ISLAMSKA TRADICIJA BOŠNJAKA KAO PRIMJER MEĐURELIGIJSKE TOLERANCIJE I SUŽIVOTA
ISLAMIC TRADITION OF BOSNIAKS AS AN EXAMPLE OF INTERRELIGIOUS TOLERANCE AND COEXISTENCE

Summary/Abstract: Ever since the advent of Islam in these areas Bosniak Muslims have been members of the main stream of Islam (ar. Ehlus- sunne ve-l-jama, bos. Ehli-sunna) and when it comes to religious partial fiikh (ritual) matters they have followed one of the oldest mezhep (law schools) that originated in Islam, the hanefi mezhep. Thus, for almost six centuries, Bosniaks, as indigenous European Muslims, have had their own religious tradition, which, despite going through different, often very difficult stages (wars, exile, occupation, dictatorial regimes, isolation from the Muslim world, etc.), has managed to maintain a high degree of originality and foundation in the primary sources of Islam, the Qur'an, and the Sunnah (practice) of the Prophet Muhammad, a.s. The Islamic tradition of Bosniaks is, in fact, considerable experience accumulating over a long period of time which helps the Muslims of this region to survive and preserve their religious identity despite the harsh environment and all kinds of hardship they have been exposed to. Bosniaks, as indigenous European Muslims, have one advantage over other Muslim nations: they do not view modern civilization from the side, or from afar, but live in its very center and feel fully its impulses and its nature. This means that they feel its strengths and weaknesses, but also their needs better than others. At the same time, they inherit Islam, preserve and nurture it as a treasure and study it with love and loyalty in their hearts. They have never departed from its mainstream practice, turned it into a sect, or ideologized it.

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