Khutba by Grand Mufti of Bosnia at the Memorial center in Potocari, Srebrenica

All the praises be to Allah.

We praise Him, seek His help and guidance.

We seek refuge in Allah from the evil of ourselves

And from the sinfulness of our actions.

And whoever Allah leaves astray – for him there is no guide. And whoever Allah guides – for him there is no misleader. To Him belong all things and to Him they shall be returned. All will stand before His judgment and will be accountable for their deeds.

We testify that Mohammed (peace be upon him) is the Messenger of Allah. We testify that promise of Allah is true, and to meet Him is true and that Hour is determined – no doubt about it. We believe that Allah will resurrect those in the graves.

Our Creator, who created us and this world, says that good deed and bad deed are not alike - ولا تستوي الحسنة و لا السيئة .

Ramadan is a month of gentleness. Its beauty and blessings reflect the most beautiful mosaic of spirituality in the souls of the faithful. During these chosen and gentle days we listen to the melody of the words of Koran, which smoothly descend on our senses enriching us.

At the same time, the words of Koran admonish those whose hearts are alive and in search for meaning and truth. That's why we fast.

In the patience of fasting we seek the strength to step forward, to leave our burdens behind, the heavy and easy ones, the sinful thoughts and evil deeds. Let's turn our faces to Merciful Lord! We seek His help and protection against evil men and their evil deeds.

Let's resort to a brother and sister with whom we share the blessings of faith and hardships of everyday life. We must move on if we want to survive. Such is the worldly life that Allah has created.

Brothers and sisters, friends, parents, children and relatives of the good Bosnian martyrs,

Today, on 11 July 2014, we gathered here in Potočari on the same occasion as so many times before.

We are here to fulfil our duty, to perform funeral and bury the bones we have collected nineteen years after genocide.

This year again, we are here for those who were taken away from our lives, the innocent ones who were killed in horrible way. Our pain is sky high and in such a pain we live these worldly days.

Today, we give the bones of our beloved ones to earth of which they were created. Today, we remember the images of horror that haunted us all these years. We wrap the remains of our lives in the green cloth, as they disappear before our eyes. But, that is only for the time being because we believe in the Judgment Day, the eternal life and God's justice, which is inevitable, absolute and final.

And, as we stand here, at Musala in Potočari, next to green coffins and among the white tombstones and pray, out hearts are calmed with god's words:

ام حسب الذين اجترحوا السيأت ان نجعلهم كالذين أمنوا و عملوا الصالحات سواء محياهم و مماتهم ساء ما يحكمون, وخلق الله السماوات و الارض بالحق و لتجزي كل نفس بما كسبت و هم لا يظلمون

Those who commit evils think We will make them like those who have believed and done righteous deeds - [make them] equal in their life and their death? Evil is that which they judge!

And Allah created the heavens and earth in truth and so that every soul may be recompensed for what it has earned, and they will not be wronged. (Al-Jasiyah, 21-22)

Brothers and Sisters,

Nineteen years ago, the darkest evil of this world started its bloody parade in this place. This evil, embodied in the genocide in Srebrenica and other parts of this beautiful country, has not yet overcome. It still finds its habitat in the souls and desires of many, and it cannot be removed from there without remorse and a straight and open encounter with it. It takes great spiritual strength to win such a magnificent victory. Before our eyes we still see hatred enthroned in casemates, which devours itself, the beast that chokes in its own sin. The evil will be defeated when the rose of repentance blossom. I am convinced that only then Srebrenica will resurrect, innocent and pure. Until then, we have to talk about evil and point fingers at its organizers.

I call upon the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina to reject the glorification of criminals and denial of crimes. That will bring them neither good nor fortune. Instead of such acts, which defy human dignity and account to shame of civilization, let us help to achieve justice and ensure that victims live dignified lives.

Brothers and Sisters,

We need strength. We need faith in the Righteousness of God and His Mercy. We need faith that He will free us of the evil tyranny and descend justice and peace to our beautiful region.

Faith will build love, and love will awaken life in us, revive the hope and show us a new way. Life without faith in God's judgment and His righteousness brings despair and opens a chasm in our souls. The Srebrenica genocide is cosmically big and our pain is even greater.

Let's listen to the words of the Lord Almighty and Merciful:

قل للذين امنوايغفروا للذين لا يرجون ايام الله ليجزي قوما بما كانوا يكسبون, من عمل صالحا فلنفسه و من اساء فعليها ثم الي ربكم ترجعون,

Say to the believers to forgive those who hope not for the Days of Allah, that He may recompense people, according to what they have earned.

Whosoever does a good deed, it is for himself, and whosoever does evil, it is against [himself]. Then you will be made to return to your Lord. (Al-Jathiyah, 14-15)

Let's turn our faces in these days of remembrance to Him Who Knows the secrets, Who Hears prayers, Who Heals wounds, Who Relieves pain and sorrow and Who Promises „that indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.“

Dear Mothers,

Your pain is great but we believe that your love is even greater. Your blessing is essential to us so that we can find our own path. Today, we are all your sons and daughters, and together with you we pray:

Merciful God,

If error befalls us, give us the strength of Adam's repentance;

If heresy darkens us, enlighten our path with Abraham's orthodoxy;

If disaster befalls us, teach us of Noah's Ark;

If we area caught by the fear of tyrants, empower us with Moses' justice;

If hatred offers itself to us, save us with the Isa's love;

If we are expelled from our homes strengthen us with Mohammed's desire to return.

Just God!

Please take away the violent sword from tyrants,

and empower the weak with the faith in truth and justice.

God, please,

May grief become hope,

May vengeance become justice,

May mother's tears become prayers

That Srebrenica never happens again to no one and nowhere!

Amen!