Built in 1537, like all Moslem secondary schools of the Ottoman period, it has an interior court yard, with a water fountain and arched doorway, from which one enters the rooms for students and the dome-covered lecture room (dershana).

The high chimneys extending from the fireplaces of the student’s room, end in points on the lead-covered roof (whence the name “kuršumli” – menaning “leaden”).

Kuršumli madrassa, Sarajevo

The most striking element of this building is perhaps entrance portal whith its incomparably stunning rich stalactite ornamentation. Most important than the architectural value of this building, however, was its original purpose as the Muslim religious secondary school. Since its foundation, this school has been considered to be on a level with university education.

Courses included scientific disciplines, including the study of darul-hadis (Islamic tradition), meani bejan (rhetoric), kelam (metaphysics and dogma), tefsir (interpretation of the Qur’an), ahkjam šerije (shari’ah Islamic law) and other subjects required by custom and traditional.

Considering the fact that at the time in Europe similar subjects were only studied at universities, which were under the influence of the Catholic Church, it would be logical for us to take the year 1537 as the year of establishment of the University of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

That this would not be accepted or acknowledged during the existence of the Yugolsav State in not surprising, because this would have given some pre-eminence to Bosnia and the level of education which was established here under the Ottoman rule, but such recognition would be justified and useful now, not only for ethnic Bosniacs, but also for all decent upstanding citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, of whatever ethnic origin or religious affiliation.

Kuršumli madrassa, Sarajevo

At same the Gazi Husrev-Bey library was established with 50,000 volumes, of which 7,000 were hand-written manuscripts, and 4,500 documents, which represent an important set of assist in research concerning trade, culture and history from the Ottoman period which lasted 400 years.