UPBRINGING AND EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS OF KARAĐOZ BEY WAQF IN MOSTAR – A HISTORICAL VIEW

Abstract

UDK 061.27(497.6 Mostar)”15”
         930.85(497.6 Mostar)”15”

This article deals with the history and the role of the oldest education and upbringing institutions in Mostar established as a waqf of haji Muhamed-bey, better known as Karađoz-bey, in religious, educational and cultural life of the city. Karađoz-bey’s Madrasa, his maktab and the library were founded in 1557, and were legalised through vaqfnama and verified in the Shariah Court of Mostar in February, 1570. The aim of this research was to present, in one place, significance and the social role of these institutions since their revival after more than seven decades of the ban that prohibited their functioning. The content of the text of Karađoz-bey’s second waqfnama pertaining to his madrasa which enhanced religious, educational and cultural life of Bosniaks in Herzegovina throughout the history is in the focus of this article. Karađoz bey’s Madrasa resumed its work in 1995, since when it is functioning as a public school within the system of upbringing and education of Herzegovina –Neretva Canton. The article also reflects upon the significance of the waqf in the functioning of Karađoz-bey’s education and upbringing institutions, with the review of instances of high awareness amongst the Mostar citizens who in their waqfnamas, written after Karađoz-bey’s, declared that the portion of the revenues obtained from their endowment is allocated for the continuous functioning of his institutions.