Spahic Omer

• International Islamic University Malaysia

This article discusses the religiosity, historicity and architecturality of the Quba’ mosque in the holy city of Madinah. It does so through the literary works of the early Muslim visitors and scholars. The discussion covers the timespan from the earliest periods of the Islamic presence in the Prophet’s city till the age al-Samahudi whose scholarly...

This article discusses the reasons, why, unlike their Serb and Croat neighbors, the Bosniaks embraced Islam. Though somewhat gradual, the process was both collective and earnest, amounting to a phenomenon rarely witnessed in the latter periods of Islamic civilization in general, and the expansion of the Ottoman Caliphate in particular. Different sc...

At the turn of the 20 th century, Palestine was assailed from all directions, both actually and ideologically. Britain and later Israel were responsible for the former, while the Enlightenment and the ensuing democratic as well as liberal thought of the West in general were culpable for the latter. It is almost impossible to ascertain which feature...

This article discusses the topic of Bosnian nationalism at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries, juxtaposing it with Palestinian nationalism during the same period. The article shows that while a uniquely Bosnian style of nationalism in a uniquely Bosnian set of circumstances was a good thing, the Palestinian counterpart was...

The contents: Western institutions and leaders lining up to continue supporting the Israeli oppression; Israel as a bastard “child” of the West; A brief history of the hypocrisy and wickedness of the West; From Western civilization to Western un-civilization; Muslims should boycott Western un-civilization in the form of bad ideas and inappropriate...

This article discusses why modernist and postmodern architectural styles are problematic as far as the Islamic message and the Muslim religious consciousness are concerned. This is done against the backdrop of the profound meaning of Islamic architecture, both as an idea and a physical reality. The article concludes that modernist architecture and...

The contents: The meaning of masjid al-Dir'; Masjid al-Dir' as a "transit" and the Prophet's wearing of his armours twice; Masjid al-Dir' and its other names, then and now; The security advantages of the mosque and its surroundings; The simple, yet profound, architecture of the mosque)

The Ottomans first made an appearance in the Balkan region after John Kantakouzenos requested Sultan Orhan Is assistance to win the Byzantine throne. During their later assistance, the Ottomans acquired Fort of Tzympe in Gallipoli as their base in the Balkan region. After the annexation of Gallipoli city, the Ottomans affirmed their intention to ex...