Opijač's Tekke and Hadži Balina Mosque in Mostar Opened with Ceremony

(Patria) - With the presence of numerous dignitaries from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Turkey, as well as a large number of believers, the ceremonial opening of Opijač's Tekke and Hadži Balina Mosque took place today in Mostar – two vakufs (religious endowments) from the 17th century that represent the pillar of Muslim spiritual presence in eastern Herzegovina.

The opening was held as part of the 13th "Vakuf Days 2025" event, organized by the Vakuf Directorate of the Islamic Community in BiH.

The ceremonial event was attended by the Deputy Reis-ul-ulema of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dr. Enes Ljevaković, the President of the Sabor of the Islamic Community in BiH, Edhem Bičakčić, the Consul General of the Republic of Turkey in Mostar, the General Director of the General Directorate of Endowments of the Republic of Turkey, Sinan Aksu, the Director of the Vakuf Directorate of the Islamic Community in BiH, Senaid ef. Zajimović, the Mufti of Mostar, Salem ef. Dedović, the President of the Tarikat Center in BiH, Prof. Dr. Ćazim Hadžimejlić, representatives of Turkish institutions in BiH, imams, and several hundred citizens from various cities across BiH.



A religious program and the singing of ilahijas (religious songs) were performed by the choir of MIZ Mostar, and a prayer (dua) was recited by Dino ef. Maksumić, the chief imam of the Medžlis of the Islamic Community (MIZ) Mostar.

Dr. Enes Ljevaković thanked friends and brothers from Turkey for the restoration of the tekke and mosque, as well as everyone who participated and contributed to the realization of these two significant projects.

- Reviving something good that had faded is an extremely great and important thing. The revival of good should always be met with joy and enthusiasm, while the revival of evil should always be condemned and, if possible, stopped. We, the current generation of Bosniaks, have proven to be very agile in this, we have restored and revived numerous institutions and establishments whose lives were mostly violently cut short and which were extinguished. We are proud of that – said Ljakavković.

He added that in a de-spiritualized world, tekkes represent an oasis of spirituality, peace, love, and goodness.

- We hope that with their spiritual character and educational work, they will continue to protect the multi-ethnic and multi-confessional fabric of this area and stand as guardians of true values, coexistence, and unity against contemporary and future assaults and proponents of segregation and division – stated Ljevaković.

He emphasized that the opened Hadži Balina Mosque in Mostar is one of the symbols and origins of our identity, but also one of the many sacred monuments of Islamic culture and civilization that were destroyed and devastated during the socialist regime.

- We remind that all regimes in these regions that wronged vakufs in the past have met an inglorious end and historical downfall. I have no doubt that this principle applies today and will apply in the future. It is only a matter of time, sooner or later – said Ljevaković.

The Director of the Vakuf Directorate, Senaid Zajimović, in his address, highlighted the immense significance of the restored buildings, emphasizing that they are not just structures, but spaces of identity, memory, and shared responsibility. He underlined that they represent a message of survival, dignity, and faith that does not disappear, even when attempts are made to erase it.

– We stand in a place where history and spirituality breathe together again. By restoring Opijač's Tekke, the oldest Sufi building in Mostar, we are bringing back to life a forgotten but indelible tradition. This is not just an architectural reconstruction, but also a moral renewal, a spiritual return to the introspective tradition, dialogue, patience, and the building of a person through knowledge, remembrance (zikr), and the presence of the sacred. Opijač's Tekke stands today as a sign of resistance to oblivion and a message of spiritual survival. Mostar does not forget. Bosnia does not forget. A people that does not forget – survives – said Zajimović.

He added that the restoration of Hadži Balina Mosque, founded in 1612, goes beyond mere restoration of a building – it testifies to the return of justice and spiritual continuity.

– This mosque is not just a place for prayer and other religious activities, but also a historical sign of the presence of Muslims in this city. It is a symbol of perseverance, steadfastness, and faith, even when it was violently demolished in 1950, despite being completely preserved. At that time, demolition was done with the intention of erasing traces, of silencing voices. Today, we are restoring that voice. By restoring this mosque, we are restoring the right to remember – said Zajimović, who thanked the General Directorate of Endowments of the Republic of Turkey for the help and cooperation they have been providing for years in BiH.

The General Director of the General Directorate of Endowments of the Republic of Turkey, Sinan Aksu, reminded that the peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Turkey are heirs to a common history and civilization.

- We are bringing back to life the tekke of Sheikh Opijač, which for centuries was a home of knowledge, wisdom, and love in this beautiful and respected country. As the General Directorate of Endowments of the Republic of Turkey, our goal is not only to protect real estate but also to revive and build it in accordance with all the meanings it contains, which signify the spirit, identity, and uniqueness of the geography to which it belongs. BiH is not just a friendly country with which we have good relations; this region connects us heart-to-heart through the deep traces of our common history, culture, and faith – stated Aksu.

He also added that the restoration of Hadži Balina Mosque, which is one of the recognizable ones in the region, is of great importance.

- We have restored and rebuilt this mosque which had been demolished for years, and we are happy and proud of it. Hadži Balina Mosque will continue to contribute to the spirituality of Mostar with the call to prayer that will rise from its minaret where it was forcibly silenced – said Aksu.

The Mufti of Mostar, Salem ef. Dedović, reflecting on the entire restoration process, emphasized that these two buildings bear witness to centuries of goodness that lives on today, and that with their restoration, Mostar gains a new appearance, face, and adornment.

- We are happy to belong to a generation that is returning its ancient spiritual centers to the city of Mostar. Opijač's Tekke, returned to Mostar's spiritual panorama after a long time, will be a place of meeting and cooperation. The vakuf heritage in this region should continue to be elevated; it speaks of our past, our rootedness in this space, but also of how vakufs have enriched various segments of spirituality, culture, and civilization – stated Mufti Dedović, who, in addition to thanking the General Directorate of Endowments of the Republic of Turkey, especially thanked the Vakuf Directorate of the Islamic Community in BiH, who, as he said, "recognized the importance of Mostar and Herzegovina and were a 'wind at our backs in the complex process of establishing new vakufs, as well as in the thorny and difficult struggle for the revitalization of old vakufs and the return of alienated and usurped properties to the Islamic Community".
The Mufti pointed out the importance of the restored Hadži Balina Mosque, stating that it is a testament to the indestructibility of vakufs.

- After 75 years, this house of God rises with the nobility and goodness of our sincere friends, the General Directorate of Endowments of the Republic of Turkey, thus extending the life of Hadži Balina's vakuf – said Mufti Dedović.

Incidentally, at the request of the Muftiship of Mostar and the Medžlis of IZ Mostar, the Vakuf Directorate of the Islamic Community in BiH, through partners from the General Directorate of Endowments of the Republic of Turkey, secured funds for the restoration, which cost around 5.5 million KM. The ceremony of laying the foundation stone for the restoration of Hadži Balina Mosque and Opijač's Tekke was held as part of the "Vakuf Days 2022" event.

Opijač's Tekke covers an area of 350 square meters. During the reconstruction, all key elements of the building were restored: the kitchen (mutvak), hallway, semahana for performing prayers and zikr, tomb (turbe), mihrab, galleries, and male and female ablution areas. Hadži Balina Mosque, built before 1612, is one of the many that were demolished during the socialist regime.

Within the protocol, speeches were also given by Ćazim Hadžimejlić, president of the Tarikat Center, and Džafer Alić, president of MIZ Mostar. On that occasion, they particularly emphasized the significance of these buildings, not only for Mostar and the Islamic Community but for the entire Bosnia and Herzegovina.