THE MISSING ‘ALIM

TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF PARTING TO THE HEREAFTER OF MR. NIJAZA ŠUKRIĆA

Abstract

This article is written with an aim to remind us of a great ‘alim – Nijaz ef. Šukrić –as an exceptional paradigm of certain qualities of an extraordinary man and scholar, qualities that lack in many of our contemporary social elite of our community, and are scarce in our society in general. Having these values and qualities of prof. Šukrić as a starting point, this article engages in a discussion about contemporary issues and the position of these values in our society. The author stresses that values like nobility, honesty, authority, courage ought to be found in figures of moral and scholarly authorities and role models. Keeping in mind the portfolio of prof. Šukrić and his professional career in the field of Arabic language and literature and the history of the Islamic culture and civilisation, the author highlights his pedagogical skills, his methods of teaching and the influence he head upon numerous generations of high school and university students that he taught. The author also draws a parallel with our contemporary students – teachers relations pointing out the problems therein that have resulted in an atmosphere of mistrust and consequently brought about degrading the value of learning and the knowledge itself. The author considers prof. Šukrić an exemplary figure of his time, who as a historian and a witness of recent events in our country represents conscious, active and responsible participant of his time capable of naming people and events with their real names. He further points that prof. Šukrić character traits like peace-loving and justice towards different and others are no less important, especially having in mind that he was an immediate victim of hatred and chauvinism of these very others and different.