The Grand Mufti of Bosnia, Dr. Mustafa Ceric, shares a perspective that many Americans have never considered — that Islam has been part of European civilization for over six centuries, and that Bosnia has been celebrating its Islamic heritage alongside eleven centuries of statehood. For those who think Islam is exclusively an Arab religion practiced in deserts, the story of Bosnian Muslims challenges every stereotype.
Islam in Europe: A History Most People Do Not Know
All three Abrahamic religions originated in the East — there are no European prophets. Islam arrived in Europe first through the Iberian Peninsula (Andalusia) where it flourished for eight centuries, and later through the Ottoman presence in the Balkans. When Christians and Jews were expelled from Spain in 1492, it was the Muslims of Sarajevo who received and protected them, preserving their sacred Passover text known as the Haggadah — a testament to Islamic tolerance and coexistence.
“Islam is not named by a person — it is named by an abstract idea which contains the very meaning of peace. The root of Islam comes from sin-mim-lam, which means peace. So Islam means peaceful submission to God, and Muslim means peaceful man — literally.”
One Label for All Believers
- The first person called “Muslim” in history was Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) — it is not a national or ethnic label but a spiritual one
- Jesus, Moses, Abraham, and Muhammad (peace be upon them all) were all Muslims — those who peacefully submitted to the will of God
- The entire universe is “Muslim” in the sense that all creation submits to the physical laws God has ordained
- There is only one legitimate name for all believers: Muslim — labels and divisions are human inventions that contradict the unity of the faith
“God created us so colorful, so different — we have to enjoy this diversity in unity. There is only one legitimate name for all of us, and that is Muslim.”
