A viral clip of Vladimir Putin kissing the Quran has sparked a powerful conversation across the Balkans and beyond. If one of the most influential world leaders can show such reverence to the holy book of Islam, what is stopping ordinary people from at least opening its pages? On this episode of The Deen Show, filmed in Sarajevo, a former Serbian atheist shares his deeply personal journey from emptiness and fear of death to discovering the truth of Islam — proving that faith transcends every border, nationality, and ethnic label.
From Atheism to Asking the Big Questions
Born into a mixed household — a Serbian Orthodox father and a nominally Muslim mother, both non-practicing products of communist Yugoslavia — our guest grew up believing that death was the absolute end. His father would tell him plainly: when you die, they put you two meters in the ground, the worms eat you, and that is it. But as he grew older, something stirred inside him. The fear of death consumed him, and a deep inner voice told him this life could not be meaningless. That restlessness launched a sincere search through every religion he could find — Hinduism, Christianity, Orthodox traditions — yet none of them satisfied his intellect or his soul.
- The Trinity in Christianity and Orthodox belief made no logical sense to him — if God wanted people to follow a religion, He would make it clear enough for anyone to understand
- He encountered the claim that Jesus (peace be upon him) was Serbian and God had a nationality — a concept his natural disposition rejected outright
- Whenever he asked questions in Christian forums or to knowledgeable Christians, he was told he was “asking too many questions” — they simply did not have the answers
- Islam, by contrast, provided a direct, rational answer to every question he carried: pure monotheism, no intermediaries, no contradictions
“If you really want to find the guidance, just read the translation of the Quran. I am 100% convinced that you will get your answers there. Read it with an open mind. Do not listen to the media saying Islam is terrorism. That is just propaganda. Islam is about worshiping one Creator who created everything — and it is for your own sake.”
Putin Kisses the Quran — Will Christians Follow?
The episode features a striking clip: Russian President Vladimir Putin, a figure deeply admired by many Serbian Orthodox Christians in the Balkans, is seen reverently kissing the Quran. The symbolism is undeniable — here is a man their communities look up to, showing ultimate respect to the book of Allah. Yet many of those same communities would not even open the Quran if they found one in their home. As our guest pointedly observed, if their own beloved leader can honor the Quran with a kiss, surely the least anyone can do is open it, read the first page, and see for themselves what it says.
Islam Transcends Nationalism — Stay Serb, Submit to God
- You do not have to change your name, your last name, or your nationality to become Muslim
- Islam erases the false barriers of race, ethnicity, and nationalism — it does not matter if you are Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian, black, or white
- The Quran answered every personal struggle he faced: why criminals seem to prosper, why good people suffer, and what awaits after death
- Discovering lectures by Dr. Zakir Naik gave him the final confirmation — his 99.9% conviction became 100%
- His advice to Muslims who have the Quran on their shelf but never read it: do not just kiss the book — read it, implement it, live it
“If you are a normal person, not limited, and you open your heart really to the truth — when you are alone, if you say God please give me guidance — I am 100% convinced you will end up like me. No Trinity. God is one, unique, with no nationality. He is not Croatian, Serbian, or Bosnian. Allah the Creator is free from the things that people invented.”
A Message for Every Truth Seeker
Whether you are a Serb, a Croat, or anyone else carrying an emptiness that no amount of partying, alcohol, or worldly success can fill — the door to Islam is open. This brother survived the Bosnian war as a child, lost his home, was separated from his family, and still found mercy and guidance from Allah. His story is living proof that the Quran holds the answers that every soul is searching for. As he urges: take a bath, pick up a translation of the Quran, read it with an open mind, and start thinking with your own head. The truth of Islam is waiting for you.
