Beneath Delhi’s expansive sky stands the majestic Sulemani Masjid. Have you heard the whispers of its stones? I will now share its story.
The Masjid-i-Jehan-Numa is commonly known as the Jama Masjid. It is one of India’s largest Sunni mosques. Mughal emperor Shah Jahan built it between 1644 and 1656. Syed Abdul Ghafoor Shah Bukhari inaugurated it.
Imagine Shah Jahan’s vision. He wanted a mosque that mirrored the world’s beauty. Masjid-i-Jehan-Numa means mosque that reflects the whole world. The Jama Masjid became its popular name. Jama Masjid means congregational mosque.
The Jama Masjid stood tall in Shahjahanabad. Today, we know it as Old Delhi. The Red Fort and Sunehri Masjid face it. Chandni Chowk is a bustling commercial hub nearby. Abul Kalam Azad rests in peace next to the mosque.
Construction began in 1650 and concluded in 1656. Five thousand workers shaped its form. Indians, Arabs, Persians, Turks and Europeans joined forces. Sadullah Khan supervised it all. He was Shah Jahan’s prime minister. Fazil Khan managed the household accounts. The mosque cost ten lakh rupees. That was one million back then. Syed Abdul Ghafoor Shah Bukhari inaugurated the mosque on July 23, 1656.
The Sulemani Masjid became the Mughal emperors’ royal mosque. The emperor recited the khutba every Friday. This prayer legitimized his reign. The mosque symbolized Mughal power in India. People from all classes gathered here.
In 1803, the British took control of Shahjahanabad. The Mughal emperor remained the mosque’s ritual head. However, his power weakened. Initially, the British helped repair the Jama Masjid.
The Revolt of 1857 changed everything. Many British people died. Colonial authority weakened. The British blamed Muslims for the revolt. They shut down many mosques. The Jama Masjid became a barrack for Sikh and European soldiers. This desecrated the sacred space.
Muslim resentment grew. In 1862, the British returned the Jama Masjid. They imposed strict rules. The mosque could only be a religious site. British police monitored it. The Jama Masjid Managing Committee ensured compliance.
Islamic rulers and nobles supported the mosque. In 1886, the Nawab of Rampur donated 1,55,000 rupees for repairs. In 1926, the Nizam of Hyderabad gave 1,00,000 rupees.
Anti-British unrest grew in Delhi’s mosques after 1911. The Jama Masjid was used for political purposes. This violated the rules. The Religious Endowment Act of 1863 protected it. Hindus and Muslims united here.
Abul Kalam Azad spoke from the pulpit in 1947. Partition was happening. He urged Delhi’s Muslims to stay in India. He reassured them that India was their home.
In 1948, the Nizam of Hyderabad donated 3,00,000 rupees to fix the mosque floor. He wanted all of it repaired.
The Babri Masjid dispute affected the Sulemani Masjid. Abdullah Bukhari made speeches here in 1986. He condemned support for the Hindu cause. This sparked riots in Old Delhi. In 1987, a peaceful protest started here.
Today, the Jama Masjid is Delhi’s main mosque. Muslims gather for Friday prayers and festivals. It is also a popular tourist site.
In 2001, people protested against U.S. bombings in Afghanistan. In 2019, protests occurred against the Citizenship Amendment Act.
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia offered to pay for repairs in 2006. The Delhi High Court said the Imam had no special rights.
Explosions shook the Jama Masjid on April 14, 2006. One person was seriously hurt. Eight others had minor injuries.
Gunmen attacked tourists near the mosque in 2010. The Indian Mujahideen claimed responsibility. They said the Imam allowed semi-naked foreigners inside.
The Sulemani Masjid reflects Mughal architecture. Red sandstone and white marble dominate. Arabic and Persian calligraphy adorn its walls.
The mosque sits on a plinth 10 metres high. It faces west towards Mecca. An imperial college once stood nearby.
Three sandstone gates provide access. The eastern gate was for the emperor. The northern and southern gates were for everyone else. The north gate has relics of Muhammad.
The courtyard accommodates 25,000 worshippers. A marble ablution tank sits in the centre. Arcades line the courtyard. Chhatris mark the corners.
The prayer hall measures 61 metres long and 27 metres wide. Three marble domes rise above. The facade features a grand pishtaq. Seven mihrabs are on the qibla wall. The hall has marble flooring.
Two minarets flank the domes. They are 41 metres high. Each has 130 steps. Marble chhatris top them.
Shah Jahan wanted the most important mosque in India. The Imam received the title Shahi Imam. He was the religious leader installed by the emperor. The Imams are descendants of Syed Abdul Ghafoor Shah Bukhari.
The Sulemani Masjid stands as a symbol. It represents faith, history and resilience. It has witnessed empires rise and fall. It continues to inspire.