In this teaching, Ayberk Efendi sheds light on one of the most tragic chapters of recent history: the war that devastated Bosnia and Herzegovina in the early 1990s. He places the conflict not only within political or ethnic narratives but within a larger divine timetable, as a sign pointing towards the final days, or what Sufi tradition refers to as Armageddon.
Ayberk Efendi explains that the war was driven by forces seeking to destabilise a region historically tied to the Ottoman legacy. Bosnia’s position at the crossroads of East and West made it an arena for powers intent on reshaping the balance of influence after the collapse of the Soviet bloc. By supporting separatist movements and arming militias, external actors aimed to erode the sense of unity that centuries of Ottoman presence had fostered.
From a spiritual perspective, the turmoil is read as a test for humanity. The suffering of ordinary Bosnians, families torn apart, monuments destroyed, lives shattered, is seen as one of the kıyamet signs described in classical Sufi texts: discord among peoples, the rise of false leaders and the erosion of justice. Yet within every trial, Ayberk Efendi reminds us, lies an invitation to return to the path of divine love (mahbubiyet) and inner purification. The Bosnian tragedy is both a warning and a call to awaken the deeper consciousness that the Ottoman‑Sufi heritage has preserved for centuries.
He closes with practical guidance: to turn our grief into dhikr (remembrance), to support survivors with compassion, and to keep alive the spiritual lineage that can turn pain into hope. In this way we honour those who suffered and take part in the shared effort towards the era of peace foretold by the prophets.
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