Of blues and greys: Markazi Jamia Masjid stands tall against test of time
The 110-year-old mosque’s interior retains its glory
RAWALPINDI:
The Markazi Jamia Masjid, built 110 years ago to compete with temples and gurdwaras in the surrounding localities, of Rawalpindi, exudes architectural beauty and awe.
Though the mosque’s exterior has suffered the wrath of weather over the years, its interior brings to life the times in which it was constructed. The mosque gives a panoramic view right from its entrance. The courtyard can be reached from the East which is the only entrance.
History has it that the foundation stone of the mosque was laid in 1903 by the exiled prince of Afghanistan Shah Muhammad Ayub Shiraz Haider.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Shiraz Haider, a cultural historian and expert on the garrison city, said in 1903 there were around 80 small mosques in the city. “There was no mosque of such grandiose where Muslims could offer Eid or Friday prayers. Muslims would mostly offer Friday prayers at Mian Nabi Bakhsh mosque at Purana Qilla,” he said.
Later, Qazi Gauhar Ali, Mian Qutbuddin and Mian Nabi Bakhsh came together to build a Jamia Masjid where Muslims of the city could offer Eid and Friday prayers and have a building they could boast to the Hindus.
Muslims then had to face Hindu opposition who tried to stop them (Muslims) from constructing the mosque at the site.
Finance was another constraint. To collect donations for the construction, Qazi Sirajuddin, an influential of the time, visited different areas of Punjab. “However, the donations were not enough to meet the construction cost for which local women sold their jewelries, Seth Adam G donated Rs10,000, Seth Kareem Bakhsh, a resident of Peshawar, donated Rs0.1 million,” Haider recalled.
The mosque was completed in 1905 and Maulana Muhammad Makrani was appointed as its first khateeb. The first Friday prayer was led by Syed Mahmood Shah which was also attended by the Pir of Golra Sharif.
The rich art work that consists of bold and graceful mosaic further adds to the beauty of the mosque. The interior of the mosque had been untouched ever since it’s construction.
The walls are decorated with verses from the Holy Quran and Ahadith of the Holy Prophet (pbuh). The mosque has a total of 12 minarets of different sizes along with three domes.
Inside the building
A picturesque fountain stands in the middle of the spacious courtyard which, according to the naib khateeb, can accommodate around 8,000 worshippers.
Moreover, separate rooms were constructed for students for the recitation of the Holy Quran.
The upper level of the walls adds colour to the building with hand-painted craftwork. Bricks, thinner than the regular ones, were used for the floor which is covered with decorated carpets.
The lower parts of the interior walls are sheathed in ceramic tiles to avoid moisture. There is also a mehrab in the middle of the interior decorated with pieces of mirrors with a marble minaret where the prayer leader delivers his sermon.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 4th, 2014.
The Markazi Jamia Masjid, built 110 years ago to compete with temples and gurdwaras in the surrounding localities, of Rawalpindi, exudes architectural beauty and awe.
Though the mosque’s exterior has suffered the wrath of weather over the years, its interior brings to life the times in which it was constructed. The mosque gives a panoramic view right from its entrance. The courtyard can be reached from the East which is the only entrance.
History has it that the foundation stone of the mosque was laid in 1903 by the exiled prince of Afghanistan Shah Muhammad Ayub Shiraz Haider.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Shiraz Haider, a cultural historian and expert on the garrison city, said in 1903 there were around 80 small mosques in the city. “There was no mosque of such grandiose where Muslims could offer Eid or Friday prayers. Muslims would mostly offer Friday prayers at Mian Nabi Bakhsh mosque at Purana Qilla,” he said.
Later, Qazi Gauhar Ali, Mian Qutbuddin and Mian Nabi Bakhsh came together to build a Jamia Masjid where Muslims of the city could offer Eid and Friday prayers and have a building they could boast to the Hindus.
Muslims then had to face Hindu opposition who tried to stop them (Muslims) from constructing the mosque at the site.
Finance was another constraint. To collect donations for the construction, Qazi Sirajuddin, an influential of the time, visited different areas of Punjab. “However, the donations were not enough to meet the construction cost for which local women sold their jewelries, Seth Adam G donated Rs10,000, Seth Kareem Bakhsh, a resident of Peshawar, donated Rs0.1 million,” Haider recalled.
The mosque was completed in 1905 and Maulana Muhammad Makrani was appointed as its first khateeb. The first Friday prayer was led by Syed Mahmood Shah which was also attended by the Pir of Golra Sharif.
The rich art work that consists of bold and graceful mosaic further adds to the beauty of the mosque. The interior of the mosque had been untouched ever since it’s construction.
The walls are decorated with verses from the Holy Quran and Ahadith of the Holy Prophet (pbuh). The mosque has a total of 12 minarets of different sizes along with three domes.
Inside the building
A picturesque fountain stands in the middle of the spacious courtyard which, according to the naib khateeb, can accommodate around 8,000 worshippers.
Moreover, separate rooms were constructed for students for the recitation of the Holy Quran.
The upper level of the walls adds colour to the building with hand-painted craftwork. Bricks, thinner than the regular ones, were used for the floor which is covered with decorated carpets.
The lower parts of the interior walls are sheathed in ceramic tiles to avoid moisture. There is also a mehrab in the middle of the interior decorated with pieces of mirrors with a marble minaret where the prayer leader delivers his sermon.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 4th, 2014.