MADRASA REFORMS DURING THE TIME OF GRAND MUFTI DŽEMALUDIN ČAUŠEVIĆ AND TODAY’S MADRASA REFORMS

Abstract

Throughout the 20th century, Muslim educational institutions (madrasas) underwent constant changes as they adapted to the requirements of different systems and times. The functioning of madrasas in 20th century in Bosnia and Herzegovina should be viewed through the lens of at least four periods: Austro-Hungarian rule (1878 – 1918); the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians and Yugoslavia (1918-1945); Socialist Yugoslavia (1945 – 1992); and finally, independent Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992 – present). This text by Abdulgafar Velić compares madrasa reforms during the time of the Grand Mufti Džemaludin Čaušević (Grand Mufti from 1914 – 1930) with more recent madrasa reforms in the present day. The book offers information about madrasas during the time of Austria-Hungary, World War I, and the Kingdom of Yugoslaviaalong with a brief outline of the role of
the Grand Mufti Džemaludin Čaušević. The second part of the work turns to present-day conditions in madrasas under the jurisdiction of the Riyaset of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It compares the two periods, the circumstances, and the conditions in which madrasas functioned and continues to function, and contrasts the programs of instruction, teaching aids, and instructional personnel in the different eras.