Ibrahim Biočka's kasida
The memorial of alhamiado literature of Sandžak Muslims
Abstract
On the basis of two found original manuscripts; another important writer of Alhamiado literature is discovered. It is Ibrahim Pačariz born at a village Bioči in Sandžak (Socialistic Republic of Montenegro) 1852. He was killed in Brodarevo (Sandžak) 1922. By profession he was a teacher and imam. Among the writers of Alhamiado literature he occupies an outstanding position. Using the Arabic alphabet he wrote the major part of his works in Serbo-Croatian. He wrote eight (both major and minor) works, seven in verse and one in prose. One poem written in Albanian language, is full of Turkish words. All his works are from the scope of morality and social ethics. They deal with human relations in society. His most important work is Kasida; a poem in rhymed prose which consists of 16 parts (270) verses. The text of this work is here presented. It was written in 1906. However, both of them are written by Biočak. That points to a fact that also other revised Kasidas of native authors are the works of the same author. Otherwise Biočak's Kasida has all qualities of Oriental, Islamic work (introduction, main contents and the end with colophon and biographical data). The appearance of Biočak's work is neither isolated nor unexpected. He lived and worked in the time of acute national renaissance of Balkan people and their aspiration for writing in native languages. So, the numerous writers of Alhamiado literature emerged. Together with them Ibrahim Pačariz represents a protagonist of a literary renaissance of the Muslims from Serbo-Croatian speaking territory. A man who made a direct influence to Biočak's work was hafiz Salih Gašević, born in Nikšić (SR Montenegro).
In the introductory part of Biočak's Kasida and Gaševic’s Mevlud (poem on birth of Muhammed); first edited in 1893/94 numerous identical terms, thoughts and even entire language constructions were presented. The original Biočak's works are now a private property of some people in Sarajevo and Prijepolje. The copy of the manuscript is deposited in Gazi Husrev-bey's Library.
