calling to prayer; in front is the Ottoman-era
Sarajevo Clock Tower. with an
islamic arch before entering, and intricately carved
muqarnas on the portal and on the dome
pendentives above. There is also an
ablaq design around the main entrance as well. The mosque belongs to the type of complex-spaced, multi-domed mosques and it is a represent of the Early Period of
Classical Ottoman architecture (sometimes referred to as the Early Istanbul style). The central rectangular space, framed by high walls and covered with a dome resting on
pendentives, represents the spine of the structure, while lower extensions lean to it and expand the volume of the interior space. The
qibla side of the mosque is extended with a rectangular space which is covered by a semi-dome resting on two highly developed
muqarnas structures. They stand in function of pendentives, reducing the rectangular outline of the ground level to the near semi-circle shape in level of the semi-dome. This area houses central architectural elements with religious purposes:
mihrab,
minbar and kursi and, being open to the central space with a huge arch, represents the focal point of the mosque. Two smaller spaces, called tetime (sg. tetima) are located on the left and right sides of the central space, placed furthest from the Kibla side. They are covered by two lower domes resting on pendentives. The exterior is dominated by the main dome, topped out only by a simple, yet monumental
minaret. The entry side is marked with a
portico resting on four wide columns and covered with little domes, only the central one, above the
portal, being a bit greater than others, and resting on muqarnas-adorned pendentives, in contrast to others which are laid on simple, plain-surfaced pendentives. The monumental portal is richly decorated with muqarnas, as well as columns' capitals. In his legacy, he stated: "
Good deeds drive away evil, and one of the most worthy of good deeds is the act of charity, and the most worthy act of charity is one which lasts forever. Of all charitable deeds, the most beautiful is one that continually renews itself."
Destruction and reconstruction During the
Siege of Sarajevo, Serbian forces purposely targeted many cultural centres of the city, such as museums, libraries, and mosques, and fired on them. As the largest and best known, the Beg's mosque was an obvious target. Having suffered a significant amount of destruction, the reconstruction of the mosque started with foreign - mainly Saudi - aid in 1996, right after the war. The old and faded layer of
Austro-Hungarian decoration was removed and, since remains of older, historical layers of decorative painting weren't found, a completely new interior was designed and applied by Bosnian calligrapher Hazim Numanagić in 2001/2002. Austro-Hungarian decoration, performed mostly in pseudo-Moorish style, remains only on the portal of the mosque today. ==Gallery==