REISU-L-ULAMA

Author: Ekrem Tucaković, PhD, Riyasat of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina • Illustration: Election of Reisu-l-ulama - voting

Pursuant to Article 61. of the Constitution of the Islamic Community, Raisu-l-ulama is the supreme authority and the Grand Mufti of the Islamic Community, as well as the highest religious authority who represents the unity of religion (Din) and the community of believers (Ummat) in the Islamic Community.

Raisu-l-ulama takes care of the proper understanding and living of Islam; he leads, directs and oversees religious life in the Islamic Community; represents the Islamic Community; appoints muftis, grand imams and imams; issues Murasalahs, decrees and certificates to muftis, grand imams, imams and other holders of religious authority; gives proposals to the Council for the confirmation of the appointments and dismissals of muftis and the proposal for appointing members of the Riyasat; discontinues enforcement of any decision of the organs of the Islamic Community if he assesses that it is contrary to Islamic norms and orders its alignment with the Islamic norms; organizes and supervises work of administrations and directorates of the Riyasat and the Council of Muftis; looks after religious rights and freedoms of the members of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sandžak, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia and Bosniaks in diaspora; supervises the establishment and continuation of cooperation with Islamic communities, and other religious communities, institutions and organizations in the country and abroad, which are of interest for members of the Islamic Community.

Raisu-l-ulama reports to the Council of the Islamic Community, and his seat is in Sarajevo.

Nomination for the post of Raisu-l-ulama has to be from among prominent Alims (senior Muslim scholars) who have high and higher Islamic education, who have performed tasks in the Islamic Community for no less than fifteen years and who have gained general respect and trust among members of the Islamic Community due to their knowledge of Islamic teaching and their behavior. A candidate for the Raisu-l-ulama may not be younger than forty years of age. The Council draws up a list of candidates and nominates at least two candidates for the post of the Raisu-l-ulama.

The Raisu-l-ulama is elected by a body consisting of: members of the Council of the Islamic Community, members of the Riyasat of the Islamic Community, muftis, presidents of the Mashikhats of the Islamic Community, deans and principals of Islamic institutions, grand imams, and presidents of executive boards of the Majlises. The Raisu-l-ulama is elected by secret ballot, for the period of seven years with the possibility of re-election for another term. Upon electing the Raisu-l-ulama, the Council of the Islamic Community appoints the Board for handing over the Manshurah to the Raisu-l-ulama. Upon receiving the Manshurah, the Raisu-l-ulama takes an oath in the Gazi Husrev-beg's Mosque in Sarajevo and takes office.

Deputy Raisu-l-ulama

Deputy Raisu-l-ulama assists the Raisu-l-ulama in his work and replaces him if the latter is absent or prevented from attending. The Deputy Raisu-l-ulama is appointed by the Council, for a term of office same as that of the Raisu-l-ulama, with the possibility of reappointment for another term.

Nomination for the post of Deputy Raisu-l-ulama has to be from among prominent Alims (senior Muslim scholars) who have high and higher Islamic education, who have performed tasks in the Islamic Community for no less than fifteen years and who have gained general respect and trust among members of the Islamic Community due to their knowledge of Islamic teaching and their behavior. A candidate for the Deputy Raisu-l-ulama may not be younger than forty years of age.

The Deputy Raisu-l-ulama coordinates work of the administrations of the Riyasat, supervises work of muftiates, mashihats and organs of the Islamic Community in diaspora on behalf of the Raisu-l-ulama, and assists Raisu-l-ulama in performing duties within his competence.

The Deputy Raisu-l-ulama reports to the Raisu-l-ulama and to the Council of the Islamic Community.

History of the title

In the Muslim world, Bosniaks used to be only ones who called their religious leader Raisu-l-ulama for a long time. After the dissolution of the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s, this title for their religious leader was also adopted by Muslims in Macedonia. The title 'Raisu-l—ulama' first appeared in the Bosnian context in 1881, in request by Bosniak notables to Austro-Hungarian authorities for a head of their own (raisu-l-ulama), who will manage their religious affairs. In 1882, Austro-Hungarian authorities formed a special religious body composed of four alims and Raisu-l-ulama as the president. As a matter of fact, it was the formation of an independent Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina and a separation of managing and leading Bosniaks' religious affairs from the previous center in Istanbul.

In the Ottoman practice, Raisu-l-ulama was a title rather than office, and was mostly related to the mufti of Istanbul, who was to become better known as shaykh-al-Islam by the end of the 17th century. From 17th century on, as Fikret Karčić, PhD assumes, the weight of the title of raisu-l-ulama changed, as it was awarded to the military judge for the European part of the Ottoman State (Rumeli kazasker).

Finally, from 1882 on, the previous title of high Islamic dignitaries of the Ottoman State became the highest religious position among Bosniaks. In other regions, the alternative to the title and office of the Raisu-l-ulama was ‘grand mufti’ or ‘main mufti’, which was the title of the religious leader in other Muslim communities in the Balkans. In all Balkan communities, religious administration headed by the mufti existed after the withdrawal of the Ottoman State. 

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