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Jama Masjid, Delhi: the story on HearLore | HearLore
Jama Masjid, Delhi
The first word of this story is Jama Masjid, a name that translates to 'congregational mosque' but was originally bestowed by Emperor Shah Jahan as Masjid-i-Jehan-Numa, meaning 'mosque that reflects the whole world'. This grand structure, rising from the highest point of the Mughal capital Shahjahanabad, was not merely a place of worship but a calculated assertion of imperial power. Between 1650 and 1656, Shah Jahan orchestrated the construction of this monument using a workforce of approximately 5,000 diverse laborers, including Indians, Arabs, Persians, Turks, and Europeans. The project, which cost ten lakh rupees at the time, was supervised by the wazir Sadullah Khan and the comptroller Fazil Khan. The mosque was officially inaugurated on the 23rd of July 1656 by Syed Abdul Ghafoor Shah Bukhari, a scholar invited from Bukhara in modern-day Uzbekistan to serve as the Shahi Imam, or Royal Imam. This appointment established a lineage of religious leadership that would persist for centuries, with all subsequent Mughal emperors from Aurangzeb to Bahadur Shah II being crowned by the Shahi Imam of this very mosque.
Sovereignty In Stone
The Jama Masjid served as the royal mosque of the Mughal emperors until the empire's demise in 1857, functioning as a potent symbol of Mughal sovereignty across India. The khutba, or sermon, was traditionally recited by the Mughal emperor during the Friday noon prayer, a ritual that legitimized his rule and projected authority to the populace. This political significance was not lost on history; in 1757, the khutba was read in the name of Ahmad Shah Durrani, the Afghan conqueror who was invited to Delhi by Emperor Alamgir II, signaling a shift in power dynamics even before the British arrived. The mosque was one of the last monuments built under Shah Jahan, and its completion marked the end of an era of Mughal architectural grandeur. It was designed to be the largest mosque in the Indian subcontinent, utilizing red sandstone and extensive white marble to distinguish it from its predecessors. The interior of the prayer hall, measuring 150 meters long and 69 meters wide, features seven mihrabs corresponding to the seven bays of the hall, with a central mihrab intricately decorated and clad in marble. The floor is laid with white and black ornamented marble to resemble a Muslim prayer mat, creating a visual and spiritual connection for the 25,000 worshippers who could gather in the square courtyard.
The British Occupation
The British takeover of Shahjahanabad in 1803 marked a turning point in the mosque's history, as Mughal power and patronage significantly waned. Initially, the British policy was favorable, undertaking repairs and renovations, but the Revolt of 1857 changed everything. The British perceived the revolt as instigated by Muslims within Delhi's mosques, and after reclaiming the city, they razed many mosques and banned the congregation of Muslims in any remaining ones. The Jama Masjid fell into British confiscation and was barred from religious use, eventually being used as barracks for Sikh and European soldiers. This desecration was a deliberate insult to the sentiments of the city's Muslim inhabitants. The mosque was returned to the Muslim population in 1862, but with strict conditions, including mandatory policing and the establishment of the Jama Masjid Managing Committee to enforce these rules. Despite these restrictions, the mosque remained a site of social and political discourse, where theological debates were held between Muslims and Christians, and where Hindus often gathered with Muslims to express anti-colonial solidarity, defying the simmering tensions of the colonial period.
Who built the Jama Masjid in Delhi and when was it constructed?
Emperor Shah Jahan built the Jama Masjid in Delhi between 1650 and 1656. The project utilized a workforce of approximately 5,000 diverse laborers and cost ten lakh rupees at the time.
When was the Jama Masjid in Delhi officially inaugurated and by whom?
The Jama Masjid in Delhi was officially inaugurated on the 23rd of July 1656 by Syed Abdul Ghafoor Shah Bukhari. This scholar was invited from Bukhara in modern-day Uzbekistan to serve as the Shahi Imam or Royal Imam.
What is the capacity of the Jama Masjid in Delhi and how many worshippers can it accommodate?
The Jama Masjid in Delhi can accommodate 25,000 worshippers in its square courtyard. The prayer hall measures 150 meters long and 69 meters wide with a floor laid with white and black ornamented marble.
When was the Jama Masjid in Delhi returned to the Muslim population after British confiscation?
The Jama Masjid in Delhi was returned to the Muslim population in 1862 after being used as barracks for Sikh and European soldiers. The return came with strict conditions including mandatory policing and the establishment of the Jama Masjid Managing Committee.
When did Abul Kalam Azad deliver a speech at the Jama Masjid in Delhi during the Partition of India?
Abul Kalam Azad delivered a speech from the Jama Masjid in Delhi on the 23rd of October 1947 during Thursday prayers. The tomb of Abul Kalam Azad is located adjacent to the mosque as a testament to the site's connection to India's struggle for independence.
When was the Jama Masjid in Delhi closed and adorned in black cloth during the Babri Masjid dispute?
The Jama Masjid in Delhi was closed and adorned in black cloth on the 28th of May 1987 amidst rising communal tensions. This decision was made by the Shahi Imam Abdullah Bukhari to symbolize Muslim resentment of government actions regarding the dispute.
In the post-colonial era, the Jama Masjid continued to serve as a political symbol, most notably during the Partition of India. On the 23rd of October 1947, during the Thursday prayers, Indian independence activist Abul Kalam Azad delivered a speech from the mosque's pulpit, imploring Muslims to remain in India and reassuring them that the country was still their homeland. The mosque also became a focal point for financial patronage from regional Islamic rulers; in 1886, the Nawab of Rampur donated 1,55,000 rupees for repairs, and in 1926, the Nizam of Hyderabad contributed 1,00,000 rupees. In 1948, the last Nizam of Hyderabad, Asaf Jah VII, was asked for a donation of 75,000 rupees to repair one-fourth of the mosque floor but instead sanctioned 3,00,000 rupees to ensure the remaining three-fourths did not look old. The mosque's role as an autonomous political space persisted into the modern era, hosting protests against U.S. bombings in Afghanistan in 2001 and massive demonstrations regarding the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act in 2019. The tomb of Abul Kalam Azad, located adjacent to the mosque, stands as a testament to the site's enduring connection to India's struggle for independence.
The Babri Dispute
The Jama Masjid became a central figure in the infamously communal Babri Masjid dispute, a conflict that ignited riots and clashes across India. Abdullah Bukhari, the Shahi Imam of the Jama Masjid at the time, made several speeches in 1986 regarding the issue from the mosque, condemning political support for the Hindu cause and mobilizing Muslim sentiments. On the 28th of May 1987, amidst rising communal tensions, the Jama Masjid was closed by the Imam and adorned in black cloth, symbolizing Muslim resentment of government actions. This decision was highly controversial among Islamic leadership, yet it marked a significant moment of political expression. The mosque served as the staging point for a major peaceful protest regarding the Babri Masjid dispute in 1987, highlighting its capacity to influence national discourse. The site's political significance was further underscored by the 2006 explosions on the 14th of April, which occurred in swift succession after Friday prayers, leaving one person in serious condition and eight others with minor injuries. The Imam, Ahmed Bukhari, appealed for calm, noting the anger among the people, while the Delhi Police later arrested members of the Indian Mujahideen believed to be behind the blast.
Architecture Of Power
The architectural design of the Jama Masjid reflects Shah Jahan's ambition to create a mosque without parallel in the Mughal Empire. The complex is oriented to the west, towards Mecca, and is situated on a plinth elevated 22 meters above the surrounding city. The mosque is accessed by three sandstone gates, with the most prominent being the three-storey high eastern gate, historically reserved for the Emperor and his associates. The other two entrances, the northern and southern gates, are two stories high and were used by the general population. Each gate is accompanied by a three-sided sandstone stairway, with white markings to designate prayer positions. The cabinet in the north gate houses a collection of relics of Muhammad, including a Quran written on deerskin, a red beard-hair of the prophet, his sandals, and his footprints embedded in a marble block. The prayer hall features three marble domes topped with golden finials, and the interior is adorned with Arabic and Persian calligraphic pieces ranging from religious to panegyric content. The courtyard, paved with red sandstone, has a side length of at least 100 meters and can accommodate 25,000 worshippers, with a marble ablution tank in its center.
The Minarets And Domes
The mosque's domes are flanked by two sandstone minarets, located at the northeast and southeast corners, standing 40 meters high and longitudinally striped with white marble. Each minaret consists of 130 steps, along which viewing galleries occur at three places, offering panoramic views of the city. Both minarets are topped with a marble chhatri, adding to the visual grandeur of the structure. The prayer hall's façade features a grand pishtaq in the center, flanked by five smaller, cusped archways on either side. Above each archway of the prayer hall are calligraphic pieces, and the interior bears seven mihrabs on the western qibla wall, corresponding to the seven bays into which the hall is divided. The central mihrab is intricately decorated and clad in marble, with a marble minbar, or pulpit, lying to its right. The hall is floored with white and black ornamented marble to look like a Muslim prayer mat, creating a unique visual and spiritual experience for the worshippers. The mosque's design, while modeled after the Jama Masjid of Fatehpur Sikri in its exterior features, more closely resembles the interior of the Jama Masjid in Agra, showcasing the evolution of Mughal architectural styles.
The Lineage Of Imams
The Shahi Imam of the Jama Masjid holds a position of immense historical and religious significance, with the title bestowed by Shah Jahan to ensure the mosque's importance. All subsequent Mughal emperors from Aurangzeb to Bahadur Shah II were crowned by the Shahi Imam of the Jama Masjid in Delhi. The Imams of the mosque have traditionally been the direct descendants of the first Imam, Syed Abdul Ghafoor Shah Bukhari, who was appointed by Shah Jahan. Their position is known as that of the Shahi Imam, or Royal Imam, and the person next-in-line to the position is known as the Naib Imam, or Deputy Imam. The Imams who have occupied the position bear the last name of Bukhari, denoting their ancestral origin in Bukhara, of modern-day Uzbekistan. The lineage includes figures such as Abdul Shakoor Shah Bukhari, Abdul Raheem Shah Bukhari, and the incumbent Shaban Bukhari. The mosque remains in active use, serving as Delhi's primary mosque, where Muslims gather for communal Friday prayers and major festivals such as Eid. It is also a major tourist attraction, deriving significant income through the visits of foreigners, and stands as a Monument of National Importance, preserving the legacy of the Mughal Empire and the enduring spirit of the Jama Masjid.