In a move that stands out in Kosovo's religious landscape, the village of Dubova e Madhe, located in the city of Peja, has become the first Kosovar village to remove the Arabic language from its funeral ceremonies.
 |
The decision was reportedly made because the villagers do not understand Arabic and prefer the rituals to be conducted in their native language, Albanian. Dubova e Madhe is pioneering this change by choosing to conduct its religious ceremonies, specifically those related to funerals, solely in Albanian.
Upon hearing of this decision, the media reached out to Enes Goga, the chief imam of Peja, for clarification. Imam Goga stated that there is no formal decision regarding this matter, suggesting that it is merely an idea proposed to streamline the religious ceremonies. He elaborated on how he views this proposal and discussed the stance of the Islamic Community of Kosovo on the matter.
However, the local mosque in Dubova e Madhe reacted differently to the news. In a public statement, the mosque clarified that while other religious rituals are conducted in Arabic, only the funeral ceremony is performed in Albanian.
The statement emphasized that all other religious rites, including the call to prayer and the five daily prayers, are performed in Arabic in accordance with religious authenticity and the regulations of the Islamic Community of Kosovo.
The recent discussion and debate surrounding the removal of Arabic from funeral ceremonies in Dubova e Madhe stem from a misunderstanding. The mosque reiterated that the funeral ceremony concludes with a prayer in Albanian after the funeral prayer, as has been the tradition for many years, aligning with the regulations and statutes of the Islamic Community of Kosovo.