Moti Masjid (Delhi)

To the west of the Hammam lies the small mosque, the Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) is a large white marble mosque built by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, for his personal use, at the Red Fort complex in Delhi, India, from 1659-1660. A mosque by the same name was also built in 1645 CE by Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb’s father, inside the Lahore Fort in Lahore, Pakistan.

image credit : east med wanderer

The personal mosque of Aurungzeb, Moti Masjid or Pearl Mosque lies to the west of Hamam. Situated on a higher level than courtyards, the prayer-hall of the mosque has inlaid black-marble outlines of ‘musallas’ (small carpets for prayers) and is surmounted by three bulbous domes. It is said that these domes were originally copper plated and even the eastern door is plated with copper leaves. The ladies of the seraglio also used the mosque to offer their prayers to God.

The prayer-hall of the mosque is inlaid with outlines of musallas (small carpets for prayers) in black marble, and it stands at a higher level than the courtyard. The hall is surmounted by three bulbous domes, originally copper-plated, which appear to be too constricted at the neck. The eastern door is provided with copper-plated leaves. The mosque was also used by the ladies of the seraglio.

image credit : Peter Crawford 1946

Another small mosque by the same name, was built for private prayer, by Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah I (r. 1707-1712) and Aurangzeb’s son, close to the Ajmere Gate of the dargah of Sufi saint, Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki at Mehrauli, and is an imitation of the one inside the Red Fort of Delhi.

Nakhoda Mosque ( Kolkata )

image credit : -=KuBa=-

Kolkata is a place where people of diverse religion and culture exist and their religious fervor is expressed by various festivals and rituals. The Muslim community exists along with others and The Nakhoda Mosque is an important place of worship for the Muslims. It is located in Jacquaria Street, near the junction of Chitpore Road, and Mahatma Gandhi Road, Kolkata. Abdar Rahim Osman, a resident of Cutch, founded the mosque in 1926. A board of trustees governs the mosque. The total expense incurred for the construction of the mosque was Rs. 15 lakhs.

The Nakhoda Mosque looks magnificent with its architectural brilliance. The whole mosque was constructed of red sand stone following the tradition of Akbar`s Tomb in Sikandra Agra. The mosque is dome shaped and has two minarets each about 151ft. high and twenty-five tiny pillars all around, which are 100ft. to 117ft. tall. It has a huge prayer hall that has the capacity to hold up to 10,000 men performing the `Namaaz` at one time. A prayer hall forms an integral part and is contained in each of the floor of the mosque. Since the Mosque has traces of Moghul architecture, the gateway of the Mosque, is a duplication of the famous Buland Darwaza, which is located at Fatehpur Sikri. It is extravagant in its artistic portrayal and the style resembles the Indo-Saracenic school of architecture. The Indo- Saracenic School of architecture was developed further by the erstwhile British East India Company, which actually replaced the Moghul style of architecture that was prevalent. This school of architecture is an interesting mix of the European, Hindu and Islamic styles of architecture. The basic idea behind the flourishing of those trends was actually to lend a native touch to the British public buildings.

The Nakhoda Mosque is among the heritage sites in India but it has fallen in the group of the endangered monuments. There are many measures taken to restore the glory of the Mosque, in the past few years. The Geneva based Aga Khan Trust for Culture, has expressed their concern to preserve and refurbish this historical mosque which is unique in its style, which has a pleasant blend of the different styles of architecture, namely, Hindu, Mughal, colonial and Greek architectural patterns.

Muslim festivals instill life into the Mosque during the festive seasons of Id and Ramzan. The mosque is then beautifully decorated with neon lights and flowers, this also provides for an occasion for Muslims all over Kolkata to unite and offer prayers in harmony. Therefore the Nakhoda Mosque is an important mosque, which has been a part of the religious life of the Muslims for many years. Situated in the Chitpur area the mosque has witnessed the changes that has occurred around the place, which was much down trodden and has transformed greatly in the present times. Developments have touched this remote place and here we get a glimpse of newest technology the boon of the civilized life.

Haji Ali Mosque ( Mumbai )

image credit : raymond chenon

Haji Ali is a venerated tomb (dargah) of the Muslims. Not only from Mumbai, people from all parts of India come to pay homage to this mosque. Located on an island off the shoreline of Worli, Haji Ali Mosque looks stunning amidst the blue waters of the sea. It also makes the most popular landmark of Bombay. In 1431, the mosque was built by Haji Ali – a rich Muslim merchant, who gave up all worldly charms before going to the pilgrimage of Mecca.

image credit : Bad Photos of Foreign Places

As per the legends, Haji Ali left this world during his journey to Mecca and a coffer carrying his body hovered back to Mumbai. Other stories state that the great saint drowned at the place, where the mosque stands at present. On Thursdays and Fridays, the shrine is visited by at least 40,000 pilgrims. Irrespective of faith and religion, people visit the ‘dargah’ to get the blessings of the legendary saint.

The edifice is a brilliant specimen of the Indo-Islamic style of architecture. Built on a small island, the mosque is sited about 500 yards from the shoreline, in the middle of Worli Bay. This island is connected to the Mahalakshmi area by a narrow walkway, which is not even constrained by railings and is prone to sea waters during high-tide. Consequently, you can reach the mosque only during low-tides.

The walkway, offering 500-yard-walk, is the highlight of this expedition, where the touch of cool waters and pleasing breeze altogether will make this a divine experience. Sprawling in an area of 4,500 meters, Haji Ali Dargah has a tomb that is always covered with a brocaded red and green sheet, supported by a delicate silver frame. The marble pillars inside the main hall are decorated with multihued mirrors and embrace the ninety-nine names of Allah.