MOSTAR MADRASAH OF ZAIM HAJJI MUHAMED-BEY KARAĐOZ

Abstract

Mostar, a city known as one of the most significant cultural centers in Bosnian ayalet (tur. province) during the entire Ottoman period was the place where the first madaris (sing.madrasah) were erected very early on. The special credit for such rapid blossom of the city in the 16th century certainly goes to its waqifs, who lived and worked in the city: Muhamed-bey (Karađoz-bey), Ćejvan-ćehaja, Koski Mehmed-pasha, Nesuh-agha Vučjaković, Derviš-pasha Bajezidagić and others. The main objective of this paper is to offer overall picture of Mostar madrasah of Zaim (owner of Timar- land tenure) Hajji Muhamed-Bey (Karađoz-bay) from 1570. The Madrasah was more referred to in the literature as Karađoz-bey’ Madrasah in Mostar. It was named after its founder distinguished Mostar waqif. The original of the preserved waqfnama for this madrasah written in the first part of Ramadan, 977 AH or February 7 and 16, 1570 is presently kept in the Ghazi Husrev-bey library in Sarajevo. This work also briefly presents data on the curriculum and courses, resident professors, students, library and transcribing work that was much developed in it at that time.