Reisul-ulema Kavazović: Our people's awareness of the importance of waqfs and their role is alive

(Patria) - Reisul-ulema of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina Husein-ef. Kavazović said today that "being useful to others, offering them a helping hand, as well as comfort and hope, is our permanent commitment and we tie strong hope for our future to it".

The opening ceremony of the 12th manifestation "Days of Waqfs in Bosnia and Herzegovina" was held today at the Gazi Husrev-beg Library in Sarajevo, and the Reisul-ulema attended the event and addressed the attendees appropriately. He assessed that this manifestation has proven to be extremely good and purposeful, with numerous positive implications.

"We belong to a great world culture, which has its own expressions in a multitude of its phenomena. One of them is certainly waqfs, which are numerous and diverse, and within themselves, they have always strived to meet the needs of society and make life easier for people and animals and improve their environment. Our first Muslims had a high
awareness of the importance and role of waqfs, so they endowed part of their property, both in our country and in other places around the world. They grew up in a social environment that encouraged them in this regard and awakened their awareness of it," said the Reisul-ulema.

He added that, by nature generous, our people have largely participated in the building and humanization of the society in which they lived, so many settlements were founded on waqf properties.

"We still have cities today: Gornji Vakuf, Donji Vakuf, Skender Vakuf, Kulen Vakuf, Varcar Vakuf, etc. We, today's Muslims, have retained that aspiration, and with our waqfs, we strive to pay the necessary attention and include them in the realization of the goals we have in mind and wish to achieve. We jealously guard the trust we have taken over from our predecessors, we take care of it and strive to fulfill it," said the Reisul-ulema.

He emphasized the fact that "we have managed to raise many destroyed and ruined waqfs from the ashes, to restore them and put them back into function - such as the Sinan-beg Mosque in Čajniče, Aladža in Foča, Arnaudija and Ferhadija in Banja Luka, Kizlar-agina Mosque in Varcar Vakuf (Mrkonjić-Grad)..."

"On this occasion, I also want to highlight the great role of the General Directorate of Waqfs of the Republic of Turkey, the Ministry of Awqaf and Endowments from Kuwait, and the Ministry of Awqaf from Qatar, and thank them for the numerous projects we have realized and are realizing with them throughout Bosnia. Without their help, it would be very difficult
to restore and put back into function numerous waqf facilities that were destroyed in the war.

However, I must say that many waqfs, previously usurped and stolen, have still not been returned to us. It has been shown in our country, unlike in the civilized world, that the state is the greatest enemy of property, i.e., waqfs. I hope that this relationship will also change one day when some other people come, with different values and views on
life," emphasized the Reisul-ulema.

He reminded that "waqfs were not established by the authorities, but by pious and upright believers, individuals, sacrificing parts of their property for the common good, for those in need".

"The awareness of our people about the importance of waqfs and their role is still alive today, and it is deepening and becoming more prevalent in life. On this occasion, I want to praise the significant increase in domestic endowments in this period, which are continuously growing year after year.

We can say that this is growing into a great movement that is gaining momentum and flourishing in all parts of our country. A great credit for this belongs to our Waqf Directorate, which is strongly engaged in raising awareness about the importance of endowments, in affirming and promoting the values of waqfs, and in finding new ways and forms of using waqf property," emphasized the Reisul-ulema.

In addition, the Reisul-ulema added, the Waqf Directorate also plays an important role in the revitalization, restoration, and reconstruction of waqf facilities in BiH – in cooperation with other bodies of the Islamic Community with whom it works on resolving waqf issues.

"This calls for public praise and support. Thanks to waqfs, the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina is in a position to help other structures and parts of our society, which is the main reason for the establishment and existence of waqfs. Being useful to others, offering them a helping hand, as well as comfort and hope,
is our permanent commitment and we tie strong hope for our future to it. That culture of ours teaches us that the best people are those who are most useful to others," said, among other things, Reisul-ulema Kavazović.

He particularly emphasized that waqfs are a responsibility, but also an opportunity. "Their task is to achieve God's mercy, to reduce human suffering, to offer a helping hand, and to give additional impetus to civilizational development.

I expect that our care for waqfs will be even greater in the coming period, that waqf properties will be included and put to their purpose, and that their contributions will benefit people. Once again, I express my gratitude and respect to those responsible for the establishment and maintenance of the "Days of Waqfs" manifestation, which has now become traditional.

In this way, with all the content it entails, a strong affirmation of the idea of waqf itself is carried out, numerous dimensions of its good are revealed, and the areas of its influence are expanded. I also thank everyone who strives to preserve and protect waqfs and to find new ways to include them in current life processes and alleviate human suffering," said Reisul-ulema Husein-ef. Kavazović today.