EŠREF KOVAČEVIĆ

The Qur'an began to be written as early as during Muhammed's a.s. life, and it is known that as early as in the late 7th century there were four transcribers of the Qur'an in Medina. Love for the word of God did not stop at mere transcribing – Muslims strove to transcribe and ornament pages of the Holy Book as beautifully as possible.

Upon the arrival of Islam in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 15th century, the tradition of transcribing the Qur'an (mushaf) developed. Unfortunately, the first transcriptions of the Qur'an made by local people have not been preserved. Still, a large number of mushafs from later centuries, which were made by Bosniak transcribers, who left hundreds of transcriptions, have been preserved. One of such transcribers was hafiz Ibrahim Šehović, one of the most active Sarajevo calligraphers of the 18th century, who himself transcribed at least 66 Qur'ans. After several centuries of lively transcribing activity, the early 20th century witnessed a decline in the number of calligraphers, and therefore in the number of transcribed mushafs as well. At a moment when it seemed that transcribing the Qur'an would die out, Ešref Kovačević, a famous Bosniak historian, researcher and calligrapher, entered the stage.

Ešref Kovačević was born in the village of Kovačevci near Glamoč. On 1 September 1924. He completed studies of Turkish and Arabic, as well as of history, at the Faculty of Philosophy in Sarajevo. He spent his entire career as a researcher at the Oriental Studies Institute in Sarajevo and as a lecturer at the Faculty of Philosophy, Islamic Theological Faculty and Gazi Husrev-beg madrasa in Sarajevo.

Although he is best-known as a calligrapher, only few people are familiar with the abundance of his calligraphic oeuvre. So far, studies have revealed that he was the author of several hundred calligraphic compositions which are found in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in neighboring countries, and which adorn walls of private houses, academic and cultural institutions, pages of state documents, books and manuscripts. Besides, he participated in the reconstruction and restoration of national monuments. Public at large can see his calligraphic mastery if they visit Imperial and Fergat-pasha Mosque in Sarajevo, or Čaršija Mosque in Fojnica, where his works are now kept. It should particularly be noted that Kovačević did not work only in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also across the former Yugoslavia.

Besides many calligraphic compositions and hundreds of students to whom he transferred his knowledge, Ešref Kovačević's greatest enterprise is the transcription of the Qur'an. Besides the demanding work of transcribing the mushaf, circumstances under which he decided to embark on this unique project are interesting. Actually, he began to transcribe the mushaf during the aggression on Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 1990, although he suffered from a disease which slowed down his calligraphic work. After several month-long hard work he finished the transcription of the Noble Book of God. Guided by the desire for his mushaf to reach as many people as possible, in 1995 Ešref Kovačević brought his transcription of the mushaf to the attention of the seat of the IRCICA (Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture) in Istanbul. When the management of IRCICA became convinced in honorable intentions of Ešref Kovačević and his praiseworthy project, they took the responsibility for printing it. It should be noted that Kovačević did not ask remuneration for his work, but only a promise that publication of his transcription would not be sold but donated. The publisher kept their promise.

The review of Kovačević's manuscript reveals that he did not rely on the Ottoman standard mushaf (ajet ber kenar); in other words, we understand that “this manuscript of the Qur'an Kareem offers what we cannot find in any other manuscript”. The unique approach of Ešref Kovačević reveals his tendency to make the Arabic text readable rather than aestheticized. In harfs of the mushaf, he wove the experience of several hundreds of students whom he taught Arabic letters, and to whom he made the Arabic script more accessible. Kovačević himself said that his transcription of the Qur'an was intended for people whose mother tongue is not Arabbic, “from Bosnians to Japanese”.

Thanks to Kovačević. Islamic calligraphy experiences renaissance in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is now proven by several active calligraphers who see him as their beacon and role model. He was the first to revive the tradition of transcribing the mushaf after several centuries, and became the latest transcriber of mushaf in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Lez us hope that he will not be the last one.

Ešref Kovačević died on 2 March 1996 His coffin was carried along an almost 3 km long road, from Bakije to Imperial Mosque, and from the Imperial Mosque to Sarač-Ismail Mosque. He found his worldly resting place in the courtyard of Sarač-Ismail Mosque in Sarajevo, where his grave can be seen.

Tarih (text) on Ešref-ef. Kovačević's grave

Svaka osoba, svaka duša će okusiti smrt

Umrli, da mu Allah dž.š. oprosti,

To je Ešref ef. Kovačević,

Bio je od velike priznate uleme i veliki kaligraf,

Blago njemu,

Jer je on odgojio djecu na dobrom putu,

Blago njemu,

Jer je naučio na stotine muslimana i muslimanki

Učenju Kurʼana,

Blago njemu,

Prepisivaču velikog Kurʼana,

Da Allah dž.š. ga smjesti u rajske vrtove,

I još više da mu Allah podari.

(Every person, every soul will taste death,

The deceased, let Allah dž.š. forgive him,

Is Ešref-ef. Kovačević,

He was one of the great recognized ulama and a great calligrapher

He was a lucky one

Because he educated children and directed them well.

He was a lucky one,

Because he taught hundreds of Muslim men and women

How to read the Qur'an,

He was a lucky one,

A transcriber of the Noble Qur'an.

Let Allah dž.š. place him in heavenly gardens,

And let Allah give him even more gifts.)

Author of the tarih: Hafiz Mustafa Sahačić