ISLAM AND MUSLIM IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA;

AN ANALYTICAL STUDY ON THE LIFE OF ALIJA

IZETBEGOVIC AND HIS WORKS

To:

U. ALI MUSLIYAR

MUHAMMED AHSAN UT

REF. NO: 14222

DEPARTMENT OF DA‟WA AND COMPARATIVE RELIGION

DARUL HUDA ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY, CHEMMAD
 INTRODUCTION
The great country of Yugoslavia, after the decline of USSR, divided into six provinces of

Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosnia or BiH), Montenegro and Serbia

with the two autonomous provinces within Serbia, Kosovo and Vojvodina. The existed tribes

entered the Balkan provinces and they split up into several Christian sects, when the Serbs in the

southern and eastern areas became Orthodox Christian, while South Slavs in the northern areas,

the Croats and Slovenes, became Catholic.

The arrival of Islam in Bosnia and Herzegovina is due to the Ottoman Empire conquest in there,

the official year of the arrival of Islam is often taken to be around 1463, the year the Ottoman

Sultan Muhammad Fatih the Conqueror entered Bosnia. Before the arrival of Islam the

inhabitants of Bosnia were followers of the forced catholic Christianity. But there is a discourse

of Islam compelled Bosnians to convert into Islam. Reality is after the conquest in 1463, a

considerable number of Christian inhabitants, peasants and lesser nobility adopted Islam. Many

of them belonged to a Christian sect called the Bogmils, who after being expelled from Bosnia,

Bulgaria and other Balkan countries settles down in Bosnia where they formed a new kind of

national church.

The Bosnian kingdom was in trouble by both Rome and Hungary, due to this the Bogmils

religion became an expression of Bosnian independence. After ottoman victory there most of

them accepted Islam without any force. On the other side this helped them for their political

situation. From 1463 until 1878 Bosnia had been a province (vilayet) of Ottoman Empire. Until
the 1990 the BiH was under the communist government of Yugoslavia, which was under

communist Russia.

In this research I want to study the legendary life of Alija Izetbegovic, who was the torch bearer

of Bosnian people. Both of his political and intellectual life has drafted new shape of bosnia and

the religious among the worldwide people. He led them into the independence starting his

political interacts from his educational life. After being a fame of the mainstream of Bosnian

politics he strengthened his steps through the Bosnian Muslim party of democratic action

(stranka demokratske ackcije, SDA). With the collapse of the communist government in 1990 he

called for an independent, secular and multi-national Bosnian state.

As an independent leader of Bosnian people he was a lifelong opponent of communism, for his

Islamic convictions he has imprisoned in 1946-48 and 1983-88 by the totalitarian regime of

Yugoslavia. Under his leadership the Muslim party of democratic action won the election. After

winning he led his republic toward independence that was supported by the west but not by the

Serbs who made up roughly one-third of the prewar population.

Alija Izetbegovic, the politician, activist, lawyer, author and philosopher, was born on 8 august

1925 to Mustafa and Hiba Izetbegovic in Bosanko sumac. His family was a distinguished family

descended from a former aristocrat family of Izet-bey Jahic from Belgrade who moved to Bosnia

in 1986, following the last withdrawal of ottoman troop from Serbia. During the world war II

Begovic joined an Islamic organization called the ―young Muslims‖. When it became torn

between supporting the largely Muslim the communist Yugoslav partisans or Waffen-ss

Handshar division, Begovic decided to support the Handshar.

As a philosopher and politician he was a charismatic leader among the east and west countries.

His different concept on religion viewed a new method of religious harmony whenever his

ideologies have reached. His first book he wrote in 1970 and published in 1983, entitled the

Islamic declaration as a manifesto expressing his views on relationships between Islam, state and

society. In it he tried to reconcile western-style progress with Islamic tradition and also a call for

―Islamic renewal‖.

His major work Islam between east and west, published in 1980, wasn‘t a book of theology but it

was an attempt to define the place of Islam in the general spectrum of ideas. The book argues

Islam is more than a religion and it is in fact not just a religion but way and view of life, and is

vastly superior to all intellectual and spiritual alternatives including philosophical, religious,

ethical and political ones.

Inescapable questions; autobiographical notes and the Notes from prison, which he wrote when

he was in Foca prison during 1983-1988, are his other valuable works. He died in October 2003

of heart disease complicated by injuries suffered from a fall at home.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

The history of Muslims in Bosnia and Herzegovina is more complicated with the adding of

western historians as they tried to hide the real history of Muslims there. Especially, they tried to

remove Alija Izetbegovic from the Bosnian political history. But he has a valuable role in the

peaceful condition of Bosnia. His contribution has helped him for create such that condition

influencing bosniacs and other community there.

But the researchers of Bosnian history forgot to give a major role for Alija Izetbegovic. The

researches are focused on the history of Bosnia and Herzegovina giving a short biography of

Begovic. And all works concentrated on the Begovic is on his political interactions.

Therefore, in this research ‗Islam and Muslim in Bosnia and Herzegovina; an analytical study on

the life of Alija Izetbegovic and work to reveal the real history of bosniacs and the role of Alija

and his work‘ the researcher want to focus on the intellectual life of Begovic with regarding his

political life, which has influenced for more reforms among the muslims and other political

leaders in the world. Also it will contain his religious and philosophical ideologies.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

This study really searches answers to some questions mentioned below.

1. How was the social and religious life of Muslims in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

2. How was the life of Alija Izetbegovic and his influence in Bosnian politics?

3. What is the religious and political views and contribution of Alija Izetbegovic?

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

1. To analyze the social and religious life of Muslims in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

2. To study the life of Alija Izetbegovic and his influence in Bosnian politics.

3. To elaborate the religious and political views and contribution of Alija Izetbegovic.
SCOPE OF RESEARCH

The study is confined a relevant study on the Islam and Muslims in Bosnia and Herzegovina; the

life Alija Izetbegovic and the influence of his works. The research will contain the religious,

cultural, political condition of Muslims in BiH. But there will not a deep study on it. And the

study includes the situation of Muslims in BiH under the communist regime and after it under the

leadership of Begovic.

However, the researcher gives more focus on the complete intellectual and political life of

Begovic as it is the main content of the research. As a part of his intellectual life the study will

review his famous four works of Islamic declaration, Islam between east and west, Notes from

prison and Inescapable questions; an autobiographical notes and other articles and interviews.

SIGNIFICANCE OF RESEARCH

Alija Izetbegovic deserves an important role in Bosnian history. Thus, this study deserves

significance in finding out the diplomatic life of Alija Izetbegovic with the explanation of

political Muslim history in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This study will highlight that Begovic is an ever seen intellectual and political leader, who led

his muslim community through the religious culture and protected them from all external

powers. Also this will deserves he is one of the prominent muslim scholars whom gained the

complete influence from west and east.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

The researcher has come across books and many other research papers related to the topic history

Muslims in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the life of Alija Izetbegovic and worldwide acceptance

of his work. But the works focused on the political and religious life of Alija Izetbegovic and his

valuable views cannot be finding more. And there is no authenticable academic works on

religious and philosophical contribution in muslim world.

„Islam in Europe; diversity, identity and influence‟ 1 edited by Aziz Al-azmeh and Effie

Fokas. This text is exerpt from a research project based at the Hellenic Foundation for European

and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP), entitled ‗Forum for the Interdisciplinary Study of Christian–

Muslim Relations in twenty-first Century Europe‘. It discuss the development of Christian–

Muslim relations as we know them and on prospects for the future of Islam in Europe.From this

the article of Xavier Bougarel focusing on Bosnian Islam is the article related to this research.

Here he addresses the ‗rediscovery‘ of an ancient and autochthonous Muslim presence in the

Balkans following the Yugoslav wars and the efforts of Bosnian Muslims, within this context, to

present Bosnian Islam as an archetypical ‗European Islam‘. But in this article author fail to

describe the historical status of islam and muslim in bosnia.

A Leader despite Himself? An Analysis of the statesmanship of Alija Izetbegovic, 1990-

20002 written by Jason Edward Carson. This thesis analyzes Izetbegović‘s actions during that
turbulent time. In this author argue that Alija Izetbegović was a flawed political leader, who
because of reasons of temperament and religious belief was unable to successfully confront the
many challenges that were presented to him. Also he analyzes that Izetbegović must be judged

1
Published in the United States of America by Cambridge University Press, New York, 2007
2
University of Missouri, St. Louis, 24 April 2009
in light of the remarkably difficult situation he was in, when his choices were often limited and
when he faced circumstances which were often beyond his control. This thesis is more connected
one to this research thesis about Begovic.

„Islamic Revival in Post-Socialist Bosnia and Herzegovina: International Actors and

Activities‟3 written by Harun Karcic. This article aims to the foreign factors that have been

active since Bosnia- Herzegovina‘s independence in 1992 and how they gained supporters and

followers throughout the country in this post socialist ―battle for souls‖. It will examine the role

of early Islamic humanitarian and charity organizations that were active during the most difficult

period of war and also some that have continued functioning even after the war. It has look

specifically at the role of Iran, Saudi Arabia and Turkey and attempt to deduce a pattern of their

activism by looking at the effects of their work. As the title intend the article focus on the revival

of Muslim community in there in special importance for the external help in wartime.

„Alija Izetbegovic and war in Bosnia and Herzegovina‟4 written by Drazen Pehar. The book

attempts to explain the origins and beginnings of the armed conflict in Bosnia- Herzegovina,

Alija Izetbegović, the leader of Muslim- Bosniacs, when compared to the leading representatives

of the Croat and Serb peoples during the relevant period, should be considered as at least equally

responsible. This also offers a detailed analysis of Izetbegović‘s key, strategic political beliefs in

light of which his preference for violent means of ‗resolution‘ of political conflicts. Author

interested only to study the political beliefs and interactions of Begovic and there is an essential

part of intellectual life which made him the world scholar. When the author focuses on the

3
Publisher Routledge, Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales. Online publication date:
25 December 2010
4
HKD NAPRE DAK, Glavna podružnica Mostar, 2011
political part this make Begovic only a charismatic political leader instead of intellectual and

philosopher.

Islam In “Islam between East and West”5 written by Enes Karic is a complete study on the

greatest work of Alija Izetbegovic. In this journal paper author define how islam in this work

seen as political and social theory. Also this article analyzes the western and eastern portrayal of

Begovic in this book. Above all this the book has other intellectual face of Begovic. This is his

masterpiece work as he has defined in this the bridge between east muslim world and

islamophobic Europe and the philosophical thoughts to strengthen it. The author didn‘t see it.

„Alija Izetbegovic; kizhakkan yuroppinte muslim dhishana‟6 an article written by Hishamul

Wahab in SHABAB weekly is only an article which give the overall view about the life of

Begovic. In this article author tries to give a short portrait of Begovic without any deep research

on his legendary life.

However, even there are some many studies and works related to the bosniacs and Alija

Izetbegovic the accurate and relevant works which contain the complete history of Begovic is not

revealed. Most of the published works focused any part of Begovic‘s life. But this thesis

concentrate to collect all part of his life.

5
Journal of intercultural and religious studies, 2013
6
Shabab weekly, 30 august 2019
METHEDOLOGY

In this study the researcher use the descriptive method of research on the history Islam and the of

muslims in bosnia and Herzegovina and also the political life of Begovic on the basics of library

materials including books and other journals, thesis articles and websites.

The researcher also use the analytical method of research in the case of intellectual and

philosophical life of Begovic through the books, articles and interviews by himself and other

related study on his works.

TENTATIVE CHAPTERS

CHAPTER ONE

ISLAM IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

1 History of communist Yugoslavia

1.1 Political division

1.2 Arrival of the religion Islam

1.3 Independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina

1.3.1 World War II

1.3.2 Collapse of communist regime

1.3.3 Islamic declaration

1.4 Internal conflicts

1.4.1 Serbs

1.4.2 Croats

1.4.3 Srebrenica genocide

1.4.4 Dayton agreement

CHAPTER TWO

THE LEGENDARY LIFE OF ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC

2.1 Birth

2.2 Education

2.3 Marriage

2.4 Political life

2.4.1 Connection with political parties

2.4.2 President of BiH

2.4.3 Relation with personalities

2.4.4 Imprisonment

2.4.5 The leader

2.5 Intellectual life

2.5.1 Ideologies

2.5.2 Works

2.6 Demise

CHAPTER THREE

INFLUENCE OF LITERARY WORKS

3.1 Islamic declaration

3.2 Islam between east and west

3.3 Inescapable questions; an autobiographical note

3.4 Note from prison

BIBLIOGRAPHY

CAN, MEHMET. MUSLIM BOSNIA AFTER OTTOMAN PERIOD. HRANSINKA CESTA 15: INTERNATIONAL
UNIVERSITY OF SERAJEVO, MAY, 2001.

CARSON, JASON EDWARD. A LEADER DISPITE HIMSELF? AN ANALYSIS OF THE STATESMANSHIP OF ALIJA

IZETBEGOVIC, 1990-2000. UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-ST. LOUIS, n.d.

FOKAS, AZIZ AL-AZMEH AND. ISLAM IN EUROPE; DIVERSITY, IDENTITY, INFLUENCE. NEW YORK: CAMBRIDGE

UNIVERSITY PRESS, 2007.

IZETBEGOVIC, ALIJA. ISLAM BETWEEN EAST AND WEST. AMERICAN TRUST PUBLICATION, 1985.

—. ISLAMIC DECLARATION. GREENWOOD PRESS, 2001.

—. NOTES FROM PRISON(1983-1988). 2001.

KARCIC, HARUN. ISLAMIC REVIVAL IN POST-SOCIALIST BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA; INTERNATIONAL ACTORS

AND ACTIVITIES. ONINE PUBLICATION, 25, DECEMBER, 2010.

MALCOLM, NOEL. BOSNIA A SHORT HISTORY. 1996.

PEHAR, DRAZEN. ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC AND WAR IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA. HKD NAPRE DAK: MOSTAR,

2011.

ENES, KAIC. ISLAM IN ISLAM BETWEEN EAST AND WEST. JOURNAL OF INTERCULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS
STUDIES. 2013.

https://www.worldbulletin.net/personage/alija-izetbegovic-the-soul-of-the-bosnian-resistance-
h178851.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/20/world/alija-izetbegovic-muslim-who-led-bosnia-dies-at-78.html

http://www.angelfire.com/dc/mbooks/inescapable-questions.html

https://www.muzejalijaizetbegovic.ba/en/bih

www.akifemre.com/interview-with-alija-izetbegovic/