Sermons (Vaz) and preachers (vaiz) in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

Sermon (vaz), as a form of Islamic religious education and moral im- provement, has been present since the time of Muhammed a.s. tili the present day, in ali Islamic communities in the countries in which Muslims live. Many benefactors and vakifs determined in their endowments that the sermons were to be held on a certain day or either during the whole year. The most competent alims were, as a rule, appointed for preachers.

The sermons (vaz) were first held in Bosnia and Herzegovina, immediately after the acceptance of Islam by the population. That form of religious education permanetly lasts to the present day. In certain mosques permanent preachers are appointed, and they give their sermon (vaz) at least once a week. There were also the so called „sejjar-vaiz“ who went frorn town to town and gave sermons (vaz). There were also the so called ,,lay preachers" (dersiam). Some of the preachers prepared collections of sermons (vaz) which served to other preachers as textbooks. Some of these collections were even published.