of the Sarajevo mufti, Dr. Abdulgafar ef. Velić.

The collective prayer for the first group of this year's pilgrims was also attended by the Grand Mufti Husein ef. Kavazović.

„I came to share a few moments with you before your departure, to wish you a blessed journey to the holiest places, to our Medina and Mecca, praying to the Almighty God to accept your intention. What is important for you, besides your intention, is also patience. On every journey we must be prepared to endure certain efforts. Such is the Hajj. The Hajj is an effort and requires an inner struggle, both with oneself and with Satan. You will need to arm yourselves with patience and undertake this journey as true believers. The Islamic Community, the Office for Hajj and Umrah, and the entire guide service will strive to make this journey as easy as possible for you.

The most important thing you should do during the Hajj is istighfar, that is, to pray to Allah, the Almighty, to forgive your sins. Constantly ask the Lord to accept your good deeds and forgive your sins, because these are the best places and the best time for repentance to be accepted. Strive to spend as much time as possible in worship.

These are hot days and difficult for performing the Hajj; take care of your health. You, the younger ones, are obliged as Muslims to help the older pilgrims among you. That is your duty, just as it is your duty to perform the prayer. You are now one congregation, and strive to be at hand for one another as brothers and sisters.

Sometimes we hear among us Bosniaks that the Islamic Community should separate pilgrims and place the wealthier in better hotels and the poorer in worse ones. But you as Muslims, and we as the ulema, know that during the Hajj we wear white ihrams. During the Hajj, there is no, and should not be, any difference among people. This Islamic Community, as it is, will not do that; it will not make distinctions among our people. We are one congregation and should not make distinctions among people.

You are going on the Hajj and in a way you represent the Muslims of Bosnia and Herzegovina. I ask you to show, above all, humility through your behaviour at every step, to devote yourselves to worship, and to present Islam as our Prophet did and as our Lord requires of us.

On behalf of the entire community of Muslims in Bosnia, I wish you a safe journey, may Allah, the Almighty, accept your intention and your worship, and may you return to us happy and satisfied“, the Grand Mufti Kavazović told the future pilgrims.

From Sarajevo, two more planes carrying pilgrims from the Banja Luka, Goražde, and part of the Bihać muftiships will fly to Medina today.

The remaining pilgrims from Bosnia and Herzegovina will set off for the holy sites according to the previously established flight schedule.