Bosnia and Herzegovina

Islam in Bosnia and Herzegovina holds a unique and important place as part of the country’s history, identity, and culture. Bosnia is the only country in Europe (outside Turkey and parts of Russia) where a significant portion of the indigenous population is Muslim.

1. Muslim Population

  • About 50% of Bosnia’s population are Muslims, mostly ethnic Bosniaks.
  • Bosnia has one of the largest native Muslim populations in Europe.
  • The rest of the population includes Orthodox Serbs (30%), Catholic Croats (15%), and other minorities.

2. History of Islam in Bosnia

  • Islam arrived in the 15th century after the Ottoman Empire conquered Bosnia in 1463.
  • Over time, a significant portion of the local Slavic population converted to Islam for social, political, and economic reasons.
  • The Ottoman rule lasted over 400 years, leaving a lasting impact on Bosnia’s culture, architecture, and society.

3. Religious Practices

  • The vast majority of Bosnian Muslims are Sunni (Hanafi school).
  • There are small communities of Sufis, and some Islamic mystical traditions remain alive in rural areas.
  • Shia Islam has virtually no presence.

4. Mosques and Religious Life
Before the 1992–1995 Bosnian War, Bosnia had over 4,000 mosques. Many mosques were destroyed during the war, but most have since been rebuilt or restored. Notable mosques include:

  • Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque in Sarajevo — the most famous Ottoman mosque in the Balkans.
  • Ferhadija Mosque in Banja Luka, rebuilt after being destroyed during the war.

5. Islam After the War

  • After the breakup of Yugoslavia, Bosnia’s Islamic identity was revitalized, and religious life became more visible.
  • The Islamic Community of Bosnia and Herzegovina (based in Sarajevo) manages religious affairs and mosques.
  • Public Islamic practices (like headscarves, fasting during Ramadan, and halal food) have increased, especially among the younger generation.

6. Influence of Sufism (Tasawwuf)

  • Bosnia has a rich tradition of Sufi orders (Tariqas), like the Naqshbandi and Qadiri orders.
  • Sufi music, poetry, and dhikr (remembrance rituals) remain part of Bosnia’s spiritual life.

7. Challenges

  • Islamophobia and anti-Muslim sentiment exist in some parts of the country, especially in areas with Serb and Croat majorities.
  • Some foreign Islamic influences (mainly Salafi/Wahhabi elements) arrived during and after the war but remain a small minority.
  • Integration vs. secularism debates are ongoing, especially in cities like Sarajevo.

8. Education and Culture

  • Islamic religious classes are offered in public schools for Muslim children.
  • Sarajevo has Islamic theology faculties, training imams and Islamic scholars.
  • Halal certification has expanded, with Bosnia exporting halal meat and products to Muslim countries.

9. Political and Social Role

  • Islam plays a cultural and social role but does not dominate politics.
  • Bosniak nationalist parties often reference Islam, but Bosnia remains officially a secular state.

10. Fun Fact

  • Bosnia hosts the largest Eid al-Fitr prayers in Europe, often held at Sarajevo’s central mosques and attended by thousands.
  • The annual Ajvatovica pilgrimage (in central Bosnia) is Europe’s oldest Islamic pilgrimage site, dating back to the Ottoman period.

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Country Code Top-Level Domain: .ba
Country Code: +387