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The Emperor's Mosque is considered to be the oldest mosque in Sarajevo. There is a cemetery behind the mosque where prominent Sarajevans were buried. It is believed that it also contains the grave of Isa Bey Ishaković, the founder of the city of Sarajevo, who gave it the name and thus started new era in the history of the city. During the founding of the Sarajevo city in the mid-15th century, a Bosnian nobleman Isa Bey Ishakovic built the Emperor’s Mosque, dedicated to Sultan Mehmed Fatih. According to the historical data, the mosque was modest in size, without a dome. At the end of the 15th century, it got destroyed by fire.  And in 1565, the new mosque was constructed in its place. The architect name is unknown, but some assume that he could be an apprentice of Mimar Sinan.

The Emperor’s Mosque is the largest single dome mosque in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It has superior technical construction characteristics of that time, made in the classical Ottoman style. It is known as one of the most beautiful mosques in Balkan, from the Ottoman period. The most exciting features are a roomy interior, well-balanced proportions and high-quality decorative details. We could point out stunning stalactite decorations and beautifully done mihrab.

In 1912 the architect Karl Paržik designed the Majlis Ulema building and successfully incorporated it into the complex of the Emperor’s Mosque. Unfortunately, this mosque was damaged during the war in Bosnia (1992-1996) by the Serbian aggressor. The façade was renovated in 2015, while the interior still awaits its extensive renovation.