The Islamic Community (IZ) in Bosnia and Herzegovina celebrates today, the second day of Eid al-Fitr, as Martyrs’ Day, and today the 19th collective funeral for the victims of the past aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina from the area of Vlasenica will be held, reports Anadolia.
On the occasion of Martyrs’ Day and Martyrs’ Funeral in Vlasenica, mufti of Tuzla Vahid ef spoke for the MINA Agency. Fazlović.
“The term Ash-Shaheed is one of Allah’s beautiful names, with the meaning that He bears witness to everything, that is, He knows everything and nothing is hidden from Him. It is said about this in the Qur’an: ‘And they were enlightened only because they are in Believe in Allah, the Mighty and Praiseworthy, whose authority is in the heavens and on earth – and Allah is a witness (martyr) to everything.” In the Arabic language, the word martyr means a person who is present, who bears witness, who knows something and who does not. hidden. The term martyr in the terminology of Islamic jurists means a Muslim who died in a legitimate fight against the enemy, defending Islam and Muslims and their values, doing so sincerely, for the sake of the pleasure of Almighty Allah,” explained Fazlović.
He stated that the term martyr and its plural shuheda’ is mentioned several times in Quranic verses and hadiths, in different contexts, and mostly in the mentioned linguistic meaning, which in different forms and circumstances indicates witnessing and presence.
“In the context of fighting in the way of Allah, the word martyrs is mentioned in the following Qur’anic verse: ‘Those who believe in Allah and His messengers will have in their Lord the rank of righteous and martyrs (martyrs) and will receive a reward like them and light like them; and those who do not believe and deny Our proofs will be the dwellers in the fire,” said the mufti.
He emphasized that a person with the status of a martyr in Islam occupies a high and honorable place.
“Due to his willingness to willingly and without coercion sacrifice his own life for the sake of Allah Almighty, defending the lives of the innocent, his and their faith, freedom and honor, according to Islamic teachings, the martyr is given special values and rewards. Since the martyr was ready to way, in the name of God Almighty, he gives up his life in this world, for his righteous struggle and sacrifice, a high and lasting reward will await him in the Hereafter. In Islam, he is given the special name of martyr, which is one of the names of Allah, may God bless him and grant him peace, and it is forbidden to consider and describe the martyrs as dead: ‘And do not say of those who died in the way of Allah: ‘They are dead!’ No, they are alive, but you don’t know it,'” said Fazlović, recalling that Allah’s prophet Muhammed wished to leave this world as a martyr.
Due to the special reverence given to martyrs in the sources of Islam, in the traditions of Muslim nations, this category of people was given special respect, Fazlović pointed out.
“And in the memory of Bosniaks, the sacrifice that the martyrs endured during the past centuries is deeply engraved, embedding themselves in the foundations of the state and its survival. That great sacrifice was invested in the struggle of unspeakable proportions for the survival of our people in these areas, during the dark times of persecution and attempts of our removal from the wider Balkan area. In the tradition of our people, the martyrs are seen as a pledge and guarantee of our survival due to the greatness and sanctity of their sacrifice and the blood with which our homeland was soaked. Therefore, the Muslims of Bosnia and Herzegovina developed a culture of commemoration of their unique role, at the same time strengthening their own self-confidence,” emphasized Fazlović.
He reminded that many martyrs gave their lives in defense against the aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina and the genocide against the Muslim Bosniaks.
“New martyrs have sprung up all over this country. Each of these martyrs’ cemeteries is forever a witness to the struggle of our people for survival in freedom and dignity. They are signposts and messages to new generations about the necessity of preserving one’s own homeland, with the aspiration that all people live in it in freedom, peace and security”, underlined the mufti of Tuzla.
Fazlović reflected on whether today talking about the martyrs and their significance is inseparable from the meaning and significance of the homeland and whether we should look for a constant incentive to fight for the homeland in their sacrifice.
“The homeland of Bosnia and Herzegovina is soaked in the blood of the martyrs, their pledge is in its foundations. The role and example of the martyrs are a message to the people of every age: one gives and gifts to the homeland, not just taking from it; one owes a lot to the homeland and the country, and the homeland nothing it does not owe to the people. It is necessary to change the wrong ideas and understandings of the homeland, because it is the people – its inhabitants – who shape and organize it, organizing a dignified life in it and tracing the path of prosperity for everyone, without differences on any basis,” said the mufti.
He emphasized that the memory of the martyrs should “weave into our consciousness a feeling of inseparable belonging and loyalty to Bosnia and Herzegovina, as our promised land”.
“It should not be sought elsewhere, neither in the East nor in the West; we are born in it, we identify with it and we belong to it. From the feeling of inseparable belonging and loyalty to the motherland comes work for its well-being, which we find in the well-being of all its people. achieves with a responsible and committed attitude towards the life roles and tasks of all the sons and daughters of our nation. It is precisely with such an attitude towards legacies, based on the awareness of the greatness of the sacrifice of the best of us, that our own homeland should be built and developed with pride and determination,” he said, between among others, mufti Fazlović.
Given that Martyrs’ Day is celebrated on the second day of Eid al-Fitr, the mufti pointed out the message of remembering martyrs in moments of joy.
“The message from the source of our faith, which clearly speaks about the values of the martyrs, noting that they are alive even though we do not feel it, orders us to celebrate the Martyrs’ Day even in the time of Eid joy. The fact that we celebrate the Martyrs’ Day on the second day of Ramadan Eid further illuminates and emphasizes the greatness of their sacrifices and the need to keep that deposit in the minds of Bosniaks. This is why, among other things, we remember the martyrs in the days of joy, because by the will of the Almighty and their efforts and sacrifices, we have the opportunity to celebrate Eid and to be who we are in our homeland. All the people of our country, with all their differences, have this kind of freedom and opportunities for a dignified life, which is the result of the fight against evil and inhumanity, led by the other champions of resistance in Bosnia and Herzegovina – the Bosnian martyrs,” emphasized the Mufti of Tuzla. .
This year, Eid joy is mixed with sadness and the memory of the victims of the crimes committed in Vlasenica. As the mufti emphasized, “the martyr’s funerals that we have been holding every April for a long time in Vlasenica are our collective vow that we will persevere to find every murdered Bosniak and to punish every criminal”.
“We will come to the martyr’s cemetery in Vlasenica, as well as to all our other martyrdoms, permanently, God willing. In our faith and piety, we will witness the noble sacrifice of the martyrs and strengthen awareness of the values for which they gave their lives. Thousands of Bosniaks, among many of whom were children, were killed during the aggression in Vlasenica. A grave crime was committed against them, which must be fully investigated. It is the duty of all of us, both institutions and individuals, to resolutely demand punishment for the large-scale crimes that were planned and committed against to the Bosniaks of Vlasenica. We will persevere on that path of truth and justice, together with the families of the martyrs. And we will persevere in our support for the Bosniaks who live in their town today. Together, we will oppose all forms of pressure on the Bosniaks of Vlasenica that are still carried out by the local authorities The martyrs of Vlasenica and their relatives oblige us to do so. It is the duty of all of us to firmly stand by the Bosniaks of Vlasenica, who with dignity and courage protect their homeland and fight for their inviolable rights,” said Mufti of Tuzla, Vahid ef. Fazlović.
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