EUROPEAN EXPERIENCE OF THE IMAM IN THE DIASPORA

Abstract

The Muslim tradition distinguishes Sunni and Shia concept of imamah. The Sunni concept includes a number of different approaches varying from Arabic, Turkish to traditional Bosnian approach. The work of imam in the Muslim diaspora, like the one in the western European social and civilizational environment, requires expressive and special professional qualificattion. A number of special circumstances also have to be considered: the work leaves little time for the spiritual life; preservation of the Islamic identity in the Christian environment can be difficult; there is no coherent social environmment (neighborhood, jamaat, masjid) and finally the insufficient role of the family. There are a number of work concepts used by the imams acting in the European diaspora. The most important ones are: “Bosnian traditional” concept, “eastern-traditional-reform” concept and finally the concept that strives to tie the traditional and the contemporary. The imam needs to work on improving the relations of his jamaat with the other jamats, other religious communities as well as political structures. The imam also needs to be open, gentle and patient towards people in his jaamat and in general. This lecture was given Meeting of chief imams in diaspora, Norköping, Sweden, on the eve of Ramadan on October 19, 2002.