Isa-beg’s tekija as integration of architecture and nature

The word: Tekija (tekka), comes from Arab word   takkiyya,   with a root w-k'-, meaning “to lean on”, or “to be supported by”, further on, takkiyya determines a building that belongs to a group called Sufi (bos: sufije), a mystical order, where they gather around their sheikh and perform their rituals.  Isa-beg’s tekija is one of the most important tekijas in Sarajevo, it was built before 1462; it is considered the oldest institution in Sarajevo.
Isa-beg Ishakovic, the founder of Sarajevo, listed it in his deed of endowment (vakufnama) written in year 1462. Among other estates, he mentions, a musafirhana (shelter for pilgrims and travellers). The Tekija has been damaged, destroyed in fires and floods many times and it was completely reconstructed several times.  In year 1957, the Tekija was demolished and its cemetery destroyed for the last time. The final destruction of the Tekija estate was made with the construction of the road to Pale, the gasoline station and other objects, without planning permissions.
The location of the Isa-bag’s tekija was not chosen randomly. Traditionally Tekija buildings where build as a part of natural surroundings and completely open towards its ambience. A river, a cliff and a canyon or a hill were very often attributes of locations chosen for the tekijas. The same can be noted for this particular tekija. The Sufies   believed that the choice is not up to a man. The sacred location is chosen by God who guided the man towards it. The surrounding area, the panorama, is a part of the ritual and thus integral part of the Tekija.

The great wealth and beauty of the tekija on Bentbasa has been described by Evlija Celebi Evliya Çelebi, an Ottoman traveller and journalist and Reshid effendi (bos.: efendija)  a famous Sarajevo poet.  Evlija Celebi in his travel logs from 1659 describes Isa-beg’s tekija, located on the banks of the Miljacka River:

” The Tekija of Mevlevi order:  At the bank of the Miljacka river, on the place resembling a paradise, a vakuf tekija of Jelaluddin Rumi is placed. Tekija has simhana (the room where rituals of the dervish order were preformed), mejdan room – (where dervishes could meet to socialize outside of the rituals), seventy to eighty rooms for the poor, balcony for those who sing and play music, imares (kichens for the poor), and a dining hall. “

Due to abundant different flora and fauna species that can be found in the area surrounding the Tekija estate, contemporary researchers call it “natural botanical garden”. As a rule, a tekija has a humble closed up shape. Its architecture reflects retrieval from the outer world and opening up towards the inner space. The further text gives a short description of the structure of Tekija estate and presents the symbolism of its elements.

Isa Beg's Tekija on Bendbasha in Sarajevo - Zejnil Fajić

Locality specifics of tekija-type architecture in Bosnia i Herzegovina - Amra Hadžimuhamedović

Gazi Isa-beg, the founder of Sarajevo - Valerijan Žujo

The Description of the tekija – Evlija Čelebija

Declaration the Isa-beg’s tekija as a national monument - Commission for preservation of national monuments BiH, March 2005

Details about the graveyard and inscriptions on the tombstones (nišan)

Symbolism of the wall objects