Muftiship of Novi Sad
Encyclopedia
Muftiship of Novi Sad is one of the four muftiships of the Islamic Community in Serbia. Muftiship is including territory of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina
Vojvodina
Vojvodina, officially called Autonomous Province of Vojvodina is an autonomous province of Serbia. Its capital and largest city is Novi Sad...

 and its seat is in Novi Sad
Novi Sad
Novi Sad is the capital of the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina, and the administrative centre of the South Bačka District. The city is located in the southern part of Pannonian Plain on the Danube river....

. Administrator of the muftiship is mufti Fadil Murati.

Organization and number of adherents

Muftiship is divided into four organizational divisions:
  • Novi Sad
    Novi Sad
    Novi Sad is the capital of the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina, and the administrative centre of the South Bačka District. The city is located in the southern part of Pannonian Plain on the Danube river....

  • Beočin
    Beocin
    Beočin is a town and municipality in the Vojvodina province, Serbia. The population of the town is 8,037, whilst Beočin's municipality population is 16,029...

  • Subotica
    Subotica
    Subotica is a city and municipality in northern Serbia, in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina...

  • Zrenjanin
    Zrenjanin
    Zrenjanin is a city and municipality located in the eastern part of Serbian province of Vojvodina. It is the administrative centre of the Central Banat District of Serbia...



According to the 2002 census in Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...

, there were 8,073 Muslims in the territory of the muftiship

Number of Muslims in districts of Vojvodina
Vojvodina
Vojvodina, officially called Autonomous Province of Vojvodina is an autonomous province of Serbia. Its capital and largest city is Novi Sad...

 was as follows:
  • North Bačka District
    North Backa District
    North Bačka District is a northern district of Serbia. It lies in the Bačka region in the autonomous province of Vojvodina. It has a population of 200,140...

    : 1,180
  • West Bačka District
    West Backa District
    West Bačka District is a northern district of Serbia. It lies in the region of Bačka, in the autonomous province of Vojvodina. It has a population of 215,916...

    : 268
  • South Bačka District
    South Backa District
    South Bačka District is a northern district of Serbia. It lies in the southern part of Bačka and northern part of Syrmia, in the autonomous province of Vojvodina. It has a population of 607,835...

    : 4,074
  • Srem District
    Srem District
    Syrmia or Srem District is a northwestern district of Serbia. It lies in the regions of Syrmia and Mačva, in the autonomous province of Vojvodina. It has a population of 309,981...

    : 384
  • North Banat District
    North Banat District
    North Banat District is a northern district of Serbia. It lies in the regions of Banat and Bačka, in the autonomous province of Vojvodina. As of the 2002 census, the district has a population of 165,881. The seat of the district is Kikinda....

    : 273
  • Central Banat District
    Central Banat District
    Central Banat District is a northeastern district of Serbia. It lies in the region of Banat, in the autonomous province of Vojvodina. It has a population of 208,456...

    : 957
  • South Banat District
    South Banat District
    South Banat District is a northeastern district of Serbia with the seat of the district in Pančevo. It borders Romania to the east. The district lies in the region of Banat, in the autonomous province of Vojvodina...

    : 937


Muslims of Vojvodina are members of various ethnic groups, including Muslims by nationality
Muslims by nationality
Muslims by nationality was a term used in Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia as an official designation of nationality of Slavic Muslims. They were one of the constitutive groups of Bosnia and Herzegovina...

, Bosniaks
Bosniaks
The Bosniaks or Bosniacs are a South Slavic ethnic group, living mainly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a smaller minority also present in other lands of the Balkan Peninsula especially in Serbia, Montenegro and Croatia...

, Albanians
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...

, Gorani, Ashkali
Ashkali
In the Balkans, the Ashkali and Egyptians are Albanian-speaking ethnic minorities of Kosovo and Albania. Observers consider them Albanized Romanies, but they do not self-identify as such...

, Egyptians, Roma, etc. As 101,144 citizens of Vojvodina did not declare their religion in the 2002 census and that 42,876 of the citizens were listed as citizens whose religion is unknown, number of Muslims in Vojvodina is potentially higher than the number presented in the census. According to imam Fadil Murati, there are 50,000 Muslims in Vojvodina
Vojvodina
Vojvodina, officially called Autonomous Province of Vojvodina is an autonomous province of Serbia. Its capital and largest city is Novi Sad...

, of which 20,000 in Novi Sad
Novi Sad
Novi Sad is the capital of the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina, and the administrative centre of the South Bačka District. The city is located in the southern part of Pannonian Plain on the Danube river....

.

Besides Muftiship of Novi Sad of the Islamic Community in Serbia, which includes most of the Muslims of Vojvodina, rival Islamic Community of Serbia is also nominally present in the region and it is organizationally divided into Medžlis of Bačka
Backa
Bačka is a geographical area within the Pannonian plain bordered by the river Danube to the west and south, and by the river Tisza to the east of which confluence is located near Titel...

 and Medžlis of Banat
Banat
The Banat is a geographical and historical region in Central Europe currently divided between three countries: the eastern part lies in western Romania , the western part in northeastern Serbia , and a small...

.

History

Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and .   : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...

 appeared in the territory of present-day Vojvodina
Vojvodina
Vojvodina, officially called Autonomous Province of Vojvodina is an autonomous province of Serbia. Its capital and largest city is Novi Sad...

 in the 16th century, when this area became part of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...

. Syrmia
Syrmia
Syrmia is a fertile region of the Pannonian Plain in Europe, between the Danube and Sava rivers. It is divided between Serbia in the east and Croatia in the west....

 was part of the Ottoman Empire since 1526 (including the period of vassal Syrmian duchy of Radoslav Čelnik
Radoslav Celnik
Radoslav Čelnik was a duke of Srem in the 16th century. At first, Radoslav Čelnik was a general commander of Emperor Jovan Nenad's army. In 1527, when Emperor Jovan Nenad was murdered and his army was dispersed, Radoslav Čelnik, together with part of the former emperor's army moved from Bačka to...

 that existed from 1527 to 1530), while Bačka
Backa
Bačka is a geographical area within the Pannonian plain bordered by the river Danube to the west and south, and by the river Tisza to the east of which confluence is located near Titel...

 and Banat
Banat
The Banat is a geographical and historical region in Central Europe currently divided between three countries: the eastern part lies in western Romania , the western part in northeastern Serbia , and a small...

 were included into Ottoman Empire later, in 1541-1545 (Bačka) and in 1552-1556 (Banat). Ottoman leader who conquered Banat was Muslim Serb
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...

 Mehmed paša Sokolović, whose army included 8,000 janissaries and 100,000 akindjias, of whom 20,000 were Serbs.

During the Ottoman administration in the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...

 and in the Pannonian Plain, many Serbs converted to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and .   : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...

, which was a condition for advancement in the state service. Some Muslim Serbs were in high administrative positions, like bej Malković
Malkoçoğlu Family
Malkoçov-Malkoçoğlu Family , is one of the certain families that led the Akıncı corps in Ottoman Empire between 14th-16th centuries. They served mainly in the Balkan conquest of the empire. The members of the family usually served as Bey, Sanjak-bey, Beylerbey, Pasha and Castle Commanders. They...

, who was the first Ottoman administrator of Bečkerek or Hasan paša Predojević, who was administrator of the Sanjak of Segedin in 1592. During the time, descendants of Muslim Serbs developed a separate ethnic identity and today are known as Bosniaks
Bosniaks
The Bosniaks or Bosniacs are a South Slavic ethnic group, living mainly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a smaller minority also present in other lands of the Balkan Peninsula especially in Serbia, Montenegro and Croatia...

.

During the Ottoman administration, villages in Vojvodina were populated by Serbs
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...

, while cities were populated by ethnically and religiously diverse population which included Muslims (Turks, Muslim Serbs, Arabs), Serbs
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...

, Roma
Roma people
The Romani, who are known collectively in the Romani language as Romane or Rromane and also as Romany, Romanies, Romanis, Roma or Roms, are an ethnic group living mostly in Europe, who trace their origins to the Indian Subcontinent...

, Greeks
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....

, Cincars, Jews
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...

, etc.

Some cities of Vojvodina were majority Serb
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...

, some majority Muslim, while some had mixed populations. All settlements had mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...

s, while important cities also had administrative buildings, baths, Muslim schools and other public buildings. Main street (čaršija) usually had main trading and manufacturing shops.
According to the records, following important cities of Vojvodina had sizable Muslim populations in Ottoman times:
  • Mitrovica
    Sremska Mitrovica
    Sremska Mitrovica is a city and municipality located in the Vojvodina province of Serbia, on the left bank of the Sava river. As of 2002 the town had a total population of 39,041, while Sremska Mitrovica municipality had a population of 85,605...

     (modern Sremska Mitrovica) was an important Muslim city. According to 1572 data, its population included 598 Muslim and 18 Christian houses. City also had 17 mosques and did not had a Christian church.
  • Bečkerek (modern Zrenjanin) was one of the most important cities in Banat
    Banat
    The Banat is a geographical and historical region in Central Europe currently divided between three countries: the eastern part lies in western Romania , the western part in northeastern Serbia , and a small...

    . Because of the fact that local Serbs
    Serbs
    The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...

     from Bečkerek helped Ottoman conquest of Banat, Mehmed paša Sokolović turned this city into his endowment (vakuf) and its citizens were liberated from all military taxes. City was divided into two parts (mahalas) - one Muslim and another Serb.
  • Sombor
    Sombor
    Sombor is a city and municipality located in northwest part of Serbian autonomous province of Vojvodina. The city has a total population of 48,749 , while the Sombor municipality has 87,815 inhabitants...

     had 14 Muslim religious objects, of which 5 mosques and 9 mahala masjids.
  • Varadin
    Petrovaradin
    Petrovaradin , is part of the agglomeration of Novi Sad in Serbia...

     (modern Petrovaradin) had Muslim majority in Ottoman times. In Podgrađe (oldest part of modern town), there was about 200 houses and mosque of Sulejman-han, while two smaller mosques also existed: mosque of Hadži-Ibrahim and mosque of Husein. Besides two Muslim quarters (mahalas), there was also a Christian quarter with 35 Serb houses.
  • Vršac
    Vršac
    Vršac is a town and municipality located in Serbia. In 2002 the town's total population was 36,623, while Vršac municipality had 54,369 inhabitants. Vršac is located in the Banat region, in the Vojvodina province of Serbia. It is part of the South Banat District.-Name:The name Vršac is of Serbian...

     was mainly populated by Muslims in Ottoman times.
  • Titel
    Titel
    Titel is a town and municipality in the South Bačka District of the Vojvodina, Serbia. The town of Titel has a population of 5,831, while the population of the municipality of Titel is 16,936...

     was populated by Muslim and Serb population.


Ottoman Empire was divided into provinces (pashaluks or eyalets), which were divided into smaller units - sanjaks. In the territory of Banat
Banat
The Banat is a geographical and historical region in Central Europe currently divided between three countries: the eastern part lies in western Romania , the western part in northeastern Serbia , and a small...

 there was an first-level Ottoman administrative unit, the Eyalet of Temeşvar, while Sanjak of Syrmia
Sanjak of Syrmia
Sanjak of Syrmia was an administrative unit of the Ottoman Empire formed in 1541. It was located in the Syrmia region and was part of the Budin Province. Administrative center of the Sanjak of Syrmia was Dimitrofça...

 and Sanjak of Segedin existed in Syrmia
Syrmia
Syrmia is a fertile region of the Pannonian Plain in Europe, between the Danube and Sava rivers. It is divided between Serbia in the east and Croatia in the west....

 and Bačka
Backa
Bačka is a geographical area within the Pannonian plain bordered by the river Danube to the west and south, and by the river Tisza to the east of which confluence is located near Titel...

. Both sanjaks initially were part of the Eyalet of Budin, but Sanjak of Segedin was later included into the Eyalet of Egir.

After Habsburg
Habsburg Monarchy
The Habsburg Monarchy covered the territories ruled by the junior Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg , and then by the successor House of Habsburg-Lorraine , between 1526 and 1867/1918. The Imperial capital was Vienna, except from 1583 to 1611, when it was moved to Prague...

 conquest of Vojvodina
Vojvodina
Vojvodina, officially called Autonomous Province of Vojvodina is an autonomous province of Serbia. Its capital and largest city is Novi Sad...

 (late 17th and early 18th century), almost entire Muslim population left from this area. Some of the Muslim refugees were later resettled in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...

, mainly in its northern part and in the vicinity of river Bosnia, where they were known as "Unđurovci" ("refugees from Hungary"). Their larger settlements had "urijas" (rough municipal terrains), like in Vojvodina. Habsburgs also destroyed almost all traces of Islamic culture in Vojvodina and first mosque in Vojvodina after Habsburg conquest was built only in 2008 in Subotica
Subotica
Subotica is a city and municipality in northern Serbia, in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina...

, after almost three centuries.

Modern Muslim population of Vojvodina mostly descending from migrants who came to Vojvodina after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 from Muslim areas of former Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....

 - Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...

, Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...

, Sandžak
Sandžak
Sandžak also known as Raška is a historical region lying along the border between Serbia and Montenegro...

 and Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...

. In 1991, Islamic Community of Vojvodina with seat in Novi Sad
Novi Sad
Novi Sad is the capital of the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina, and the administrative centre of the South Bačka District. The city is located in the southern part of Pannonian Plain on the Danube river....

 was formed. With the formation of the Islamic Community in Serbia (in 2007), Islamic Community of Vojvodina became its part and was officially named the Muftiship of Novi Sad.

In April, 2009, there was a clash of two groups of Muslim believers in front of the masjid of Islamic community in Adamovićevo Naselje
Adamovicevo Naselje
Adamovićevo Naselje is a quarter of the city of Novi Sad in the Serbian province of Vojvodina.-Borders:The northern border of Adamovićevo Naselje is Futoška ulica , the eastern borders are Ulica Vojvode Knićanina and Ulica Kola srpskih sestara , the southern border is Bulevar cara Lazara...

 in Novi Sad
Novi Sad
Novi Sad is the capital of the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina, and the administrative centre of the South Bačka District. The city is located in the southern part of Pannonian Plain on the Danube river....

, when members of the rival Islamic Community of Serbia attempted to took over administrative offices of the Muftiship of Novi Sad and to replace imam Fadil Murati. Another clash between the two communities occurred in Beočin
Beocin
Beočin is a town and municipality in the Vojvodina province, Serbia. The population of the town is 8,037, whilst Beočin's municipality population is 16,029...

 in March, 2011.

Religious objects

Muftiship of Novi Sad possesses the following religious objects:
  • Masjid in Adamovićevo Naselje
    Adamovicevo Naselje
    Adamovićevo Naselje is a quarter of the city of Novi Sad in the Serbian province of Vojvodina.-Borders:The northern border of Adamovićevo Naselje is Futoška ulica , the eastern borders are Ulica Vojvode Knićanina and Ulica Kola srpskih sestara , the southern border is Bulevar cara Lazara...

     in Novi Sad
    Novi Sad
    Novi Sad is the capital of the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina, and the administrative centre of the South Bačka District. The city is located in the southern part of Pannonian Plain on the Danube river....

    , exists from 1979,
  • Masjid in Subotica
    Subotica
    Subotica is a city and municipality in northern Serbia, in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina...

    , exists from 2001,
  • Masjid in Veliki Rit
    Veliki Rit, Novi Sad
    Veliki Rit is a neighborhood of the city of Novi Sad in the Serbian province of Vojvodina.-Location:Veliki Rit is located in the northern part of Novi Sad between Klisa and Slana Bara in the west, Mišin Salaš and Mali Beograd in the south, Deponija in the north, and Radna Zona Sever 4 in the...

     in Novi Sad
    Novi Sad
    Novi Sad is the capital of the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina, and the administrative centre of the South Bačka District. The city is located in the southern part of Pannonian Plain on the Danube river....

    , exists from 2005,
  • Masjid in Beočin
    Beocin
    Beočin is a town and municipality in the Vojvodina province, Serbia. The population of the town is 8,037, whilst Beočin's municipality population is 16,029...

    , exists from 2006,
  • Muhadžir Mosque in Subotica
    Subotica
    Subotica is a city and municipality in northern Serbia, in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina...

    , built in 2008.

External links

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