Why does this quadrangular structure of brick and stone command so much attention? This is the Jama Masjid. It stands in the Kalbadevi neighborhood near Crawford Market in South Mumbai. The Jama Masjid is a Sunni Friday mosque. It is an important religious and historical landmark.
Construction of the Jama Masjid started in 1775. It wasn’t fully complete until the 19th century. The mosque’s design reflects the Indo-Islamic architectural style. Mumbai has 89 mosques. Most follow the Sunni tradition.
Let’s take a step back in time. In the 1700s, this site was a large water reservoir. Gardens and open land surrounded it. A Konkani Muslim merchant owned the land. He traded in Goa and Calicut. Around 1775, he agreed to let a mosque be built here. There was one condition. The water tank had to be preserved.
Building the Jama Masjid wasn’t easy. Construction began in 1775. Neighbors raised objections that delayed work until 1778. More disputes arose. They concerned illegal construction to the west and south. Finally, Bombay Governor Sir Meadows Taylor ruled for the mosque. The Jama Masjid was completed around 1802 or 1803. This is based on the chronogram Jahaz-i-Akhirat. It means “The ship of the world to come.” The name refers to the fact that the mosque was built on the tank.
Initially, a one-story building was erected over the tank. This formed the original Jama Masjid. A top floor was added in 1814. Mohammad Ali Roghay paid for this. He was a prominent Konkani merchant. From 1770 to 1802, Sat Tad Masjid served as Mumbai’s Friday mosque. This was while the Jama Masjid was under construction.
Notice the quadrangular structure. The Jama Masjid is made of brick and stone. It is encircled by terrace-roofed buildings. These buildings have two stories. Shops occupy the ground floors. The main eastern gate leads to an open courtyard. Here lies the ancient tank. Masonry steps and embankments surround it now. The tank was built in 1893. It holds about 3.0 meters of water. Springs at the bottom feed the tank. You might spot gold and silver fish and a few turtles. The tank is used for wudu. Modern sanitation facilities are also available.
Sixteen black stone arches rise from the tank’s depths. They were built in 1874. These arches support the entire mosque. The upper story is supported by five rows of wooden pillars. Each pillar has a receptacle for sacred books. The arches cost Rs. 75,000 to build. Large windows were added in 1898 on the north, east, and south sides. A madrasa was built in 1902 for Rs. 20,000.
The Jama Masjid spans over 0.40 hectares. It is run by the Juma Masjid of Bombay Trust. The mosque houses a digitized library. It contains rare manuscripts from as early as the 1890s. The Jama Masjid is one of the main mosques for Sunnis. Konkani Muslims manage it. They follow the Shafie madhab.
The High Court created a management scheme in 1897. An eleven-member board of directors manages the properties. Konkani Muslim Jamat elects them every three years. A Nazir handles the executive functions. The board appoints the Nazir. The mosque staff includes an Imam, an assistant imam, a Bangi, and an assistant Bangi. Their duty is to summon devotees to prayer.
The Jama Masjid is on Janjikar Street in Kalbadevi near Dhobi Talao. Zaveri Bazar lies to the west. Abdul Rehman Street is to the east. The nearest train stations are Marine Lines and Masjid Bunder. Buses stop at Mahatma Phule Market.
As you leave the Jama Masjid, reflect on its rich history. Remember the merchant who preserved the tank. Think about the community that built this beautiful structure. The Jama Masjid stands as a testament to faith, perseverance, and community spirit.