By Meša Bismilâhir-rahmanir-rahim! This story begins with the opening line of each of suras, like the book Death and the Dervish, and will tell you a tale of one of the most important books ever written in Bosnian. It is a confession of Meša Selimović, a writer from the city of Tuzla, Bosnia & Herzegovina,…
Category: The Balkans
The Dawns of Allah’s Mercy
By Lamija O Ramadan Don’t be in a rush to leave, for sins are heavy and hearts are ill Allow me to host you as you deserve. unknown Ehlen ve sehlen, ya sehri Ramadan are the words you can see on almost every mosque in Bosnia&Herzegovina when the month of Ramadan comes. Our most beloved…
A Story of the Aladza
By Meša After long 27 years, one of the most interesting and unique mosques of Bosnia and Herzegovina will finally be revived. Turbulent historical story, architecture and Islamic art describe this sacral object of unutterable significance for every good person who values art, creativity and differences. This is a story of a mosque, people and…
Ferhadija Fairytale
By Lamija I raise this glorious Oratory in the name of AllahBenefactor Ferhad – Bey, the helper of the believersWith a thirsty sword he engraved in marble his heroic nameWith the war intake, that good man raised the endowment Sipahi, when arrived to the building, told it the chronogram: In the name of Allah, this…
Albanians and Islam: An Introduction
By Jetim The iterations and contexts in which Islam is found around the world are countless. One such iteration that has not often captured the hegemonic eye is Islam in the Balkan Peninsula. Though this changed for a time in the wars emanating from the breakup of Yugoslavia, this region has usually remained under-represented and…
Sarajevo: Where the East Meets the West
By Lamija Every story about Sarajevo is a story about love and romance, about sacrifice and sorrow, about heartache and despair, about anguish and joy, about loss and gain, about the past and the future. And who tells the stories better than the writers? Something that Bosnia and Herzegovina does not lack is writers. In…
