Jama Masjid: An Ancient Gem Of Old Delhi

By Saraswathi Muniappan NEW DELHI (India), June 8 (Bernama) -- A mere mention of the word 'India' immediately takes one's mind to the much-admired Taj Mahal, but the white marble mausoleum is merely one of the many finest Mughal architectures in the country, which has many more monuments of such stature. The Masjid Jahan Numa – now known as the Jama Masjid – located in Old Delhi is one of them; it was built by Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal Emperor of India. History has it that the Emperor himself laid the mosque's foundation stone on the strong base of a hillock in AD 1650. About 6,000 workers completed the red sandstone mosque in AD 1656, six years after the mosque's construction commenced, said the general secretary of the Jama Masjid Delhi Advisory Council, Syed Tariq Bukhari. The mosque can accommodate up to 25,000 people at a time. The 356-year-old internationally acclaimed mosque is the largest mosque in India, and is probably the only place of worship in the country that has the Royal Imam leading the prayers continuously for 13 generations, he said. FORGOTTEN OVER TIME Syed Tariq, who is the youngest brother of the current Shahi Imam Maulana Syed Ahmed Bukhari, said that most people are unaware or have forgotten over time that the mosque has its own unique features and stories like many other historical monuments. The mosque houses some precious relics – such as the 1,400-year-old Holy Quran written on deerskin by the Prophet's son-in-law, Hazrat Ali – said its keeper, Syed Zahoor al Haq Hussaini. "There is another Holy Quran also written on deerskin by the Prophet's grandson. But for this one, only one part is here; the other part is in the Blue Mosque in Istanbul," remarked Syed Zahoor, who belongs to the 14th generation of the mosque's relic keepers. Both are scripted in the original Kufi language, he added. Other important relics include a hair from the beard of the Prophet, his footprint in marble and a shoe made of camel skin. "Only three mosques in the world have the footprint and beard hair: the Jama Masjid, the Hazratbal Mosque in Srinagar and the Blue Mosque of Istanbul." "The footprint miracle occurred in Makkah. When the Prophet was praying, the marble became soft and his footprint emerged," Syed Zahoor explained. With regard to the shoe, one is in the Jama Masjid in India, while its pair is in the Blue Mosque. Visitors are allowed to see the relics for themselves, he added. LOCATED ON A HILL Wishing to share some other insights, Syed Tariq said that the chief architect of the mosque disappeared for two years after the foundation was laid. "He returned after two years and informed the Emperor that it was a deliberate move to ensure that the foundation was able to face all the four seasons, as the monument's size requires a strong base," he pointed out. Second, when the mosque was still under construction, there were complaints of slow progress. However, when Shah Jahan came to know that this was because a recital of the Holy Quran preceded the installation of every stone, in an effort to consecrate it, the Emperor was pleased and ordered that the construction be continued in that manner. According to Syed Tariq, the mosque is actually located on a hill called 'Bhojla' to ensure that it stands above all, although the fact that it was built on a hill is not apparent now. Special care was also taken to maintain the pulpit of the mosque at a level above that of the royal throne in the Red Fort, which is opposite the Jama Masjid. "Shah Jahan wanted his crown to be below the level of the mosque," he explained. The Emperor also wanted the Imam of the mosque to be a man of noble birth and a direct descendent of the Prophet. He requested such a person from Bukhara, Uzbekistan, which was the hub of Islamic scholars then. The Imam had been given the honour to perform the coronation ceremony of the Mughal Emperor. RESTORATION WORK Syed Tariq said continuous restoration on the mosque has been carried out funded by the government through the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). He said to maintain the mosque for the next 50 years, restoration work needs to be done continuously for five years. There have also been many plans to redevelop the whole area, which could make the mosque a bigger attraction for tourist as compared with what it is now, said Syed Tariq. Currently, between 1,500 and 2,000 tourist visits the mosque daily. He suggested for the buildings along the streets leading to the mosque to be restored according to the Mughal style architecture to bring back the Mughal feel to the surroundings. SHOWCASE OF TWO CULTURES The Jama Masjid's location is truly a showcase of two cultures' convergence, making it more then a just a tourist attraction, said Syed Tariq. "Around the mosque is 100 per cent Muslim population, you walk across the street and it is 100 per cent Hindus. So, it is also an important monument as far as the culture and unity is concern." At one end the tourist can indulge themselves with mouthwatering Mughal dishes and the other end with pure Hindu vegetarian food. -- BERNAMA