Blind pilgrims from BiH touched the hearts of believers: The Kaaba is seen with the heart, not the eyes

This year, two blind believers from Bosnia and Herzegovina also traveled for Hajj, whose story evokes particular respect and emotion. Their presence at the holy sites is a reminder of the Quranic message that true knowledge comes not only from the sight of the eyes, but from faith in the heart.

Mufid Kozlić from Zenica lost his sight during the war and is a hundred percent disabled. However, this fact did not prevent him from becoming a carpenter and creating recognizable mosque models. He points out that as a believer, he always dreamed of going on Hajj.

– As a carpenter, a blind man, it's strange to many. I make mosque models, and recently various wooden souvenirs, such as necklaces, sugar bowls, and the like. People saw this on Facebook and YouTube, and a man from America, of Bosnian origin from Srebrenica, contacted me. He has been living and working there with his wife and family for 30 years. He ordered mosque models from me. We remained friends, and a year ago, when our group was going for Hajj, he told me: 'Brother, prepare everything you need, papers and application. You and your wife are going for Hajj, my wife and I are financing it.' Through this, I wish them all the best and may Allah reward them with the best reward – he said.

The pilgrims found it difficult to find words to describe their first encounter with the Kaaba. When asked what it was like to stand in front of the Kaaba without seeing it with their eyes, Mufid replied that eyes are not needed to experience the Kaaba.

– The heart and soul simply feel that closeness, that peace and relief when one comes to the Haram. All worries, problems, and health issues seem to disappear. To see the Kaaba means to feel it with your heart – he conveyed.

Rifet Mahić, who lost his sight in 1992, at the beginning of the war events in Bosanska Krupa, thinks similarly.

– Regardless of not seeing, everything is felt with the heart. Tears flow on their own. We dreamed of coming to the holiest places in the world for at least twenty years. The children were in school, we had to work, and then we couldn't even dream about it. Now, thank God, everyone is employed, so they also helped us – he said.

The pilgrims emphasize that the rituals so far have proceeded without major problems.

One of the guides for the blind pilgrims, Mersud-ef. Topalović, recalled a Quranic verse that states that it is not the eyes that are blind, but the hearts within the chests.

– These examples of our blind pilgrims confirm the meaning of that verse. The verse was revealed precisely in Surah Al-Hajj, and we are at the holy sites and performing the rituals of Hajj – he conveyed.

Mufid and Rifet will spend the coming days in worship, awaiting the Day of Arafat together with other Bosnian-Herzegovinian pilgrims, while the Office for Hajj and Umrah has provided special apartments to make their stay at the holy sites easier and more comfortable.