Special Event: Muslims in Luxembourg United and Attached to the Quran

To the east of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, near the German border, lies Echternach, a charming town on the banks of the Sûre River, which, neither by its territorial size nor by the number of its inhabitants, particularly attracts attention. However, as early as the 7th century, during the lifetime of many companions of the Prophet Muhammad, a Benedictine monastery was founded in this town, which played an important spiritual and cultural role for Luxembourg and the surrounding region for centuries, and which is now a must-visit destination for many tourists. In order to symbolically preserve the spiritual continuity of this town inspired by the Last Revelation, the Shoura – the Assembly of the Muslim Community of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, ensured to organize last Saturday, February 3, 2024, the first Quran Evening in the large Trifolion hall in the heart of Echternach.

Hundreds of guests from different regions of the Grand Duchy came to nourish their souls by listening to the Quran. The very concept of the event, through the active participation of 11 mosques, breathed unity of the Muslim community, structured in Luxembourg by the establishment of a common representative and coordinating body, the Shoura.

The evening dedicated to the Quran with melodic recitation was opened by the reciter Hafiz Mustafa Khamees, who came specially from Frankfurt for the occasion. Following him, the recitation further enchanted the souls of those present with a special guest from the capital of Sandzak, the reciter Hafiz Sabahudin Jerebičanin.

This was followed by the recitation by representatives of Luxembourgish mosques: Yusuf Khemiri from the “Le Juste Milieu” mosque, Hafiz Sead ef. Subašić from the Centre Culturel Islamique de Luxembourg located in Mamer, Musa Ćupi from the Centre Culturel Islamique Nordstad in Diekirch, then Ammar ef. Horozović from the AIWL mosque in Wiltz, Isam Smigalović from the Centre Islamique au Luxembourg in Contern, Racheed Naji from the Afnane mosque in Differdange, the young Sufjan Mustafić from the “Gazi Isa-beg” Islamic Center in Esch-sur-Alzette, equally young Ibrahim Osmandić from the AIL mosque in Bonnevoie, Nedžad ef. Zilkić from the Berat mosque in Esch-sur-Alzette, and finally the recitation by Sheikh Salim Yahiouche from the “Al Rahma” mosque in Differdange.

The highlight of this magnificent event – in terms of number of participants, quality of organization, demonstration of unity, as well as thematically – perhaps never matched before in Luxembourg, certainly within the framework of the Muslim community, was the presentation of the recognition certificate to the first Hafiz born in Luxembourg, Hamza Bošnjak. The young Hafiz Hamza was presented with a symbolic gift and a plaque of recognition by the religious leader of the Muslims of Luxembourg, Hafiz Hilmija ef. Redžić, and the president of the Shoura, Jasmin Jahić. Their concise speeches added positive energy to the extraordinary atmosphere that prevailed throughout the event program.

The recitation of some Anasheed, in Arabic and Bosnian, thus completed the offering of the Quranic evening on Saturday in Echternach, through which the Muslims of Luxembourg sent a message not only of competence and unity, but also of their deep attachment to the word of Allah – the Quran.

The evening continued and ended with a buffet and friendly exchanges.

The moderator of the event was Elvedin Halilović.