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Jama Mosque, Delhi

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Jama Masjid, Delhi
mosque
Year dem found am1656 Edit
Religion anaa worldviewIslam Edit
CountryIndia Edit
Edey de administrative territorial entity insydCentral Delhi district Edit
Coordinate location28°39′3″N 77°13′59″E Edit
Made from materialsandstone Edit
Architectural styleIslamic architecture Edit
Dema official websitehttp://www.jamamasjid.in Edit
Category for the interior of the itemCategory:Interior of Jama Masjid, Delhi Edit
Map

De Masjid-i-Jehan-Numa, dem commonly know as de Jama Masjid (Urdu: جامع مسجد, romanized: jāme masjid) of Delhi, be one of de largest Sunni mosques insyd India.[1]

Ein builder be de Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, between 1644 den 1656, wey ebe inaugurated by ein first Imam, Syed Abdul Ghafoor Shah Bukhari. E dey situate insyd de Mughal capital of Shahjahanabad (today Old Delhi), na e serve as de imperial mosque of de Mughal emperors til de demise of de empire insyd 1857. Na dem regard de Jama Masjid as a symbolic gesture of Islamic power across India, well into de colonial era. Na e sanso be a site of political significance during chaw key periods of British rule. E remain for active use, wey ebe one of Delhi ein most iconic sites, dem closely identify plus de methods of Old Delhi. De mosque structure be a Monument of National Importance.[2]

Names

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De mosque get two names. De older one, wey Shah Jahan bestow, be Masjid-i-Jehān-Numā, dem interprete as "mosque wey dey reflect de whole world", probably an allusion to de Jām-e-Jehān Numā. De oda more common one be Jāmā Masjid (, from de Arabic wey dey mean "congregational mosque"), wich emerge among de common populace. De term Jama Masjid no be unique to dis mosque; since de 7th century, na dem dey use am make e denote fe community mosque anaa Friday mosque, wey hence chaw around de world dey bear dis name den variants of am.

Location

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Old Delhi market opposite Jama Masjid, Delhi

De mosque dey locate within de historic city of Shahjahanabad, today dem know as de locality of Old Delhi. Across from de mosque be de Red Fort den Sunehri Masjid.[3] As one of de focal points of Old Delhi, Jama Masjid be surrounded by chaw commercial centres, such as de historic Chandni Chowk. De tomb of Abul Kalam Azad, Indian independence activist, dey locate adjacent to de mosque.

History

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Construction den Mughal era

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Mughal emperor Shah Jahan build de Jama Masjid between 1650 den 1656, for de highest point of Shahjahanabad. Na approximately 5,000 workers wey construct am.[4][5][6] Na de workforce be diverse, wey dey consist of Indians, Arabs, Persians, Turks, den Europeans. Na de construction be supervised primarily by Sadullah Khan, de wazir (anaa prime minister) during Shah Jahan ein reign, den Fazil Khan, de comptroller of Shah Jahan ein household. Na de cost of de construction for de time be ten lakh (one million) rupees.[7]: 8–9  na dem inaugurate de mosque for 23 July 1656 by Syed Abdul Ghafoor Shah Bukhari, from Bukhara, Uzbekistan. Na he be invited by Shah Jahan make he be Shahi Imam (Royal Imam) of de mosque.[8]

Na de mosque be one of de last monuments dem build under Shah Jahan. After ein completion, e serve as de royal mosque of de emperors til de end of de Mughal period. Na de khutba be recited by de Mughal emperor during de Friday noon prayer, wey dey legitimise ein rule. Na de mosque be hence a symbol of Mughal sovereignty insyd India, wey dey carry political significance. Na e sanso be an important centre of social life give de residents of Shahjahanabad, wey dey provide a space wey dey transcend class divide for diverse people make dem interact.

Modern era

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View of Delhi from de mosque ein domes. Na Jama Masjid be an enduring symbol of Delhi thru out ein history.
People wey dey offer Namaz for de occasion of Id-ul-Zuha, insyd 2019

De Jama Masjid dey serve as Delhi ein primary mosque,[4] wey e largely get congregational function. De Muslims of de city traditionally dey gather hie make dem offer communal Friday prayer, as well as for major festivals such as Eid. De mosque sanso be a major tourist attraction, wey dey derive a significant amount of income thru de visits of foreigners.[9]

De function of de mosque as an autonomous political space continue insyd de modern era. For example, insyd 2001 (insyd de aftermath of de 9/11 attacks) na de mosque be a site of protest against U.S bombings insyd Afghanistan. Insyd 2019, massive protests occurr for de site secof de controversial Citizenship Amendment Act.[10]

Renovation

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Insyd 2006, na dem report dat de mosque be in urgent need of repair, wey dey follow wich de Saudi Arabian king Abdullah offer make he bia for am. Na de Imam say dat he receive de offer directly from de Saudi authorities, buh na dem request dem make dem approach de Indian Government.[11] However, na de Delhi High Court say dat na dis matter get no "legal sanctity" wey dey give no "special equities" to de Imam.

A project wey dey aim make dem renovate de Jama Masjid den ein surrounding remain unimplemented since de early 2000s, secof chaw administrative den logistical roadblocks.[12][13]

Eid panorama for de mosque

Architecture

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Na dem build de Jama Masjid as a part of Shah Jahan ein new capital insyd Delhi, Shahjahanabad. For de time of ein construction, na ebe de largest mosque insyd de Indian subcontinent. Na Shah Jahan claim say dem model de mosque after de Jama Masjid of Fatehpur Sikri, wey dis be reflected insyd de design of chaw exterior features, such as de façade den courtyard. However, de interior of de mosque more closely dey resemble de Jama Masjid insyd Agra.[5]De mosque predominantly dey use red sandstone, wey be set apart from ein predecessors by a more extensive usage of white marble. Black marble sanso dey feature as a decorative element.[6]Dem dey find Arabic den Persian calligraphic pieces for various surfaces of de structure, wey ein content dey range from religious to panegyric.[4]

Na dem build am for a hill ein top, de mosque dey situate for a plinth dem elevate 10 metres (33 ft) above de surrounding city.[6][4] De complex be oriented to de west, towards Mecca. An imperial college, imperial dispensary, den madrasa use to lie adjacent to de structure, buh na dem destroy dem insyd de uprisings of 1857.

Gates

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Eastern (main) gate

Dem dey access de mosque by three sandstone gates. De most prominent of dese be de three-storey high eastern gate, wich historically act as de shahi (royal) entrance, dem reserve give de use of de Emperor den ein associates per. De oda two entrances be de northern den southern gates, wich be two stories high wey na ebe used by de general population.[6][14] Each gate be accompanied by a three-sided sandstone stairway, plus white markings make e designate prayer positions. De cabinet wey locate insyd de north gate get a collection of relics of Muhammad – de Quran dem wrep for deerskin top, a red beard-hair of de prophet, ein sandals dein ein footprints dem embed insyd a marble block.[1]

Courtyard

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De square sahn (courtyard) be paved plus red sandstone, wey dey face de eastern gate. E get a side length of at least 99 metres (325 ft), wey fi accommodate 25,000 worshippers. Insyd ein centre dey lie a marble ablution tank, wey dey measure 17 metres (56 ft) long den 15 metres (49 ft) wide. Open arcades dey run along de edges of de courtyard, thru wich de surroundings of de masjid be visible. Chhatris dey mark de four corners of de courtyard, wey dey rise above de arcades.[6][4]

Prayer Hall

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Interior section of de prayer hall

De prayer hall dey measure 61 metres (200 ft) long den 27 metres (89 ft) wide. Three marble domes dey rise up from ein roof, wey dey feature golden finials. De façade of de prayer hall dey feature a grand pishtaq insyd de centre, flanked by five smaller, cusped archways for either side. Above each archway of de prayer hall be sam calligraphic pieces. De interior of de hall dey bear seven mihrabs (prayer niches) for de western qibla wall, wey dey correspond to de seven bays into wich de hall be divided. Dem intricately decorate de central mihrab den clad insyd marble, plus a marble minbar (pulpit) wey dey lie to ein right. De hall be floored plud white den black ornamented marble make e look like a Muslim prayer mat.[6]

Minarets

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De mosque ein domes be flanked by two sandstone minarets, for de northeast den southeast corners.[6][4] Dem be 41 metres (135 ft) high wey dem longitudinally stripe plus white marble. Each minaret dey consist of 130 steps, along wich viewing galleries dey occur for three places. Both minarets be topped plus a marble chhatri.

Shahi Imam

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Na ebe apparently make dem build Shah Jahān ein wish de most important mosque insyd India, widout any parallel anywer insyd de Mughal Empire. He sanso decide dat ein Imam (de Muslim religious leader wey dey lead de prayer) na he for cam turn de most important religious leader of ein reign. Na de Imam of Jama Masjid thus receive de title of Shahī Imam (religious leader install by emperor). Na dem crown all subsequent Mughal emperors from Aurangzeb to Bahadur Shah II (1837-1857) by de Shahi Imam of de Jama Masjid insyd Delhi.[15] Na de Imams of Delhi ein Jama Masjid traditionally be de direct descendants of de first Imam of de Masjid, Syed Abdul Ghafoor Shah Bukhari, wey na he be appointed by Shah Jahan.[7]Dem know dema position as dat of de Shahi Imam, anaa Royal Imam. Dem know de person next-in-line to de position as de Naib Imam, anaa Deputy Imam.[9] De Shahi Imams dey bear de last name of Bukhari, wey dey denote dema ancestral origin insyd Bukhara (of modern day Uzbekistan). Dem list de imams wey na dem occupy de position below.

Ordinal Name Title Term start Term end Time insyd office
1 Abdul Ghafoor Shah Bukhari Imam-us-Sultan 23 July 1656
2 Abdul Shakoor Shah Bukhari
3 Abdul Raheem Shah Bukhari
4 Abdul Ghafoor Shah Bukhari Thani
5 Abdul Rehman Shah Bukhari
6 Abdul Kareem Shah Bukhari
7 Mir Jeewan Shah Bukhari
8 Mir Ahmed Ali Shah Bukhari
9 Mohammed Shah Bukhari 16 October 1892
10 Ahmed Bukhari Shams-ul-Ulama
11 Hameed Bukhari 20 February 1942 8 July 1973 31 years, 138 days
12 Abdullah Bukhari 8 July 1973 14 October 2000 27 years, 98 days
13 Ahmed Bukhari I 14 October 2000 25 February 2024 23 years, 134 days
14 Shaban Bukhari 25 February 2024 incumbent 1 year, 18 days
Sources:[7][16]
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  • Northern gate
    Northern gate
  • Inlay detail of interior arches
    Inlay detail of interior arches
  • Facade
    Facade
  • Pool
    Pool
  • Detail of a balcony
    Detail of a balcony
  • Courtyard
    Courtyard
  • Courtyard
    Courtyard
  • Courtyard
    Courtyard
  • Exterior wall
    Exterior wall

References

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  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Jama Masjid, Delhi". Cultural India website. n.d. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  2. ↑ "List of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains of Delhi". Archaeological Survey of India. Retrieved 2018-10-02.
  3. ↑ "Shahjahanabad: How a planned city came undone". Hindustan Times (in English). 2018-01-27. Retrieved 2021-09-12.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Lews, Robert. "Jama Masjid of Delhi". Britannica.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Asher, Catherine B. (1992). The New Cambridge History of India: Architecture of Mughal India. Cambridge University Press. p. 193. ISBN 978-0-521-26728-1.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 "Jama Masjid (Delhi)". Archnet.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Ur-Rahman, Aziz (1936). History of Jama Masjid and interpretation of Muslim devotions.
  8. ↑ Dalrymple, p.252
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Ahmed, Hilal (2013). "Mosque as Monument: The Afterlives of Jama Masjid and the Political Memories of a Royal Muslim Past". South Asian Studies. 29: 52–55, 56. doi:10.1080/02666030.2013.772814. S2CID 85512513.
  10. ↑ "Thousands protest against citizenship law near Jama Masjid". Telangana Today.
  11. ↑ "Saudi offer to fix Delhi mosque". BBC News. 4 January 2006. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  12. ↑ "Jama Masjid: Restorations plans for Delhi's grand old mosque put on fast track". Hindustan Times.
  13. ↑ "Lack of funds holds up Jama Masjid refurbishment". The Hindu. 8 January 2010.
  14. ↑ Alfieri, Bianca Maria; Borromeo, Federico (2000). Islamic Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent. Lawrence King Publishing. p. 248. ISBN 978-1-85669-189-5.
  15. ↑ Hajianfard, Ramin (2016). Building of the Jama Masjid in Delhi (1650-1656). Santa Barbara: CA, ABC-CLIO. p. 784. ISBN 978-1610695664.
  16. ↑ "Imam Bukhari's family tree". 15 October 2008.

Bibliography

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  • Stott, David; McCulloch, Victoria (14 January 2014). Rajasthan, Delhi & Agra: Footprint Focus Guide. Footprint Handbooks. ISBN 978-1-909268-39-5.
  • Dalrymple, William (2004). City of Djinns: A year in Delhi. Penguin books. ISBN 978-0-14-303106-2.
  • Liddle, Swapna (2011). Delhi: 14 Historic Walks. Tranquebar Press. ISBN 978-93-81626-24-5.
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Dem retrieve am from "https://gpe.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jama_Mosque,_Delhi&oldid=56094"