Ahi Evran Veli Kirsehir Mosque in Olovo Officially Opened: We Want to Stay Here, Build the Land, Live with All Its People

(Patria) - In the presence of a large number of believers from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina, and guests from the Republic of Turkey, the Ahi Evran Veli Kirsehir Mosque in Olovo, the first mosque in the urban center of this town, was officially opened today.

The ceremony was attended by the Rais al-Ulama of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Husein-ef. Kavazović, who stated that such facilities are left for future generations.

“Today we are opening this mosque in Olovo, on the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, who came as a mercy to the worlds. With special enthusiasm and joy, we always remember this as certainly one of the most important events in human history. Today, we are adorning this beautiful town with the joy of opening this mosque, a building in which new generations of our people will celebrate all their joys in freedom and dignity,” said the Rais al-Ulama.

He shared with the guests the commitment that as Bosniaks, they want to stay here, build their country, have children, and live with the people of their country, regardless of their religious affiliation.

“In order to live in peace and harmony with each other, it is necessary to respect each other. This further means that we will respect each other's places of worship, but also that we will be there for each other, especially when we are in difficulty, and that we will be a comfort to each other, not a threat. Therefore, may our churches and other places of worship of our fellow citizens be in peace alongside our mosques,” said Rais al-Ulama Kavazović.

The Mufti of Sarajevo, Prof. Dr. Nedžad Grabus, who led the first Friday prayer in the newly built mosque, stated during the ceremony that the mosque and the waqf complex have given new value to Olovo, and that they have become the best symbol of unity and vision of honorable, virtuous, hardworking, patriotic, and brave people.

“Mosques are built by believers who testify to God's oneness and sincerely perform worship, believe in a new life after resurrection from the grave, observe prescribed prayers, fulfill the obligation of zakat, and constantly stand guard on the ramparts of honor and pride. Builders are all people who build other Temples of God. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a unique space on Earth; mosques, churches, and synagogues have been built throughout this land,” said Mufti Grabus.

The representative of Diyanet, Džebrail Kulu, stated that this mosque testifies to construction in the name of brotherhood, with the aim of providing a space for prayer, which is the foundation of Islamic civilization.

“It is an important indicator of sacred values such as faith, tolerance, the culture of living together, peace, and tranquility. As inheritors of these values, we must show the necessary sensitivity in fulfilling our obligations and make efforts in that direction,” said Kulu.

The attaché for religious affairs of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Guvenc, emphasized that mosques are symbols of civilization and the heart of cities.

“In this context, the construction of such a mosque in the center of Olovo, in the very heart of this town, makes it extremely significant. I would like to thank everyone who worked diligently, supported, and made efforts in the construction of this mosque, which was largely built with the support and donations of your brothers in Turkey, and I pray to Almighty God to reward them abundantly for it,” Guvenc emphasized.

The Government of Zenica-Doboj Canton provided part of the funds for the construction of the mosque, and the Minister of Culture of this canton, Mirza Mušija, expressed words of support and the wish for the mosque to be a place of upbringing and education for new generations.

“Thank you to the leaders of the Islamic Community and thank you to all the waqifs who contributed to the completion of the construction. Thank you to our brothers from Kirsehir for leaving their mark in Olovo, but also a mark in our hearts,” said Mušija.

As part of the protocol, Rais al-Ulama Kavazović presented a waqf document to the Mayor of Olovo Municipality, who endowed a house for the needs of the mosque complex.

“It is a special honor for me that we were able to host so many people from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina today. Your behavior shows how much today's event means to you. I am glad that you can see that Olovo is a beautiful place. Thank you for being with us today, and I wish you a pleasant stay,” said Mayor Džemal Memagić.

The Ahi Evran Veli Kirsehir Mosque is the first mosque built in the Olovo bazaar. It will be a space for organizing religious life and gatherings of believers from this region.

“This mosque stands as a reward for our town, thanks to the blood of martyrs, the struggle of the members of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina who defended their town and remained in this area. Likewise, I want to say that the people of Olovo have always been builders and guardians of God's houses. While they were destroying everything Bosniak, bombarding our town and our villages mercilessly, both the Catholic and Orthodox churches were preserved here,” stated Efendija Pepić.

The large number of arriving believers testifies to the importance of today's date in their lives, as well as the significance this mosque will have in their daily lives, whether they are residents of Olovo or passers-through.

“We see many people here today, and that makes us extremely happy. We are proud to be able to host our guests and to show the newly built mosque. And what makes us especially happy is that we will be able to visit the mosque daily,” said community member Mustafa Hasanspahić.

Today's event also brought together numerous residents of Olovo whose current place of residence is elsewhere. One of them is Ševala Čučuković, who currently lives in Ilijaš.

“I hope that the scene in this mosque will be like in others I visit. Wherever I go to a mosque, I see a lot of young people. It is truly nice to see them, so I want to praise them. I believe that there will be many young people in this mosque every day,” says Ševala.

A prayer was recited by the Deputy Rais al-Ulama, Prof. Dr. Enes-ef. Ljevaković, and the ceremonial opening was preceded by the promotion of the Chronology of Mosque Construction, an Evening of the Quran, and an Evening of Nasheeds.