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INTERVIEW
Interview
INTERVIEW
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ISLAM BALKAN COMMUNITY / MUNICH, GERMANY
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 LIVE
INTERVIEW Saturday 21.July, 2001 |
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Brother
Besnik Osman Rama is Director of the
Islamic Community "Islam-Balkan" in Munich.
Karlstr. 43 (Innenhof)
80336 München,Germany
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HDII:
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Asalam alaikum brother Besnik!
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| BR: |
Wa alaikum salam
brother Rashid. |
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HDII: |
When did the Islam-Balkan Community establish?
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BR: |
"Islam-Balkan" established itself in 1992 by a group of Albanians
who have lived a longtime in Munich. They needed to get together in order
not to forget their identity, backgrounds and culture.
80% of their culture comes from the Islamic side in History. They were
far away from their homeland due to the difficult times of the regime
at that time. The local Albanian muslims felt the need to practice their
religion and culture in an environment of their own thus "Islam-Balkan"
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| HDII: |
How many
members do you have at present in "Islam-Balkan"? |
| BR: |
At the moment we have four hundred
members. Most are Albanian,or from the Balkan area, some are Turkish and
Arab.. |
| HDII: |
The Friday
Khutba (Sermon), what language is it in? |
| BR: |
The Khutba for the Friday
Prayer is in the Albanian language. One hour before the Khutba takes place
while the people are waiting we have lectures about the religion in other
languages. For example in Bosnian, or even German sometimes depending on
the needs of the Community at that time. Our Albanian Imam studied in Medinah
University, Saudi Arabia. He is a very good Imam with much knowledge about
Islam.This helps us in understanding our religion and solving our daily
problems in this life. |
| HDII: |
I understand
that the Mosque is completely full for the Friday Prayers at 13:30 Hours. |
| BR: |
Yes, your right, a great number
of the Muslim Community are able to attend the Friday Prayers. The Mosque
in most cases is over flowing and many have to pray outside the Mosque or
in the corridors due to the capacity. The Friday Prayer is called "salatul
Jummah" in arabic. Muslims from many nationalities attend, Africans
for example, even german muslims, some of which are new to Islam or even
many years in Islam. We muslims are from all over the world, we are not
limited to just Albanians......muslims are muslims a broad spectrum of tolerance.. |
| HDII: |
How
long have you been the Director of the Islam-Balkan Community? |
| BR: |
Since May 2000. |
| HDII: |
Have you
achieved anything in this short time? |
| BR: |
First when I arrived, I wanted to
change the look of the Mosque, offices and facilities. So we decided to
renovate and re-decorate the place as much as possible. For example, painting,
new carpets, decorating the Mosque,and even upgrading the washing and toilet
facilities. We upgraded our facilities to a more acceptable and better standard.
We do have our own Canteen facilities as well. Our members can enjoy a longer
stay by sitting and eating. They meet together and enjoy each others company
thus keeping up regular stable contacts within the community. |
| HDII: |
What
activities do you have in the Community? |
| BR: |
On Saturdays between
the Asr prayer (after midday)and the Maghrib prayer time (sundown) the women
have their gatherings, where they receive also lectures on various subjects
in Islam. Every Saturday and Sunday we have Free Arabic Courses for the
Youth, with Quran Lessons. Between Maghrib and Isha Prayers (night prayer)
the Imam gives speaches to the youth. This is done in the Albanian and Bosnian
languages. We do occasionally invite turkish speakers and german speakers. |
| HDII: |
Is
the Mosque open at all the fixed five daily prayer times? |
| BR: |
Yes it is open for all the daily
prayers, even for the early morning dawn prayers people come. |
| HOII: |
Are there
any other facilities or services that you offer? |
| BR: |
Books, we do sell Islamic
Books in the Albanian language, and in Bosnian, plus German. A list of some
of these books can be seen on our website http://www.islam-balkan.de.vu
Our website is also a new service. We are in the stages of developing it
further. Our address and email adress can be seen on our web contact page
along with our telephone and fax numbers. I can be contacted through these
for any further information anyone may need. |
| HDII: |
How
is the Community Financed? |
| BR: |
By our own members
mainly. We have muslims who are not full time members but attend the Mosque
for prayers or just visit, they do give private donations and do contribute
in their own little ways. We have a lot of running costs, rent, water, electricity,
insurance, and maintenance are only some of the main things we need to cover
in order to survive. Munich as everyone knows has one of the most expensive
rent prices in the world. We have more than 500 meter squared floor space
in our Community Center. So you see its not so easy. But al-hamdoolillah
(praises belong to Allah) we are not far from the City Centre, seven minutes
by the tram line and also nearby is the local underground railway system. |
| HDII: |
Do
you have any aims? |
| BR: |
To inform the muslim
community more about Islam, especially our young generation who are easily
misled by the Media and the Modern day pressures of this world which is
very materialistic. I would like to see and help the Islamic Youth Movement
to develope more. To lead our lives as based on the rules and rights as
explained in the Holy Quran and from the best examples set for us through
the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. |
| HDII: |
Can you
tell us a little about yourself Brother Besnik? |
| BR: |
In Albania I was very involved in Islamic Work. From 1990 to 1992 I was
Head of the Islamic Youth Movement there. In October 1999 I arrived in
Germany from Malaysia where I had studied arabic. My father-in-law was
working as Director of RISEAP a Dawa Organisation in Kuala Lumpur. He
is a german muslim since many years. He studied and lived in Saudi Arabia
for a long time. I have a small daughter called Jasmin, she is four years
old.
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| HDII: |
Tell us
about your latest Project? |
| BR: |
We want to have
the two volumes of Fiq-al-Sunnah translated from the english version to
the Albanian language. This I could possibly get an Albanian student to
do. It would be a great help for our community to have these books.The
Albanian people have no translations of this important islamic arabic
works. We are looking for donations and sponsors to help us with the printing
publishing and translation costs involved. Actually we have a great shortage
of good islamic books which need to be translated into our language. Thus
I appeal to those brothers and sisters who wish to contribute to for the
sake of Allah. Allah will reward the Helpers in such work. Please address
your help to : Project:Fiq-al-Sunnah
Islamische Gemeinschaft
"Balkan" e.V.
Karlstr. 43 (Innenhof)
80336 München, Germany
Bank: / Stadtsparkasse
München Account number.
108-148-404 / Bankcode
701 500 00
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| HDII: |
Thank you very much brother Besnik, in-sha-Allah
this Project will get its help and support and may Allah reward those
who do so.In-sha-Allah HDII will keep an eye on this Project and will
let our Web Visitors know how its progressing. Thank you also for informing
us on
" ISLAM-BALKAN " in MÜNCHEN
(Munich)
Asalamu alaikum!
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| BR: |
Wa alaikum salam brother
Rashid, and thanks for giving me this opportunity to reach our brothers
and sisters in this modern day and age through the HDI INTERNET Highway! |
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HDII
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