SIGNIFICANCE OF CULTURAL INTELLIGENCE WITH AN ACCENT UPON THE MISSION OF IMAMS

Abstract

UDK 28-725:374.71
         28-67

Many factors, to a higher or a lesser degree influence the per­formance of an imam in any given time or region. One ex­ceptionally significant factor that has an impact upon one’s interaction with others is cultural context with the regard to the substantial reflexion of culture upon one’s understanding of all encountered phenomenon. The article analyses mission­ary activity of imams in European context with a perspective of cultural intelligence as a concept that is theoretically new but in practice actually, very old. Culture is an element that significantly colours our image of reality that surrounds us and therefore it obliges us to have better and more comprehen­sive understanding of it. The article explains the phenomenon of cross­cultural competence and cultural intelligence and it discusses its relevance to an individual as well as to a society. Special accent is placed on impact of reflection of cultural in­telligence upon activities of an imam in different cultural con­text and their mission in jamaats in diaspora. Imam stands in front of his jamaat as its leader but he also follows where his jammat goes. Keeping in mind that a quite large number of Bosniaks has migrated from their homeland, we can say that this issue is additionally gaining in weight. The article theoreti­cally analyses phenomenon of culture and cultural intelligence with some practical illustrations that should be kept in mind.