Islamic Studies: Challenges and the Future

Author(s): Ataullah Siddiqui / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2019

This paper seeks to contribute to an understanding of the challenges and the future of Islamic Studies in the contemporary European countries. The paper begins with a brief explanation of the ‘Islamic Studies’ and ‘Islamic Sciences’ terms development. Also, it is discussing the challenges and the future of educational institutions in Western Europe in terms of the process of transmitting the knowledge and its recognition within the legal systems of European countries. Finally, the paper encourages the actors of higher Islamic education in Europe to create a new language of research and learning trough the dialogue of different epistemologies and to offer a new definition of Islamic studies that will reflect the congruence with the contemporary trends.

Constructing the Internal Enemy: A Discourse Analysis of the Representation of Islam and Muslims in Bosnian Media

Author(s): Harun Karčić / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2019

This paper analyses five major Bosnian daily newspapers over a period spanning from August 1st, 2018 until August 2019 ,31 and attempts to discern the main patterns in the discourse over Muslims and Islam in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The results of this research show three major discursive patterns when covering Muslims and Islam in the country: Bosnian Muslims as political obstructionists; Bosnia and Herzegovina as a haven for Muslim extremists and finally Muslim migrants as a threat to the country and to Europe.

Official Discourse on Islam and Islamic Discourse in Contemporary Russia

Author(s): Sofya Ragozina / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2019

This paper considers intertextuality between official discourse on Islam and Islamic discourse in contemporary Russia. This divide between discourses transmitted by government agencies and Russian Muslim leaders allows for an analysis of the differences and similarities between them. A major goal of this paper is to identify the origins of these modern discourses on Islam. To this end, it examines analytical parliamentary papers and transcripts of parliamentary meetings, but also expert materials from the Russian media and results of public opinion polls, in order to demonstrate how the idea of ‘fighting Islam’ flows across discourses to become a dominant discourse in the Russian political sphere. Analysis of Russian Muslim leaders’ rhetoric demonstrates close semantic connections with government discourse (not just on Islam), insofar as their rhetoric is full of conceptual metaphors indicating loyalty to the ruling elite.

The Role and Status of Women in the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Author(s): Džermana Šeta,Amela Melkić / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2018

Under its constitution, the official Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina (henceforth the ICBiH) is autonomous in determining its activities and managing its property. It is guaranteed this right, as are the other religious communities and churches in Bosnia and Herzegovina, under the 2004 Law on Freedom of Religion and the Legal Status of the Churches and Religious Communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Under its constitution the ICBiH’s goal is to encourage all its members to live in accordance with Islamic norms, which it pursues by promoting good and discouraging evil. It is concerned with the Islamic upbringing and education of its members and committed to preserving Islamic marital, familial, and social values through an equal commitment by men and women. Under Article 1 of the current Constitution of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina (henceforth the constitution), the ICBiH is the sole and unique community of Muslims in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Sanjak, Croatia, Slovenia, and Serbia, and of Muslim Bosniaks outside their respective homelands and other Muslims who accept it as their own. The constitution cites four basic principles for the organisation of the Muslim community, its institutions, organs, and activities, namely: the Qur’an, practice/the sunnah of Muhammed, a.s., Bosniak Islamic tradition, and the requirements of the time.

Može li islam prihvatiti homoseksualne odnose? Kur’anski revizionizam i slučaj Scotta Kuglea

Author(s): Mobeen Vaid / Language(s): Bosnian Issue: 2/2017

Reformistički autori na Zapadu, a osobito Scott Kugle, doveli su u pitanje islamsku zabranu livata (sodomije) i drugih istospolnih odnosa. Kugleovi radovi „Sexuality, Diversity and Ethics in the Agenda of Progressive Muslims“ (Progressive Muslims: 2003) i Homosexuality in Islam (2010) služe kao obrazovni centar onima koji zagovaraju odobravanje istospolnih odnosa. Kugle ide tragom tumačenja pripovijesti o Lutu sve do et-Taberija (u. 310/923), kojeg su – on tvrdi – kasnije egzegete smatrale teološkim aksiomom, dakle, neupitnim. U ovoj studiji iznosi se tvrdnja da Kugleova kritička i metodološka nedosljednost, pogrešno čitanje i predstavljanje et-Taberijevih i drugih klasičnih djela, kao i anahrono prenošenje modernih kategorija u klasične izvore u potpunosti osporavaju njegove argumente.

Fikret Karčić, Kroz prizmu historije

Author(s): Safet Bandžović / Language(s): Bosnian Issue: 1/2017

Review of: Fikret Karčić, Kroz prizmu historije, Sarajevo: Čentar za napredne studije, 2017.

Martin van Bruinessen i Julia Day Howell (priredili), Sufism and „Modern“ in Islam

Author(s): Azra Medara / Language(s): Bosnian Issue: 2/2016

Review of: Martin van Bruinessen i Julia Day Howell (priredili), Sufism and „Modern“ in Islam, London - NewYork: I. - B. Tauris, 2007

General Characteristics of Islamic Education in Contemporary Russia

Author(s): Elmira Muratova / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2016

This article looks at certain major characteristics of Islamic education in contemporary Russia. It covers such issues as the status of Islamic educational institutions within the Russian legal system, the forms they take and the problems they face in the system, as well as the nature of reforms initiated, with government backing, by the leaders of the Russian Muslim community and the results achieved. The author argues that the development of Islamic education in contemporary Russia has not been without its problems, but has nonetheless achieved significant results, as reflected in both the number and variety of institutions involved. The reforms aim to convert quantity into quality and raise the standard of teaching in Russian educational institutions to match that of international centers of excellence in Islamic sciences.

Fait Muedini, Sponsoring sufism – How Goverments Promote „Mystical Islam“ in their Domestic and Foreign Policies

Author(s): Azra Medara / Language(s): Bosnian Issue: 1/2016

Review of: Fait Muedini, Sponsoring sufism – How Goverments Promote „Mystical Islam“ in their Domestic and Foreign Policies, New York: Palgrave Macmillan US, 1. izdanje, 2015.

Islamizacija savremenog znanja i uloga univerziteta u kontekstu devesternizacije i dekolonizacije: pristupna predavanja

Author(s): Wan Mohd Nor Wan Daud / Language(s): Bosnian Issue: 2/2015

Tariq Ramadan, Islam and the Arab Awakening

Author(s): Hamza Preljević / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2015

Review of: Tariq Ramadan, Islam and the Arab Awakening, New York, USA: Oxford University Press, 2012.

Konstrukcija mobilizirajućeg narativa u nasilnim i militantnim skupinama poput ISIL-a

Author(s): Muhamed Jusić / Language(s): Bosnian Issue: 1/2015

This is a study about the narratives developed to mobilise followers of violent groups such as ISIL. The text analyses the main works on which ISIL has based its action strategy. Particular attention is paid to specialised mobilising narratives aimed at recruiting women. Although far from being a comprehensive analysis, nevertheless the present study presents a small introduction to understanding the „mind“ and „logic“ of ISIL’s recruitment of followers. The study shows how Islamic tradition can be abused by taking it out of context of time and historical circumstances in which certain rules appeared in order to justify ideologically motivated action on the basis of earlier historical models.

Iskazivanje vjere na radnom mjestu: presude Evropskog suda za ljudska prava o predstavkama muslimanskih apelanata

Author(s): Nedim Begović / Language(s): Bosnian Issue: 2/2014

This article contains an overview of potential conflicts between manifestation of religion through performing Islamic rituals and contractual obligations in the workplace as well as some diffculties which members of Muslim communities in European countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, face in their endeavour to harmonize religious obligations and duties at the workplace. The focus of article is the analysis of case-law of former European Commission and actual European Court of Human Rights concerning accommodating Islamic worship in the workplace. The Author argues that monitoring bodies of the European Convention on Human Rights hitherto did not provide adequate incentives to country contracting parties to the Convention to accommodate Islamic ritual practice in the workplace. Given this circumstance, the author is of the opinion that the protection of religious expression in the workplace should be provided in the first place by domestic legislation. The opportunity for this he sees in the adoption of appropriate provisions on the protection of the right of Muslims to manifest their religion in the workplace within the contractual regulation of relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Islamic Community.

Pravna zaštita slobode vjere na radnom mjestu u SAD-u

Author(s): Emir Kovačević / Language(s): Bosnian Issue: 2/2014

This work includes legal sources of protection of religious freedom in the workplace in the United States and the most important legal instruments such as “reasonable accommodation” and “undue hardship”. Here are listed religious aspects that are protected by law, as well as authorities and agencies that have jurisdiction to enforce the law. This paper presents practical examples of violations of the right to freedom of religion, such as the wearing of religious clothing, free time for prayer, beards and long hair, religious tattoos as well as examples of religious harassment in the workplace. In the end, the author presents conclusions on the degree of protection of religious freedom in the United States as well as a brief comparative analysis of European jurisprudence and it’s applicability in BiH.

Pravo vojnih lica na slobodu vjere u oružanim snagama Bosne i Hercegovine

Author(s): Nermin Lapandić / Language(s): Bosnian Issue: 2/2014

This paper analyses the laws and by-laws governing the right of persons in professional military service to the freedom of faith in the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in conjunction with Article 9 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and BiH legislation, through the following issues: organisation of religious activities and religious service in the BIH Armed Forces, the right to a diet in accordance with religious needs in the BIH Armed Forces, and the right to a leave of absence during religious holidays. The paper particularly analyses the conditions under which there is a possibility for restricting the right to free manifestation of faith, in the part of a by-law restricting the right of persons in professional military service to have a beard, with the exception of religious offcers in the BiH Armed Forces. The focus is on the legal obligation of the legislator limiting the right to prove the necessity of such a decision so as to prevent autocracy on the part of the authorities. In addition to a comparative overview of the relevant law and case law, the paper discusses in detail some examples of persons having a beard in the armed forces of several NATO members. Furthermore, the final section of the paper investigates the presence of discrimination, first and foremost through the relationship obtaining with regard to military personnel and religious offcers of the same religion and, subsequently, through the issue of equal treatment on the part of the State with regard to prominence of different religious symbols.

Alternativna paradigma

Author(s): Fikret Karčić / Language(s): Bosnian Issue: 2/2014

Review of: Wael B. Hallaq, The Impossible State: Islam, Politics and Modernity’s Moral Predicament (New York: Columbia University Press, 2013)

Kvalitet integriranosti Islamske vjeronauke u školski odgojni kontekst

Author(s): Emina Grabus,Izet Pehlić / Language(s): Bosnian Issue: 1/2014

The aim of this research was to establish the quality of integration of Islamic confessional education in educational context of schools; to diagnose manners and ways for reaching a higher level of quality of integration of Islamic confessional education in the educational context and also to propose measures and steps necessary for reaching higher level of its integration in the context of primary schools. The methods used for this were theoretical analysis and descriptive-analytical survey. The techniques used were attitude surveys of teachers of confessional education and teachers of other subjects with a questionnaire. A questionnaire was designed for the purpose of this research to examine the quality of integration of the subject into the integral educational curriculum of schools. The sample comprised of 104 Islamic confessional teachers and 100 teachers of other subjects in Zenica-Doboj Canton. The results of the research revealed that there is a statistically relevant difference in attitudes of Islamic confessional education teachers and teachers of other subjects. Confessional education teachers, more than other teachers, give more importance to the hidden curriculum, which is an indicator of real integration. They highlight the contribution of their subject to the development of integrated curriculum, point out the importance of framework for development of their subject curriculum as a basis for its integration into the school curriculum. They also establish greater inter-subject correlation with all educational segments; dedicate attention to teamwork and inclusion serving the development of integrated curriculum. They see assessment as a segment of evaluation that contributes to integration of confessional education into school’s curriculum, highlight the contribution of confessional education curriculum to development of pupil’s personality as well as the fact that the textbook for confessional education contributes more to integration of confessional curriculum than other textbooks and course curricula they are based on. Finally confessional education curriculum is largely integrated in primary school curriculum and contributes to integrated school curriculum more than the curricula of other subjects.

Islamic Revival in Bosnia and Herzegovina 1992-2010

Author(s): Harun Karčić / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2014

Although there has been much discussion about the revival of Islam in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the last decade, only a handful of serious academic studies have been done on this topic. Apart from this, there have also been a number of rather misleading analyses and reports written by foreign journalists who have clearly missed out on the major driving force behind the greater visibility of Islam in some parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina and have disproportionately centered their attention most often on Saudi activities in the country. Although the impact of foreign factors is by no means to be neglected, in order to attain an all-encompassing picture of Islam in post-communist Bosnia and Herzegovina, all of the factors need to be accounted for.

Terrorism pictured by Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI

Author(s): Marzena Kuczyńska / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2020

The article presents the reflections of Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI on the phenomenon of terrorism. The understanding of the essence and sources of this phenomenon have been discussed. The author has analysed the teachings of the Pope before he took up the pontificate and during his ministry, focusing on the messages, speeches and pilgrimages. One of the Pope’s key texts was the Regensburg lecture. Proposals for counteracting terrorism in order to build a lasting peace in the world have been presented.

ABDURAHMAN BEDEVI – OŽIVLJENJE ARAPSKE FILOZOFIJE I NJENOG NASLIJEĐA U SAVREMENOSTI

Author(s): Orhan Bajraktarević / Language(s): Bosnian Issue: 85/2021

Abdur-Rahman Badawi is one of the most distinguished philosophers and thinkers of contemporary Arabic and Muslim world. He is a philosopher and a scholar of a novel revival of philosophical heritage of Arabs today, he is also a philosopher and a scholar of an innovative reading and a new interpretation of Arabic-Islamic philosophy which begins with ancient Greece through Islamic and Christian medieval age to contemporary Europe and the modern Arabic world. He left behind a remarkable opus of 120 works in Arabic and French languages comprising of research works in the field of philosophy, comparative philosophies work and fine literature all wielded in the most systematic and precise manner which reflects his learnedness, his life and the age in which he wrote. His works established not a clash of cultures and civilisations, but new relations and fresh mutual understanding between cultures and traditions of the Arabic East and the European West today.