Jama Masjid, Delhi
Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Thu 11 Apr 2019 21:47
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Jama Masjid,
Delhi
  Sorted for the day, we were shown
into a side dining room and enjoyed a good breakfast.
Mob (our driver) came for us at nine and he was joined by Singh, who would show
us around for today and some of tomorrow.
 Soon into Old Delhi, passing the red
wall of the fort and early traders to park next to
the mosque – our first visit of the day.
 Up the
steps, shoes off, gown on (for me) and up on the left side of the main
gate (yay) a potted history –
A Short History of Jama
Masjid Delhi. The internationally acclaimed, magnificent, Jama
Masjid Delhi originally named Masjid Jahan Numa, was built by Shahjahan (Mercy
be upon him), the Fifth Mughal Emperor of India. Shahjahan himself laid its
foundation stone on the strong basements of a hillock on Friday the 6th of
October 1650 AD corresponding to 10th of Shawwal 1060 AH.
Top experts in the field of
construction, best chisellers, sculptors, engineers, best calligraphers and
eminent artisans of the world assisted by six thousand labourers took part in
the construction of the magnificent Jama Masjid. They dedicatedly worked for six
continuous years. The Jama Masjid got ready in the year 1656 AD (1066
AH).
In those days when the daily
wages of a mason and a labourer were 2 paisa and 1 paisa respectively (five
paisa equivalent to one Rupee today), its cost of construction was one
million rupees. Many nobles and nawabs of that era gifted stones and other
construction material to the emperor for the mosque’s construction, which
therefore are not included in its cost.
While the Jama Masjid was under
construction emperor Shahjahan received complaint of its slow progress. The
emperor therefore summoned Saadullah Khan, his minister in charge of the
constructions, and sought explanation. Saadullah Jhan informed him that the
recital of the Holy Quran preceded the installation of every stone of the
interior walls of the Mosque including that of the pulpit (mimber) and the
Imam’s musalla (place from where the Imam leads the prayers) to
consecrate it. This pleased the emperor so much that he ordered the construction
to continue that way.
During the construction, special
care was taken to maintain the level of the pulpit of the mosque above that of
the royal throne (chaired by the emperor) in the Red Fort. The simplicity in the
structure was the chief aim in the construction of the mosque. In fact,
its beauty lies in its simplicity. The simplicity, which thousands of
colourful and gorgeous significance cannot withstand.
 Coronation of the Mughal
Emperors: Right from the beginning, the Shahi Imam of the Jama Masjid
enjoyed the honour to perform the coronation ceremony of the Mughal Emperors.
All Mughal Emperors had the coronation ceremony by the then Shahi Imam. The
coronation of Emperor Aurangzeb took place from the hands of Syed Abdul Ghafoor
Shah Bukhari, the first Shahi Imam. This tradition remained until the last
Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar whose coronation ceremony was performed by the
then and the eighth, Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, Mir Ahmed Shah Bukhari on Sunday
the 30th of September 1837, corresponding to the 9th of Jamadi-us-Thani 1253
AH.
History of the Imams of
Jama Masjid & The Conferment of the title Shahi Imam by the
Emperor: The history of Jama Masjid and that of its Imams is one and
interlinked inextricably. The first Imam of Jama Masjid was Syed Abdul Ghafoor
Shah Bukhari. Emperor Shahjahan wished that for such a matchless Jama Masjid
there should equally be an unparalleled personality as its Imam. Therefore, the
discerning eyes of the emperor fell on Bukhara (Uzbekistan). Bukhara was the
centre of great learning and arts of that time. Experts from all fields got
concentrated there. Therefore, Emperor Shahjahan wrote to the Shah of Bukhara to
send for the exalted post of the Imamat of Jama Masjid a man noble in birth,
descendant of the Holy Prophet from both of his parents, with high learning and
high qualities, i.e., inwardly and outwardly an outstanding figure of the time.
Therefore, as wished by the Emperor, the Shah of Bukhara decided to send Syed
Abdul Ghafoor Shah Bukhari, to Shajahanabad (Delhi). Thus, with the help of the
king of Bukhara, Syed Abdul Ghafoor Shah Bukhari and his family were shifted to
Delhi with great respect.
Ceremonial welcome was accorded
on his arrival to Syed Abdul Ghafoor Shah Bukhari. The Jama Masjid was then
ready. On Monday the 24th of July 1656 AD (1st Shawwal, 1066 AH), Emperor Shahjahan with all his ministers,
retinue, courtiers, and the inhabitants of Delhi congregated at the Jama Masjid
to offer prayers. Led by Syed Abdul Ghafoor Shah Bukhari the first prayer, of
Id-ul-Fitr, was offered at the Jama Masjid. Thereafter the Emperor bestowed Syed
Abdul Ghafoor Shah Bukhari with the robe and accolades, then announced his
appointment to the high office of Imamat-e-Uzma, and conferred upon him the
title of Shahi Imam. Hazrat Syed Abdul Ghafoor Shah Bukhari got appointed as the
First Shahi Imam of the Jama Masjid at the age of 63 years. He passed away at
the age of 88 years and was laid to rest at the Dargah Qutub Madar situated at
Ring Road (ITO), New Delhi. From that day, the Imamat of the Jama Masjit has
been continuing in the family from generation to generation. The son of an Imam
succeeds him.
  Looking right toward
the mosque, looking left to see where the
court ladies perched.
Bequeathment & The Investiture of the
Imams of Jama Masjid: The ninth Shahi Imam of the family, Syed Mohammed
Shah Bukhari, mercy be upon him (MBUH), bequeathed the exalted office of the
Imamat to his son, Maulana Syed Ahmed Bukhari (MBUH), on Sunday the 16th of
October 1892 AD, and he duly assumed the high office of the Imamat. Syed
Mohammed Shah Bukhari passed away on Friday the 11th of August 1899 AD at the
age of 73. He was laid to rest in the Mehndian graveyard at the dargah of Hazrat
Shah Waliullah Muhaddis Dehlavi (MBUH).
After Friday
prayers, on the 20th of February 1942 AD, in the presence of theologians,
eminent persons of the the city, members of the management committee and
musalleen (devotees coming for prayers), the Tenth Shahi Imam Shamsul Ulama
Maulana Syed Ahmed Bukhari announced his son Maulana Syed Hameed Bukhari as his
successor Shahi Imam and himself continued as the honorary Imam. He passed
away on Tuesday the 9th of September 1947 AD. He was laid to rest in the
centuries-old graveyard situated at the northern corner of Jama
Masjid.
The Eleventh
Shahi Imam Maulana Syed Hameed Bukhari appointed his son Maulana Syed Abdullah
Bukhari to the office of the Shahi Imam on Sunday the 8th of July 1973 AD.
Maulana Syed Hameed Bukhari passed away on Friday February the 6th, 1976 AD. He
was also laid to rest at the same old graveyard of Jama
Masjid.
Investiture Ceremony (Dastarbandi) of the Present (13th) Shahi
Imam: On Saturday the 14th of October 2000 AD (15th Rajab 1421 AH), a
dignified investiture ceremony of Maulana Syed Ahmed Bukhari was held. His
emissary Sheikh Mohammed Abdul-Rehman Mushid represented Imam-e-Haram, Makkah
Al-Mukarramah, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al-Subayyal at the ceremony.
Besides, thousands of Muslims, masallin, eminent theologians, a host of
important national and international personalities, Muslim leaders, foreign
ambassadors, and ministers witnessed the appointment of Maulana Syed Ahmed
Bukhari by Maulana Syed Abdullah Bukhari as his succeeding Shahi Imam. Hazrat
Maulana Syed Abdullah Bukhari (The Twelfth Shahi Imam) passed away on Wednesday
the 8th of July 2009 (14 Shaban-ul-Muazzam 1430 AH). He was laid to rest at the
old, ancestral graveyard of the Jama Masjid, where his father and grandfather
were laid to rest.
I typed that just to
see if I could – potted history eh..........
   Scanning from the left – the gatehouse, main entrance and the
ceiling in the Prayer Hall.
 Floor tiles
to represent prayer mats.
  The pale
arch shows the faithful which way to face Mecca. Looking beyond Bear down the corridor.
 .
ALL IN ALL COULD NOT BELIEVE
THE AGE
VERY
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