PROF SHAM @ Balkan

Travelogue Series
Plate 11. Agricultural activities in the lowlands of Croatia
At the Bosnia border, we stumbled upon an old village with clear Islamic culture still intact, shown by the
presence of an ancient mosque with special minaret and other Muslim monuments (Plate 12). Bosnia was
once ruled by the Ottoman Turks and therefore remnants of their cultures can be seen everywhere in the
country, especially in the countryside and/or towns. After defeating the Romans in 1453, the Ottoman Turks
spread their wing to the other parts of the Balkan. Their brilliant military strategies and excellent
administrative policy had won the respect, heart and mind of the locals. In carrying out administrative
duties, justice not only be done, but also be seen to be done. In the end, many locals converted to Islam on
their own accord, based on trust and respect. They remain so until today, especially those living in Bosnia.
However, for some reasons, the Muslim Bosnians are unable to catch up with the pace of economic
activities enjoyed by the developed West; thus, many of them remained poor (Plate 13). I, for one, believe
that if we want to help Muslim brothers, as part of our jihad, to achieve economic independence from the
West, Bosnia is the place to be.
A Moment in Time with the Balkans