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Islamski centar SABAH (engl. Society of American Bosnians and Herzegovinians, bos. Udruženje američkih Bosanaca i Hercegovaca) u Franklin Parku, predgrađu Čikaga, svečano je otvoren u subotu, 7. septembra, u prisustvu velikog broja vjernika, predstavnika Islamske zajednice (IZ) BiH, općinskih dužnosnika i gostiju. Zgrada Centra je kupljena 2016. g., a u godinama nakon toga se pristupilo njegovoj renovaciji i obogaćivanju ponuđenih sadržaja.

Ovako važnom događaju prisustvovao je veliki broj dostojanstvenika i gostiju, među kojima treba istaći, pored lokalnog imama dr. Senada ef. Agića, specijalnog izaslanika reis-ul-uleme i direktora Uprave za vjerske poslove IZ BiH, Ismaila ef. Smajlovića, muftiju IZ BiH za S. Ameriku, Sabahudina ef. Ćemana, glavnog imama za Medžlis II u S. Americi (Midwest, tj. Srednji zapad), dr. Muaza ef. Redžića, lokalne i državne funkcionere iz Franklin Parka i Illinoisa, kao i predstavnike drugih vjerskih organizacija iz okruženja. Za zabavno-umjetnički program su se pobrinuli gosti iz domovine, Alma Subašić, mlada interpretatorka sevdalinki, Memnum Muzaferija, nedavni pobjednik Hayatovog muzičkog takmičenja „Zvijezda možeš biti ti“, te Armin Omerović, bosanski filmski i pozorišni glumac koji je služio kao moderator ovih dešavanja.

Događaji u petak, 6. Septembra, bili su mahom neformalnog vjerskog karaktera pri čemu je najprije zajednički klanjana džuma-namaz, tokom koje se džematlijama obratio ef. Smajlović, a hutbu je održao ef. Ćeman. Između akšama i jacije proučen je i tradicionalni mevlud u prisustvu nekoliko desetina vjernika.

U subotu je prikladno pripremljeni veliki šatorski prostor iza centra SABAH primio stotine onih koji su željeli biti dio historijskog trenutka otvaranja još jednog objekta pod okriljem IZ BiH. Dvočasovni program je započeo dovom koju je proučio hafiz Nermin Spahić koji je stigao iz savezne države Iowa. Alma Subašić, Memnun Muzaferija i ženski hor „Kerim“, sastavljen od mladih džematlijki Centra, izveli su nekoliko ilahija koje nikog nisu ostavile ravnodušnim. Priliku da se obrati prisutnim imali su i gradonačelnik Franklin Parka, Barrett Pedersen, kao i Gerri Kirby i Roger Smith, predstavnici Prezbiterijanske crkve, koji su istakli multikulturalnost i raznolikost američkog društva, pri čemu su islamska zajednica i centar SABAH integralni dio društvenog mozaika. Izvršni direktor neprofitne organizacije za zaštitu građanskih prava muslimana „CAIR-Chicago“, Ahmed Rehab, naglasio je kako muslimani u Americi zaslužuju jednaka građanska prava kao i ostale grupe, te se CAIR bori za promoviranje i odbranu ustavnih prava muslimana i svih ostalih Amerikanaca. Imam Centra, Dr. Agić, potom se osvrnuo na historijat ovog džemata, od 2011. g., praćenog vremenom punim izazova pri čemu su korišteni prostori drugih zajednica, pa do kupovine objekta centra SABAH u Franklin Parku 2016. g., nakon čega je uslijedila detaljna renovacija i prilagođavanje potrebama zajednice. To je rezultiralo funkcionalnim objektom s vjerskim, kulturnim, muzičkim i sportskim sadržajima koji će omogućiti jačanje i svijetlu budućnost zajednice. Muftija Ćeman je istakao važnost Centra
kao mjesto jedinstva, druženja i sticanja zadovoljstva Gospodara pri čemu ta sloga i snaga će služiti budućnosti ovog Centra kao stjecištu nadolazećih generacija i iskrenih vjernika. Proglašavajući centar SABAH imovinom i sastavnim dijelom IZ BiH, ef. Smajlović je podsjetio i na hidžru poslanika Muhameda i potrebu stalnog pokreta, postavljanja novih ciljeva i postizanja novih vrijednosti, uz promoviranje vrlina ljubavi, plemenitosti, dobročinstva i graditeljstva. Nakon dove koju je proučio dr. Redžić, na osnovu jednoglasne odluke Organizacionog odbora, ef. Smajlović i dr. Agić su uručili simbolični pozlaćeni ključ za otvorenje džamije vakifima, bračnom paru Arslanagić, Erminu i Anisi, kao priznanje za njihov nesebičan trud, pregalaštvo i finansijsku pomoć kojima su doprinijeli kupovini, uređenju i aktivnostima u Centru. Pošto je nekoliko desetina vakifa presjeklo svečanu vrpcu, porodica Arslanagić je i službeno otključala vrata centra SABAH čime je ovaj Centar i službeno otvoren.

Kako bi se zajednica opustila na kraju sadržajno ispunjenog programa, održana je svečana večera u hotelu Hilton u obližnjem predgrađu Rosemont kojoj je prisustvovalo nekoliko stotina članova zajednice. Događaj je dovom otvorio mladi Mesud Imamović, nakon čega se pristupilo večeri. Ovo je također bila prilika da se odaju priznanja i zahvalnice zaslužnim članovima zajednice koji su nesebičnim žrtvovanjem i finansijskom pomoću omogućili stvaranje Centra, te uložili značajan napor u organiziranju samih aktivnosti otvaranja. Tako su džematlije Ermin i Anisa Arslanagić dobili na poklon pozlaćeni ključ kojim su ranije svečano otvorili džamiju. Paula Sulejman, dok je primala ogromni buket cvijeća, pozvala je za zajedničku fotografiju i ostale članove Organizacionog odbora koju su uložili ogroman trud u posljednjih nekoliko mjeseci kako bi ceremonija otvaranja protekla u najboljem redu. Muftija Ćeman se je osvrnuo na historiju IZ BiH u S. Americi i ključnu ulogu koju je odigrao dr. Agić u stvaranju Islamske zajednice Bošnjaka Sjeverne Amerike (ICNAB, tj. IABNA), kojom prilikom mu je izdata i zahvalnica za doprinos zajednici. Potom je ef. Smajlović predao zastavu Islamske zajednice predsjedniku Centra, Maši Jukiću. Nakon što su završene proceduralne aktivnosti, prisutni su imali prilike vidjeti i nastup nekoliko lokalnih folklornih skupina, uključujući KUD Sabah, KUD Bosna i KUD Krajiški biseri. Interpretatori narodne muzike i sevdalinki, Alma Subašić i Memnun Muzaferija, pobrinuli su se da ostatak večeri prođe u dobrom raspoloženju tako da je zabava potrajala do dugo u noć, a uspjelo se odigrati i poneko kolo.

I tako je otvoren još jedan rasadnik znanja, svjetionik vjere i mjesto gdje će se duhovno uzdizati novi naraštaji Bošnjaka i muslimana na američkom kontinentu.

Faruk Bogućanin

IZNEVJERENO VEĆINSKO BIRAČKO TIJELO

Godina 2011. je bila jedna od najburnijih godina u stogodišnjem bivstvovanju Bošnjaka na prostoru Čikaga. Tada je na Generalnoj skupštini nakon nepoštivanja volje apsolutne većine biračkog tijela (82.5% članstva) da zadrži tadašnjeg imama, došlo do izdaje zajednice od strane Upravnog odbora Islamskog kulturnog centra (ICC). Iznevjereno većinsko biračko tijelo, mahom sastavljeno od mladih bračnih parova s djecom, bilo je prinuđeno tražiti novi dom gdje će moći nastaviti održavati svoj vjerski, kulturni i jezički identitet. Ubrzo je osnovan Američki islamski centar (AIC) koji će tokom nekoliko narednih godina održavati džematske aktivnosti u iznajmljenim prostorijama na nekoliko mjesta.

PODSTANARSKI ŽIVOT

Želja članova džemata za održavanjem i promoviranjem svog identiteta prijateljski je podržana najprije od Američkog islamskog koledža, zatim od vlasnika poslovne zgrade u Glenview, pa od odbora Islamskog društva sjevernozapadnih predgrađa Čikaga (ISNS) u Rolling Meadowsu, koji su ustupili na korištenje prostorije za održavanje mektepske nastave subotom tokom nekoliko narednih godina. Mektepska nastava, koja je uključivala i jezičko i kulturno obrazovanje, kao i obavljanje podne namaza, održavana je u ovom objektu sve do konačne kupovine i preuređenja sadašnjih prostorija džemata u Franklin Parku.

Neke od svojih aktivnosti, ključnih za njegovanje jedinstva džemata, teravih-namazi, Family Night, kao i nezaboravna donatorska večera 7. maja 2016. kada je skupljen iznos od 570,000 dolara za Centar u Franklin Parku, održavani su nekoliko godina u Turskom centru u Mount Prospectu.

DOBIJENA BITKA NA SUDU

Kao i svaki proces, i razvoj ovog džemata je imao prepreke, kao što je slučaj s nesuđenom kupovinom komercijalnog objekta u predgrađu Des Plaines 2013. god., koji je trebao biti preuređen u džamiju. Nakon odbijenice koju je izdala Mjesna uprava Des Plainesa o prenamjeni objekta, džemat je pokrenuo tužbu, koja je napokon urodila plodom 2017. god. kada je donesena odluka u korist džemata i kada je dobijen značajan iznos novca na ime odštete.

IMATI I NEMATI CENTAR NIJE ISTO

Konačno, 2016. god., pronađen je objekat tadašnje “Luteranske crkve uskrsnuća” na Grand aveniji u Franklin Parku koji je ubrzo kupljen (23. septembar) i uredno prijavljen kod opštinskih organa, kada je džemat i službeno dobio novo ime „Društvo američkih Bosanaca i Hercegovaca“ (SABAH). Članovi džemata su pregalački radili na uređenju objekta kako bi se prilagodio za održavanje namaza i ostale aktivnosti u najbržem mogućem roku tako da su pri kraju ljeta 2017. krenule razne vjerske i obrazovne aktivnosti za djecu i omladinu.

BOGATA PONUDA VJERSKIH, OBRAZOVNIH I KULTURNIH SADRŽAJA

SABAH nastavlja na izgradnji snažne zajednice s jakim osjećajem za porodicu, kao i duhovni i kulturni identitet nove generacije. Osim mesdžida, tj. prostora za vjerske aktivnosti, novi centar u Franklin Parku ima bogatu ponudu obrazovnih i kulturnih sadržaja i sekcija kao što su brojne učionice za djecu i omladinu, biblioteka, sala za predavanja, višenamjenska sala, zatim udruženje žena „Selam“, hor ilahija i kasida „Kerim“, folklorna grupa, omladinska grupa, odbor za međuvjersku suradnju itd. Višenamjenska dvorana Centra pruža prostor za sportske aktivnosti kao i razne kulturne i promotivne manifestacije. Pune djelatnosti džemata su mnogo šire i ogledaju se i u raznim međuvjerskim aktivnostima i u humanitarnom radu na području Čikaga za čije potrebe smo svesrdno ustupili kuću u nasem vlasništvu za distribiciju prikupljene hrane i odjeće socijalno ugroženim kategorijama.

Džemat trenutno radi i na preuređenju podrumskih prostorija radi otvaranja Omladinskog centra koji bi mlađoj generaciji pružio potreban prostor, zanimljive sadržaje, toplinu i motivaciju s ciljem da se duhovno razvija i oblikuje budućnost zajednice u skladu sa potrebama vremena.

Kao i Feniks koji se digao iz pepela, i SABAH se materijalno i duhovno uzdigao vođen mudrošću, skladom i vjerom u svijetlu budućnost.

Faruk Bogućanin

A Phoenix that Rose from the Ashes into the bright Future

2011 was one of the most turbulent times in the hundred years of Bosniak existence in Chicago. At the General Assembly session, the Islamic Culture Center Board of Directors failed to implement the will of the absolute majority of voters to keep the existing imam in office (82.5% of those who turned out). The betrayed constituency, mostly composed of young couples with children, was forced to seek a new home where they could continue to maintain their religious, cultural, and linguistic identity. Shortly thereafter, American Islamic Center was founded where religious activities were conducted over the next several years on rented premises in several different locations.

The determination of congregants to maintain and promote their identity was first supported by the American Islamic College, followed by an office space owner in Glenview, and, finally by the Board of the Islamic Society of Northwestern Suburbs of Chicago (ISNS) in Rolling Meadows, who made their premises available for Saturday school program for the next several years. Religious education, language and culture courseware, and noon prayers were held in this facility until the final purchase and renovation of the current premises of the congregation in Franklin Park.

Some of the key activities which were critical to preserve the unity of the congregation were held for a number of years at the Turkish American Society of Chicago in Mount Prospect. They included Taraweeh prayers, Family Nights, as well as the unforgettable Dinner Fundraiser on May 7, 2016, at which $570,000 was collected for the facility in Franklin Park.

Just like any other endeavor, the development of this congregation has faced challenges including an unsuccessful attempt at purchasing the comercial facility in Des Plaines in 2013, which was planned to be converted to a mosque. Following a denial of the Village to allow rezoning of the facility, the congregation filed a complaint which was ultimately resolved in 2017 when a settlement was reached in favor of the congregation that received significant compensatory damages.

Finally, a facility that belonged to the Resurrection Lutheran Church on Grand Avenue in Franklin Park was found in 2016. It was swiftly purchased followed by the appropriate filings with the Village administration, including the change of the congregation’s official name to Society of Bosnian Americans and Herzegovinians (SABAH). Congregation members worked tirelessly on renovating the facility to adapt it for prayers and other activities in the fastest time possible. This initial work was finished in 2017, and a number of religious and educational activities for children and youth commenced in late summer.

SABAH continues to nurture a strong community with a strong emphasis on the family, spiritual and cultural identity of the new generation. In addition to the space for religious activities, the new center in Franklin Park offers rich educational and cultural content and sections including numerous classrooms for children and youth, library, lecture hall, multi-purpose room, women’s association “Selam”, Muslim choir Kerim, folk dance performance group, youth group, interreligious outreach committee, etc. The center’s multipurpose room offers the space for recreational activities, various cultural and promotional programs. A complete scope of congregation’s activities is much broader and it also reflects a variety of interreligious and humanitarian efforts in Chicagoland for which the congregation has assigned an adjacent house providing distribution of collected food and clothing to the socially vulnerable groups.

The congregation is currently renovating the basement area which is to become a Youth Center that will offer the younger generation functional space, interesting content, warmth, and motivation for their spiritual development and for shaping the future of the community aligned with the needs of the time.

Just like a phoenix that rose from the ashes, SABAH has risen materially and spiritually guided by wisdom, harmony, and faith in the bright future.

Faruk Bogućanin

Edited by Senad Agić

FROM UNJUST EXCLUSION TO NEW PERSPECTIVES ON LIFE AND FAITH

In the beginning of 2011, a large number of today’s members of SABAH suffered a painful and unjust exclusion from the religious place where they started. Unfortunately, they were forced out of the faith community that was their religious home and place they came together for unity and friendship. Leaving their previous place of worship for a new  one was their only recourse as it was the only way of spiritual survival. For these people, moving ahead in search of a new place was widened, deepened, broadened, and transformed. In the new place they found freedom to receive what their religion, with its teachings about spirituality, had to offer them, with new perspectives on life and faith. They see things today from their newly rediscovered home that they had never noticed before.[1]

SABAH, aka American Islamic Center, was founded in 2011, and, in spite of a short and turbulent history, it survived through the years because of its faithful membership. Young families began to join and the congregation became a family, and they knew something special had begun.

NEVER FAILED TO OFFER SERVICES TO THE MEMBERS

Once American Islamic Center reached membership capacity in 2012, it began looking for temporary homes. American Islamic College, Office Building in Glenview, ISNS in Rolling Meadows, TASC in Mount Prospect were facilities where the community offered its services to the members, primarily to over 100 kids who learned about their religion and dreamed about their own permanent spiritual home.

The SABAH moved into its own facility at 9920 Grand Ave, Franklin Park, IL 60131 in 2017 with its first Jumah Prayer held on Friday, January 6.

They cannot describe all of the miracles God has performed, the faithful dedication of the SABAH family or the amount of work young people have put into this project to make this happen. It proves that when people come together with a clearly defined goal that anything is possible. This was the community that was unjustly forced out of their former mosque, then unjustly denied a zoning permit to build their mosque, but, today, the mosque is fully built, bigger and more beautiful than originally envisioned: a large prayer hall on main floor with additional space on the balcony, a spacious gym and a community event hall, seven fully furnished classrooms, a tea room or Bosnian Room (divanhana), a library, a conference room, youth center, administration offices, a gorgeous green courtyard, and a house used for charitable outreach in the area along with the Lutheran community they bought property from. All thanks to God.

THIS IS NOT JUST A GREAT BUILDING, THIS IS A GREAT COMMUNITY

More importantly, there is a vibrant and beautiful community buzzing around, free to practice their faith, healthy and alive: imam, youth workers, school teachers, administrators, women’s group, children groups, Saturday School, singing group, folk dance performance group, cultural ambassadors, and charity work volunteers. “This is not just a great building, this is a great community”, states CAIR-Chicago chairman Ahmed Rehab and adds “I could only thank them and congratulate the real heroes, for their courage. Muslims who refuse to be broken. And no one has suffered more as a result of religious persecution than one of the only native Muslim communities in Europe: Bosnians and others who endured discrimination, torture, rape, death, destruction and genocide just because they believed differently, just because they were Muslim. And, so, when they came to a new land in search of this elusive freedom of religious expression, only to once again faced discrimination; we were fully prepared to ensure: ‘not on our watch!'”[2]

PROTECTION OF EUROPEAN MUSLIM HERITAGE AND CULTURE

With interfaith dialogue, this community builds bridges of understanding with other faith communities – Christians and Jews. There is a charity work that serves the needy, regardless of their faith. And members of this community are out in the broader community, working for social justice and urban development, doing all sorts of work. Some of them are doctors, some of them are community leaders, all of them are doing extraordinary work not just in the Muslim community but in the broader American community. And they are proud of their work in business, social justice and education. President Barack Obama stated in his remarks at Islamic Society of Baltimore on February 03, 2016: “And like so many faiths, Islam is rooted in a commitment to compassion and mercy and justice and charity. Whoever wants to enter paradise, the Prophet Muhammad taught, ‘let him treat the way he would love to be treated.'” This community has been doing exactly that. Not only did president Obama speak in favor of Islam and Muslims, but Thomas Jefferson and John Adams had their own copies of the Qur’an, too. Benjamin Franklin wrote that “even if the Mufti of Constantinople were to send missionary to preach to us, he would find a pulpit at his service.”

According to the Pew Research Center, Muslims in America hail from more than 75 countries, thus the country’s more than 2,000 mosques vary widely in tradition and practice. Straddled between a predominantly Arab and South Asian Indo-Pak Muslim population and their American neighbors and coworkers, Bosnian Muslims struggle to resist complete assimilation into American melting pot and to protect their European Muslim heritage and culture.

“For those who give in charity, men and women, and loan to Allah a Beautiful Loan, it shall be increased manifold (to their credit), and they shall have (besides) a liberal reward.” Qur’an, 57:18

Imam Senad Agić

[1] SABAH Islamic and Cultural Center was officially opened on 7 September 2019. The spectacular Grand Opening event was attended by the Grand Mufti of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s envoy, Mufti of ICNAB, mayor of Franklin Park, imams, members and guests. The honor to open the Center was given to Anisa and Ermin Arslanagic.

[2] https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/ct-des-plaines-islamic-center-settlement-met-20170606-story.html

Imam Senad Agić

قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعًا الَّذِي لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ لا إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ فَآمِنُواْ بِاللّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ النَّبِيِّ الأُمِّيِّ الَّذِي يُؤْمِنُ بِاللّهِ وَكَلِمَاتِهِ وَاتَّبِعُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ

Say: O people! surely I am the Messenger of Allah to you all, of Him Whose is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth there is no god but He; He brings to life and causes to die therefore believe in Allah and His messenger, the Ummi Prophet who believes in Allah and His words, and follow him so that you may walk in the right way. Qur’an 7:158

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ حَسْبُكَ اللّهُ وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَكَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

O Prophet! Allah is Sufficient for thee and those who follow thee of the believers. Qur’an 8:64

The word(s) “follow” appears 204 time(s) in 182 verse(s) in Quran in Yusuf Ali translation.

The word(s) “islam” appears 39 time(s) in 38 verse(s) in Quran in Yusuf Ali translation.

This emphasis in many mosques has been inverted. Being a Muslim today does not necessarily entail being a follower – a student – a disciple or apprentice of Muhammad (S).

For most intelligent and sincere Muslims the turn to discipleship does not mean focusing primarily on eternal salvation being a selfish version of applying Islam but rather suggests a way of life here and now. The former version of Islam says to Prophet (S), in effect: “I’d like little of your Sunnah, but I don’t care to be your student. …In fact, won’t you just excuse me while I get on with my life, and I‘ll see you in heaven.”

Discipleship builds on the longstanding mainline emphasis on Muhammad (S) as teacher and example. The theme of discipleship builds on the now generation-long emphasis on faith as a set of practices. Practices are the behaviors that embody and sustain a way of life in a community shaped by a particular moral purpose. This emphasis on practices has helped people think about Islam not so much as a set of beliefs but as a way of life.

A focus on discipleship can move congregations beyond the mosque-as-club image. Symptoms of the ill image include the idea that the main point of the mosque is to provide for the comfort and satisfaction of its members, that imams are hired to provide religious services, that length of congregational membership is more important than faith or faithfulness, and that the history and lore of the particular jama’at override and supersede the importance of its mission.

Another way to name the tendency of mosques nowadays is to speak of a “membership culture.” In mosques with a membership culture; people come to think that mosque offers staff, services and programs for its members. Guests are welcome, but can stick around only if they pay their dues. A reliable indicator that a mosque is becoming a club is the default form that introductions take: Introductions will often begin with a person stating how long he has been a member (“I’m Hassan, and I’v been a member here since 1982”) rather than reflecting on his own life as a follower of Prophet Muhammad (S).

In the mosque as club, the question “Why are we here?” tends to be answered with “to meet the needs of our members” or “to be a caring community.” When the focus is on discipleship, a more likely answer is “to be and make disciples of Prophet Muhammad (S) – to prolong the mission of Allah in making followers.”

However, the moment when the imam says to himself, “This isn’t working” – “this” being “the institutional mosque” or “the program mosque,” support for the budget is down, people seem unwilling to serve on boards and committees, all sorts of other interests and commitments are eclipsing mosque attendance and participation.

“It was sometime in 1993,” writes an imam, “that I verbalized a thought that had been gradually forming in my mind for a number of years…. When I said it board members were taken aback. I was shocked…. The statement I made that fateful night was: virtually all the old answers about what it means to be and run mosque don’t work anymore.”

For some at least, a breakdown leads to a breakthrough. It leads to ways of running mosque in a new time. Often the breakthrough involves turning to the theme of discipleship.

It turns out that the mosques lack vitality via simplicity and are not working especially for the youngsters. The purpose is not clear.

A shift from programs to process would be welcomed by our children. “A simple mosque,” they insist, “is a congregation designed around a straightforward and strategic process that moves people through the stages of spiritual growth.” It may be a process, as one jama’at frames it, of “connecting, growing, and serving”.

Our vision of leadership is one that offers mosque board work as an integral part of imam’s effort to inspire and deepen the faith of our members and ultimately renewing our mosque.

From shifting emphasis from program to process, one should urge:

“Don’t focus on growing a mosque with programs, focus on growing people with a process.”  

The new focus on the old theme of being follower promises to be fruitful for congregations and a possible bridge between motivated imams and mainline liberals. For a long time we have listened to the stories of perfect examples of  the concept of following realized by the great companions (sahaba), followers (taabi’een) and followers of the followers (tabi’u taabi’een).

Making followers is not only more faithful but a good deal more interesting.

“In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations.”  (From The Great Law Of The Iroquois Confederacy)