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The 18th century Jamia Masjid is not just about the past, but the
living future that every citizen aspires for.
If you need a testimony for the country's famed syncretic culture
in the city, look no further. The 18th century Jamia Masjid - also
known as Sangeen Masjid and Jumma Masjid - is a solemn presence
close to the crowded Commercial Street, ensconced as it is by the
19th century Lakshmi Narsimhaswamy Temple to the left and the 107-year-old
Sri Venugopal Swamy Temple to its right.
The foundation for this architectural marvel on the Jamia Masjid
Road (earlier called the OPH Road), with its impressively carved
90-feet minarets, Mughal-era domes and golden inscriptions in Persian,
is said to have been laid by Emperor Aurangzeb.
"It was earlier called Sangeen Masjid and some locals refer
to it as Jumma Masjid. It has roots in history dating back to Aurangzeb,"
said Sayed Abdul Ali, the manager of the mosque.
Originally built in 1790 by Haji Qazi Abdul Quddus Saheb, the mosque
had the patronage of Tipu Sultan with construction material specially
brought from Srirangapatna. The 14 huge stone pillars in the prayer
hall were transported on bullockcarts and worked on by skilled artisans
from Mysore.
"The main prayer hall can accommodate about 1,500 people, but
on Fridays about 2,500 or 3,000 people turn up for prayers,"
says Abdul Kareem, the assistant manager of the Masjid.
A remarkable feature of the mosque is the frame of Mehrab (pulpit),
carved out of a single block of black granite. Compared to the carvings
on the pillars in the courtyard, the ones inside is an artistic
delight. On the left of the courtyard is the water pool with two
beautiful fountains for ablutions (called wuzu). Exquisite designs
in brown in the form of huge leaves and intricate carvings add beauty
to the roof.
A panel of remarkable Persian-style carvings of flowers and leaves
adorns the upper part of the walls. The chandeliers, shiny and large,
speak luminescently about a bygone era.
There is a window on the top of the dome under which the Imam (head
priest) prays. The relics of Prophet Muhammad and Hazrat Abdul Qadar
Jeelani are kept there.
"The relics are hairs from the beard of the Prophet and Hazrat
Jeelani. On the first day of Rabi-ul-Awwal (the third month of the
Islamic calendar), the relic of the Prophet is displayed and on
the first Friday of Rabi-ul-Akhir (the fourth month of the Islamic
calendar), Hazrat's relic is shown to the faithful," says Anwar
Shareef, chairman of the Jamia Masjid Trust and the custodian of
the relics.
The arch above the pulpit has impressive carvings with Persian inscriptions
in gold on either side, with an old clock that has not stopped ticking
for the past 106 years in between. The inscriptions that thank the
Almighty are by poets of that time such as Muhammad Jalal Sahib
Qadri (Wafa) and Ali Sahab (Qasam). The Masjid also has a unique
record - Imam Abdul Hafiz Junaid is the only Imam in India who has
conducted prayers in a mosque for 54 years, from 1948 to 2002.
The legacy of communal harmony is, meanwhile, something that the
Masjid is proud of. "Isn't it wonderful that it's situated
between two temples? And till date, neither the Masjid nor the temples
have had any issues. In the history of Jamia Masjid there has not
been a single religious clash on this street," says Sayed Abdul
Ali.
And the minarets continue to give hope. Sayed Muzammil Shah says,
"I am free from pain when I enter the Masjid. Here I get a
sense of comfort and peace. I feel cleansed."
Did you know?
* The 221-year-old Jamia Masjid is flanked by two temples, a perfect
symbol of communal harmony.
* The monolithic pulpit (Frame of Mehrab) inside the Masjid is a
visual treat. The Masjid also has relics of the Prophet and Hazrat
Abdul Qadar Jeelani (a Sufi saint from Baghdad).
* A 106-year-old clock that continues to tick and two beautiful
fountains add to the serenity. It is also the only mosque in India
where the same Imam conducted prayers for 54 years.
Source: BangaloreMirror
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