In the atrium of the Majlis of the Tešanj Islamic Community on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, the promotion of the proceedings was held “Islamic community in Tešnje (1884–2024): organization, religious and educational institutions, endowments, ulema”. The work was created as a result of the scientific conference of the same name held at the end of last year, dedicated to marking 140 years of institutional activity of the Islamic community in Tešanj.
The promoters of the edition were prof. Ph.D. Enes ef. Ljevaković, deputy reisu-l-ulema, mufti of Zenica, prof. Ph.D. hfz. Mevludin ef. Dizdarević, prof. Ph.D. Dževad Drino from the Faculty of Law of the University of Zenica and hfz. Ph.D. Elvir Duranović, acting director of the Institute for the Islamic Tradition of Bosniaks. The program was moderated by Edin ef. Kavazović from the Mufti of Zenica.
Highlighted importance of the collection and long-term development projects
Chief imam of MIZ Tešanj, M.Sc. Fuad ef. Omerbašić, emphasized that the collection represents the culmination of a number of important projects that the Majlis has implemented in recent decades. Among them are the construction of the administrative building of the Mejlis, the renovation of mosques, the establishment of the “Revda” kindergarten, and now this collection documenting 140 years of institutional history. He thanked the authors and institutions that contributed to its creation.
Mufti Zenički, prof. Ph.D. hfz. Mevludin ef. Dizdarević, pointed out that the work represents a model of a serious scientific approach, and that it “brings awareness to history as a science”, revealing numerous facts that were not sufficiently known before. He added that the collection will be the foundation for future research into the activities of the Islamic community in Tešanj.
Scientific contribution and illumination of the past
Hfz. Ph.D. Elvir Duranović expressed satisfaction with the participation of the Institute for the Islamic Tradition of Bosniaks in the implementation of the project. According to him, the works in the anthology represent a valuable contribution to national and local historiography.
Prof. Ph.D. Dževad Drino emphasized that the anthology is not only a collection of scientific works, but also a story about people who throughout history created, studied and acted within the framework of the Islamic community.
Prof. Ph.D. Enes ef. Ljevaković warned about the importance of critically looking at one’s own past, especially in the context of parts of history that have remained insufficiently researched due to social circumstances. “The culture of memory is the foundation of the present and the building of the future”, he said, emphasizing that the collection contributes to the removal of “dust” from important segments of the history of Tešnja.
