Religious shaping of Bosniak nation

Three nations exist in Bosnia and Herzegovina today: Serbs, Croats and community of Bosnian Muslims or - Bosniaks. First two were nationally constituted in the 19th century during the formation of most European nations, while the third was recognized one century later. Reasons for the late formation of muslim, and later on Bosniak nation in Bosnia and Herzegovina is the issue which is being researched in this paper. Paper provides an overview about formation of Bosniak nation while taking into account the parallel constitution of muslim nation where, in both cases, the basic construct comes in the shape of Islam. This confirms the historic thesis which states that religion in Bosnia and Herzegovina is the 'watershed of nation' and that is why this paper primarily elaborates religious foundations. Perception of language and territorial identity is not neglected because only through these institutions modern European nation can be identified. Paper emphasizes the question of 'Bosnian language' as a 'stumbling stone' in profiling the present and 'linguistically' announced 'future' nation. This nation will also be shaped by Islamic spirituality and 'legal contention', like the Muslim and Bosniak nations were too