Jama Masjid, Delhi

Jama Masjid
Location in Delhi, India
Jama Masjid, Delhi (India)
Basic information
Location Central Delhi, Delhi, India
Geographic coordinates 28°39′03″N 77°14′00″E / 28.6507°N 77.2334°E / 28.6507; 77.2334Coordinates: 28°39′03″N 77°14′00″E / 28.6507°N 77.2334°E / 28.6507; 77.2334
Affiliation Deobandi
Leadership Shahi Imam :
Syed Ahmed Bukhari
Architectural description
Architectural type Mosque
Architectural style Indo-Islamic, Mughal
Date established 1656
Specifications
Capacity 25,000+
Length 40 metres (130 ft)
Width 27 metres (89 ft)
Dome(s) 3
Minaret(s) 2
Minaret height 41 metres (135 ft)
Materials Red sandstone, marble

The Masjid-i Jahān-Numā (Urdu: مسجدِ جہاں نما, Hindi: मस्जिद जहान नुमा, the 'World-reflecting Mosque'), commonly known as the Jama Masjid Hindi: जामा मस्जिद, Urdu: جامع مسجد) of Delhi, is one of the largest mosques in India.[1]

It was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan between 1644 and 1656 at a cost of 1 million rupees, and was inaugurated by an Imam from Bukhara, present-day Uzbekistan.The mosque was completed in 1656 AD with three great gates, four towers and two 40 metres high minarets constructed with strips of red sandstone and white marble. The courtyard can accommodate more than 25,000 people . There are three domes on the terrace which are surrounded by the two minarets. On the floor, a total of 899 black borders are marked for worshippers. The architectural plan of Badshahi Masjid, built by Shah Jahan's son Aurangzeb at Lahore, Pakistan, is similar to the Jama Masjid.

History

Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan built the Jama Masjid between 1644 and 1656. It was constructed by more than 5000 workers. It was originally called Masjid-i-Jahan Numa, meaning 'mosque commanding view of the world'. The construction was done under the supervision of Saadullah Khan, wazir (or prime minister) during Shah Jahan's reign. The cost of the construction at the time was one million Rupees.[1] Shah Jahan also built the Taj Mahal, at Agra and the Red Fort in New Delhi, which stands opposite the Jama Masjid. The Jama Masjid was completed in 1656 AD (1066 AH).[1] The mosque was inaugurated by an Imam Bukhari, a mullah from Bukhara, Uzbekistan, on 23 July 1656, on the invitation from Shah Jahan.[2] About 25,000 people can pray in the courtyard at a time and it is sometimes regarded as India's largest mosque.[3][4] The mosque is commonly called "Jama" which means Friday.[1]

After the British victory in Revolt of 1857, they confiscated the mosque and stationed their soldiers here. They also wanted to destroy the mosque to punish the people of the city. But due to opposition faced, the demolition was not done.[5]

The iconic mosque is one of the last monuments built under Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. After the construction of the monument in 1656, it remained the royal mosque of the emperors until the end of the Mughal period.

Donations

During 1948, the Nizam of Hyderabad-His Exalted Higness Mir Osman Ali Khan was asked for a donation of ₹75,000 to repair ¼th of the masjid floor. The nizam instead sanctioned ₹3 lakh, stating that the remaining 3/4th of the masjid should not look old.[6][7]

Modern times

Main Facade

In 2006, it was reported that the mosque was in urgent need of repair and the then Saudi Arabian king Abdullah, offered to pay for it. The Imam said that he had received the offer directly from the Saudi authorities, but requested them to approach the Indian government.[8] However, the Delhi High Court said that this matter had no "legal sanctity" giving no "special equities" to the Imam.

2006 Jama Masjid explosions

On 14 April 2006, there were two explosions which came soon after Friday prayers and occurred in swift succession. However it was unclear, how the blasts occurred. Among the casualties, one was in serious condition, whereas other eight people sustained minor injuries. The then imam, Bukhari commented "here is anger among our people but I am appealing to them to maintain calm".[9]

2010 Jama Masjid attack

Panorama of the square
Jama Masjid Eid Panorama

On 15 September 2010, two Taiwanese tourists were injured after gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire on a bus parked near gate number three of the mosque.[10] After the attack, the police detained 30 people to question and the area was turned into a fortress because policemen were heavily deployed.[11]

In November 2011, the Delhi Police arrested six members of the Indian Mujahideen who were believed to be behind the Jama Masjid blast along with the Pune German bakery blast. Sources said that the "'main man' Imran" allegedly planted the bomb in a car outside the mosque.[12] In September 2013 it was reported that, Yasin Bhatkal, a leader of the group, along with Assadullah Akhtar, were arrested last month and admitted that they carried the attack with on-the-run Pakistani national Waqas. Yasin said that he was ordered by Karachi-based IM head Riyaz Bhatkal to do the task as the Imam allowed "semi-naked" foreigners inside it.[13]

Architecture

The mosque has three great gates, four towers and two 40 m high minarets constructed of strips of red sandstone and smooth white marble. The northern gate has 39 steps and the southern side has 33 steps. The eastern gate was the rural entrance and it has 35 steps.[14] Out of all these gateways, the eastern one, which was used by the emperors, remains closed during weekdays.[15] The mosque is built on a red sandstone porch, which is about 30 feet (9.1 m) from ground level and spreads over 1200 square metre.[1] The dome is flanked by two lofty minarets which are 130 feet (40 m) high and consists of 130 steps, longitudinally striped by marble and red sandstone.[14] The minarets consists of five storeys, each with a protruding balcony. The adjoining edifices are filled with calligraphy. The first three storeys of the minarets is made of red sandstone, the fourth of marble and the fifth of sandstone.[1]

The courtyard can accommodate 25,000 worshippers and occupies 408 feet square .[16] The mosque is about 261 feet (80 m) long and 90 feet (27 m) wide.[14] The prayer hall measures 61 metre in length and 27.5 metre in breadth.[14] It is made up of high cusped arches and marble domes. The cabinet located in the north gate has a collection of relics of Muhammad – the Quran written on deerskin, a red beard-hair of the prophet, his sandals and his footprints embedded in a marble block.[1]

The floor plan of the mosque is similar to that of the Jama Masjid of Agra.[14] It is covered with white and black ornamented marble to look like a Muslim prayer mat. Beside it, a thin black border measuring 3 feet (0.91 m) long and 1.5 feet (0.46 m) wide is marked for the Muslim worshippers. There are 899 total such boxes.[17] The architecture and plan of Badshahi Masjid which was built by Shah Jahan's son Aurangzeb in Lahore is closely related to that of the mosque. Before the Revolt of 1857, there was a madrasa near the southern end of the mosque, which was destroyed during the revolt .[14]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Jama Masjid, Delhi". Cultural India website. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  2. ↑ Dalrymple, p.252
  3. ↑ Stott and McCulloch, p.35
  4. ↑ "Charming Chadni Chowk" (PDF). Delhi Tourism. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  5. ↑ Liddle, p.217
  6. ↑ "Remembering Mir Osman Ali Khan on his 51st death anniversary". Medium corporation. Feb 24, 2017. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Surviving aides say Mir Osman Ali Khan donated generously for social causes, but did not like to spend on himself". thehindu. Feb 25, 2017. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Saudi offer to fix Delhi mosque". BBC. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  9. ↑ "Nine hurt in Delhi mosque blast". BBC. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  10. ↑ "Tourists shot near Delhi mosque". BBC. 19 September 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  11. ↑ "4 terrorists involved in Jama Masjid firing: Intelligence sources". India Today. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  12. ↑ "6 arrested for Pune blast, Jama Masjid attack". IBN Live. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  13. ↑ "Cops got wrong man for Jama Masjid attack: Bhatkal". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Akhter, p.270
  15. ↑ "Jama Masjid". Tourism India. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  16. ↑ Akhter, p.269
  17. ↑ Akhter, p.271

References

  • David Stott and Victoria McCulloch. Rajasthan, Delhi & Agra: Footprint Focus Guide. Footprint Handbooks. ISBN 1909268399.
  • William Dalrymple. City of Djinns: A year in Delhi. Penguin books. ISBN 978-0-143-03106-2.
  • Swapna Liddle. Delhi: 14 Historic Walks. Tranquebar Press. ISBN 9789381626245.

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