Ibrahim Fejić was born in 1879 into a prominent Bosniak family in the Herzegovinian town of Mostar, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Condominium of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

During World War II, following the Nazi occupation of Yugoslavia, Fejić stood with the Yugoslav Partisans, took an active part in the resistance movement and denounced the Holocaust and the persecution of Serbs and the Romani people.

The Communist Party of Yugoslavia took power and in 1947 reached an accord with the Islamic Community, requiring the election of reformist leaders.

In his inaugural address, Fejić voiced his support of the campaign, stating: "One valuable legacy of the liberation war of our peoples is the proclamation of women's equality.

"[2] On 1 November, the Islamic Community declared that "the veiling of women is not required by religious code.