Modern Muslim Thought in the Balkans: The Writings of Mehmed ef. Handžić in the El-Hidaje Periodical in the Context of Discrimination and Genocide

Abstract

The withdrawal of the Ottoman Empire from the Balkans in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries left a significant impact on the population of the region, especially on the Muslims. Muslim intellectual life was strongly influenced by the arrival of a new political and social order and cultural and religious value system. During this period, Balkan Muslims painfully and irreversibly became an administrative part of Europe. The aim of this paper is to examine the main themes which characterized the writings of Bosnian Muslim intellectuals in the post-Ottoman period, particularly on the eve of and during the Second World War. This work examines the writings of Mehmed Handžić, a prominent Bosnian scholar that were published in the El-Hidaje Periodical from 1939 to 1945. The paper brings the scholar's views and commentaries on a variety of topics such as the impoverished Muslim state, the history of Islam and Muslims, and patriotism and nationalism from the Muslim point of view. In most ofHandžić’swritings the focus is on Muslim intellectual responses to the new political and social changes as well as challenges of the ongoing Second World War. However, hiswritings and reflections continue to have far-reaching effects on Bosnian Muslims and remain relevant to the Bosnian Muslim situation at the beginning of the twenty-first century as the world observes the 20th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre in 2015.

Notes

1. Robert J. Donia, Islam Under the Double Eagle: The Muslims of Bosnia and Hercegovina, 1878–1914, Boulder: East European Quarterly, 1981, p. 168.

2. See more in EnesKarić, PrilozizapovijestislamskogmišljenjauBosni i HercegoviniXXstoljeća [Contributions to Twentieth Century Islamic Thought in Bosnia], Sarajevo, El-Kalem, 2004.

3. Donia, Islam under the Double Eagle, op. cit., p. 168.

4. Ibid., pp. 170, 171.

5. Ibid., p. 171.

6. Ibid., p. 190.

7. Mustafa Imamović, Historija Bošnjaka [History of Bosniaks], Sarajevo: Bošnjačka zajednica kulture Preporod, 1998, p. 361.

8. Iljas Hadžibegović and Mustafa Imamović, Bosna i Hercegovina od Najastarijih Vremena do Kraja Drugog Svjetskog Rata [Bosnia and Herzegovina from the Earliest Times to the End of the World War II], Sarajevo: Štab Vrhovne komande oružanih snaga R BiH, 1994, p. 174.

9. Ivo Banac, The National Question in Yugoslavia: Origins, History, Politics, Ithaca: Cornell UP, 1984, p. 368.

10. Ibid., pp. 493, 494.

11. Noel Malcolm, Bosnia: a Short History, London: Macmillan, pp. 170, 171.

12. Croatian extreme nationalist and terrorist movement installed in power in the Independent State of Croatia during the Second World War. Ibid., p. 300.

13. Stavros L. Stavrianos, The Balkans since 1453, New York: Rinehart, 1958. p. 773.

14. Ibid., p. 776.

15. Šaćir Filandra, Bošnjačka politika u XX. Stoljeću [Bosniak Politics in the 20th Century], Sarajevo:Izdavačko preduzeće Sejtarija, 1998, p. 164.

16. Hazim Šabanović, “Šems-ul-ulema Hadži Mehmed ef. Handžić”, El-Hidaje, Vol. 8, No. 2–3, September, 1944, p. 43.

17. On his knowledge during student's days see more in: Kasim Dobrača, “Handžić Kao Vjerski Stručnjak” [Handžić as a Scholar of Religion], El-Hidaje, Vol. 8. No. 2–3, September, 1944, p. 54.

18. Šabanović, “Šems-ul-ulema Hadži Mehmed ef. Handžić”, op. cit., p. 44.

19. Ibid., p. 44. Note: the “ef.” is abbreviation of effendi or efendija. Turkish meaning is Mister, in Bosnia is used for ‘ulamā’ ’ class.

20. Dobrača, “Handžić kao vjerski stručnjak”, op. cit., p. 56; Kasim Dobrača (1910–1979) a close friend and disciple of Handžić was the lecturer at Gazi Husrev-begova Medresa in Sarajevo. He taught ‘aqā’id, fiqh, ḥadīth, ethics, history of Islam and Arabic language and literature. He extensively wrote in magazines and periodicals of Novi Behar (the NewBlossom), Glasnik Islamske Vjerske Zajednice (the Herald of the Islamic Religious Community), El-Hidaje and Gajret. See more in: Mahmud Traljić, Istaknuti Bošnjaci, Sarajevo: El-Kalem, 1998, pp. 77–80.

21. For bibliography of Mehmed Handžić see: Mahmud Traljić, “Bibliografija Radova Hadži Mehmed ef. Handžića” [Bibliography of Writings of Mehmed Handžić] in Zbornik Radova sa Znanstvenih Skupova o Hadži MehmeduHandžiću [Collection of Essays on Mehmed Handžić], edited byMahmud Traljić, Sarajevo: El-Hidaje—Udruženje uleme BiH, 1996, pp. 131–149.

22. Madrasah—Secondary religious school in Bosnia that prepares students for the position of Imam, Khātib and Mu‘allim.

23. Mustafa Cerić, “Hadži Mehmed Handžić—Svjetionik Muslimana Bošnjaka” [Hajji Mehmed Handžić—the Bosniak Beacon]in Traljić, Zbornik Radova sa Znanstvenih Skupova o Hadži Mehmedu Handžiću, op. cit., p. 15.

24. Esad Duraković, Izabrana Djela Mehmeda Handžića – Teme iz Književne Historije [Selected Works of Mehmed Handžić – Themes on Literary History], Sarajevo: Izdavačka Kuća Ogledalo, 1999, pp. 16–17.

25. See periodical El-Hidaje, Vol. 8. No. 2–3, September, 1944.

26. A Muslim secondary school established in Sarajevo 1537. During the Ottoman period, the school was ranked highest for its educational curriculum. In 2000 the school produced 450^th generation of graduates; Islamic Community of Bosnia and Herzegovina, “Medresa Uvod,” Rijaset. Accessed September 24, 2004. http://www.rijaset.net/merdesa/medresa_uvod.htm.

27. Mustafa Busuladžić, “Handžić Kao Profesor” [Handžić as a Professor], El-Hidaje, Vol. 8, No. 2–3, September, 1944, pp. 61–67.

28. Traljić, “Handžić Kao Društveni i Javni Radnik” [Handžić as a Community and Public Figure], op. cit., p. 45.

29. The Gazi Husrev beg library was founded in 1537. The basic collection includes manuscripts in Arabic, Turkish, Persian and Bosnian languages, from all the fields of knowledge known at that time. The Library has 10,000 codices, which makes it one of the largest in Europe and known throughout the world. The manuscripts originated from various part of the Islamic world. Quite a large number of these manuscripts originated from Bosnian towns and villages where many Bosnian Muslims wrote original works; Gazi Husrev-begova Biblioteka, “O Biblioteci”. Accessed September 21, 2004. http://www.ghbibl.com.ba/en/index.html.

30. Ismet Kasumagić, “Hadži Mehmed ef. Handžić—Život i Djelo” [Mehmed ef. Handžić—Life and Work] in Traljić], Zbornik Radova sa Znanstvenih Skupova o Hadži Mehmedu Handžiću, op. cit., p. 18.

31. Ibrahim Trebinjac, “Naš Najbolji Vaiz”[Our Best Lecturer], El-Hidaje, Vol. 8, No. 2–3, September, 1944, pp. 58–61.

32. Duraković, Izabrana Djela Mehmeda Handžića, op. cit., p. 10.

33. Kasim Dobrača, “Rad Handžića u El-Hidaji i Njegov Društveni Rad Uobće” [Handžić's Involvement in El-hidaje and His Public Work], El-Hidaje, Vol. 8, No. 2–3, September, 1944, pp. 82–88.

34. Odbor Narodnog Spasa was a form of organisation of the Bosniak societies and association of citizens during the World War II. It tended to unify all Bosniak societies for the physical and spiritual survival of nation in an unsafe time; See more in: Šaćir Filandra, Bošnjačka politika u XX. Stoljeću, [Bosniak Politics in the 20th Century], Sarajevo:Izdavačko preduzeće Sejtarija, 1998, pp. 165–172.

35. Traljić, “Handžić Kao Društveni i Javni Radnik”, op. cit., p. 46.

36. Duraković, “Izabrana Djela Mehmeda Handžića”, op. cit., p. 29.

37. Ibid., p. 11.

38. Sava is a river that creates a border between the two states, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia

39. Mehmed Handžić, “Islam i Rad – Jedan Ovogodišnji Ramazanski Vaz” [A This Year Ramadan Lecture], El-Hidaje, Vol. 4, No. 4–5, December, 1940, p. 99.

40. Mehmed Handžić, “Jedan Vaz” [One Lecture], El-Hidaje, Vol. 1, No. 1, December—January, 1936–1937, p. 11.

41. aga ‘The original meaning: lord of senior janissary officer. Normal meaning in Bosnian history: landowning ‘lord’, belonging to the lower of the two categories of landowner;’ beg – lord or landowner, belonging to the higher of the two categories of landowner.’ Noel Malcolm, Bosnia: a Short History, op. cit., p. 297.

42. Handžić, “Islam i Rad – Jedan Ovogodišnji Ramazanski Vaz”, op. cit., pp. 96, 97.

43. Ibid., p. 97.

44. Mehmed Handžić, “Obrađivanje Zemlje” [Cultivation of Land], El-Hidaje, Vol. 1, No. 4, March, 1937, p. 63.

45. Abu Bakr al-Jassas (d. 370 H.) in his book Aḥkām al-Qur’ān.

46. Handžić, “Obrađivanje Zemlje”, op. cit., p. 64.

47. See more in: Zakon o Premjeru i Katastru Republike Srpske [The Land Law of Republic Srspka] enacted on 13 October 2011; Zakon o Porezu na Nepokretnosti, Sluzbeni Glasnik Republike Srpske, [Official Gazette of the Republic of Srpska] No. 110, 26 November 2008.

48. Muslim returnees in villages of Vrbanjci and Konjevic Polje demanded school subjects relevant to their national history for their children in local elementary schools and refused to allow their children to learn Serb history and language in these schools. See more at: http://www.balkaneu.com/court-banja-luka-confirmed-discrimination-bosniak-pupils-vrbanjci/#sthash.MffC7DtK.dpuf.

49. Mehmed Handžić, “Problem Prosjačenja Kod Nas” [The Beggary Issue Among Us], El-Hidaje, Vol. 3, No. 3, Juni, 1939, pp. 33–35.

50. Handžić, “Problem Prosjačenja Kod Nas”, op. cit., p. 33

51. Handžić brings opinions of the following scholars: Shafi'i, Sufyan al-Sawri, Hasan b. Salih, Ahmad b. Hanbal, Ishaq ibn Ruwayh, Hasan al-Basri and Aby Ubayd; Ibid., p. 34.

52. Ibid., p. 35.

53. Mehmed Handžić, “Otkad Državna Vlast Vodi Nadzor Nad Vakufima”, Vol. 2, No. 8, July, 1938, p. 120.

54. Mustafa Imamović, Historija Bošnjaka [History of Bosniaks], op. cit., pp. 387, 389, 396.

55. Handžić, “Islam i Rad – Jedan Ovogodišnji Ramazanski Vaz”, op. cit., p. 95.

56. Mehmed Handžić, “Patriotizam, Narodnost i Nacionalizam sa Islamskog Gledišta” [Patriotism, Nationality and Nationalism from the Islamic Point of View], El-Hidaje, Vol. 5, No. 1, September, 1941, pp. 8–9.

57. Ibid., p. 13.

58. Ibid., pp. 8–9.

59. Ibid., pp. 1–4.

60. Al-‘Abbas b. ‘Abd al-Muttalib b. Hashim b. ‘Abd Manaf, (d. 34 H).

61. Talhah b. ‘Ubaydallah b. ‘Uthman b. ‘Amr b. Ka'b b. Sa'd b. Taym b. Murrah (died from wounds gained in the battle of Camel in 36 H.); Ibid., p. 28.

62. Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Awf.

63. Sa'd b. Ubadah b. Dulaym—one of the closest Ansāri Companions of the Prophet, leader of the Khazraj and one of the twelve leaders (nuqabā’) appointed at the ‘Aqabah meeting. He died in Syria during the caliphate of Abu Bakr or ‘Umar; Ibid., p. 290.

64. Abu Qatadah, an Ansarī of the Banu Salimah Khazraj, (d. 54 H). Ibid., p. 283.

65. Mehmed Handžić, “Spremnost Alejhisselamovih Drugova za Materijalne Žrtve” [The Readiness of the Prophet's Companions to Sacrifice], El-Hidaje, Vol. 6, No. 6,7,8, March, 1943, pp. 213–215.

66. Ibid., p. 215.

67. Mehmed Handžić, “Bitka na Bedru i Njen Značaj” [The Battle of Badr and Its Significance], El-Hidaje, Vol. 1, No. 9, August, 1937, p. 136.

68. Mehmed Handžić, “Alejhiselamova Ratna Sprema” [The Prophet's Battle Equipment], El-Hidaje, Vol. 6, No. 6,7,8, March, 1943, pp. 144–149.

69. The 13^th SS Division formed in Bosnia during the World War II. See more in: George Lepre, Himmler's Bosnian Division: the Waffen-SS Handschar Division, 1943–1945, Atglen, PA: Schiffer Military History, 1997.

70. Ibid., pp. 178–179.

71. Muhamed Hadžijahić, “Muslimanske Rezolucije iz 1941 godine”[Muslim Resolutions in 1941] in Istorija Naroda Bosne i Hercegovine[The History of the Peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina], Sarajevo: Institut za istoriju radničkog pokreta, 1973, pp. 275–282.

72. Mehmed Handžić, “Muslimani u Poljskoj” [Muslims in Poland], El-Hidaje, Vol. 5, No. 11–12, July, 1942, pp. 261–275.

73. Ibid., p. 264.

74. Mehmed Handžić, “Ismailije u Mađarskoj” [The Isma'ilis in Hungary], El-Hidaje, Vol. 5, No. 7, April 1942, p. 163.

75. Ibid., p. 164–166.

76. Ibid., p. 166.

77. Filandra, Bošnjačka Politika u XX. Stoljeću, op. cit., p. 12.

78. http://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2007/nov/21/catherineheffernanwedsampi.

79. Mehmed Handžić, “Pogled na Sudstvo u Bosni i Hercegovini za Vrijeme Turske Vlasti” [An Overview of Judicial Administration in Bosnia and Herzegovina During the Ottoman Rule], El-Hidaje, Vol. 4, No. 3, 4–5, November/December, 1940, pp. 83–86 and 109–117.

80. Handžić, “Pogled na Sudstvo u Bosni i Hercegovini za Vrijeme Turske Vlasti”, op. cit., p. 111.

81. Handžić, “Pogled na Sudstvo u Bosni i Hercegovini za Vrijeme Turske Vlasti”, op. cit., p. 114.

82. Ibid., p. 114.

83. J. Robert Donia and John V.A. Fine, Jr., Bosnia and Herzegovina: a Tradition Betrayed, London: Hurst, 1994, p. 109.

84. Fikret Karčić, “Pitanje Primjene Šerijatskog Prava Kroz Istoriju Bosanskohercegovačkih Muslimana” [The Issue of Application of Shari'ah Law Throughout the History of Bosnian Muslims], in Zbornik Radova, [Collection of Papers] Sarajevo: ITF (Islamic Theological Faculty), No. 1, 1982, p. 225.

85. ‘Politika’ is the newspaper founded in 1904 and published in Belgrade.

86. Mehmed Handžić, “Kakvih Nas Sve Ima” [What Kinds of Us There Are], El-Hidaje, Vol. 3, No. 4–5, July–August, 1939, p. 64.

87. Mehmed Handžić, “Važnost Vanjskih Znakova sa Šeriatskog Gledišta” [The Importance of Outward Signs from the Shari'ah Point of View], El-Hidaje, Vol. 3, No. 6–7, September–October, 1939. p. 22.

88. Ibn Taymiyya: Iqtidā’ al-Ṣirāt al-Mustaqīm [Following The Straight Path]as cited in: Handžić, Važnost Vanjskih Znakova sa Šeriatskog Gledišta, op. cit., p. 81.

89. Handžić, “Važnost Vanjskih Znakova sa Šeriatskog Gledišta” [The Importance of Outward Signs from the Shari'ah Point of View], op. cit., p. 82.

90. Hajji Mehmed Džemaluddin Čaušević was born in 1870. He graduated from the Faculty of Law (Maktab Huqūq) in Istanbul in 1903. In 1914 he was appointed as rais ul ‘ulamā’ (the head of the Islamic Community in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia) where he spent six years. He introduced reforms in religious education. A year before his death he finished, along with Muhammed Pandža, translation of the meanings of the Qur'an. He died on 28 March 1938; Traljić, Istaknuti Bošnjaci, op. cit., pp. 50–57.

91. Karić, Prilozi za povijest islamskog mišljenja u Bosni i Hercegovini, op. cit., pp. 254–257.

92. Ibid., p. 167.