A native to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Dr. Ceric graduated from the Gazi Husrev Beg Madrassa in Sarajevo and received a scholarship to Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt. After his schooling in Egypt, he returned to Bosnia-Herzegovina, where he became an Imam. In 1981, he accepted the position of Imam at the Islamic Cultural Center (ICC) of Greater Chicago in Northbrook, Illinois and settled in the United States for several years. He learned English and earned a Ph.D. at the University of Chicago in Islamic Studies. When he finished his studies, Dr. Ceric returned to his homeland, leaving the ICC and becoming a practicing Imam in a learning center in Zagreb in 1987. Though he has led the Islamic community in Bosnia since 1993, he didn’t officially become the Grand Mufti of Bosnia-Herzegovina until 1999.

Dr. Ceric is an advocate of cross-cultural engagement as well as a peace activist. In 2006, he issued the ‘Declaration of European Muslims’ to the European Union stating that European Muslims are dedicated to the common values of law, tolerance, democracy and human rights, the value of life, faith, freedom, property, and dignity. In 2008, Dr. Ceric led the Muslim delegation of the ‘A Common Word’ initiative to the Vatican, which included a meeting with the Pope. Also in 2008, Dr. Ceric joined the International Religious Advisory Council of the TB Faith Foundation, committing himself to its mission of promoting respect and religious pluralism through discussions on social injustice.

Dr. Ceric is currently the President of the World Bosniak Congress as well as an active member in many local and international scientific organizations and societies such as: The Inter-religious Council of Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Executive Committee of the European Council of Religious Leaders, International Commission for Peace Research and UNESCO.