Makkah Masjid, Hyderabad

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Makkah Masjid
Mecca Masjid Hyderabad.JPG
Religion
Affiliation Shia Islam
Ecclesiastical or organizational status Mosque
Location
Location Hyderabad
State Telangana
Country India [1]
Geographic coordinates 17°21′37″N78°28′24″E / 17.360305°N 78.473416°E / 17.360305; 78.473416
Architecture
Style Indo-Islamic architecture
Completed1693;331 years ago (1693)
Specifications
Capacity10,000
Length67 m
Width54 m
Height (max)23 m
Materials granite

Makkah Masjid or Mecca Masjid, is a congregational mosque in Hyderabad, India. It is the largest mosque in the city, [2] and one of the largest mosques in the country, with a capacity of 10,000 people. [3] The mosque was built during the 17th century, and is a state-protected monument. It serves as the primary mosque for the Old City of Hyderabad, [4] and is located close to the historic landmarks of Charminar, Chowmahalla Palace and Laad Bazaar.

Contents

Muhammad Qutb Shah, the sixth ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, commissioned bricks to be made from the soil brought from Mecca, the holiest site of Islam, and used them in the construction of the central arch of the mosque, thus giving the mosque its name.

The complex was put by UNESCO on its "tentative list" to become a World Heritage Site in 2014, with others in the region, under the name Monuments and Forts of the Deccan Sultanate (despite there being a number of different sultanates). [5]

History

The construction of the Makkah Masjid began in the year 1617 CE, during the reign of Sultan Muhammad Qutb Shah, the sixth Qutb Shahi Sultan of Golconda (now Hyderabad). The ruler personally laid its foundation stone. Around 8,000 workers were employed to build the mosque. It was completed by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1693. [6] [3] The three arched facades[ dubious – discuss ] have been carved from a single piece of granite, which took five years to quarry.

Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, a French explorer, in his travelogue observed:

It is about 50 years since they began to build a splendid pagoda in the town which will be the grandest in all India when it is completed. The size of the stone is the subject of special accomplishment, and that of a niche, which is its place for prayer, is an entire rock of such enormous size that they spent five years in quarrying it, and 500 to 600 men were employed continually on its work. It required still more time to roll it up on to conveyance by which they brought it to the pagoda; and they took 1400 oxen to draw it. [7]

Bombing

Mecca masjid view from charminar Meccamasjidcharminar.jpg
Mecca masjid view from charminar

On 18 May 2007, a bomb exploded inside the Makkah Masjid during Friday prayers, killing at least thirteen people and injuring dozens more. [8] [9]

Graves of the 2nd to 6th Nizams in the Makkah Masjid Mecca Masjid graves.jpg
Graves of the 2nd to 6th Nizams in the Makkah Masjid

Architecture

The Mecca Masjid is considered to be one of the best architectural works of the Qutb Shahis. [10] It is constructed entirely of dressed stone, rather than rubble or plaster. The mosque's prayer hall measures 225 feet (69 m) by 180 feet (55 m), and has a 75 feet (23 m) high ceiling. The facade of the prayer hall features five open arches, and is flanked by two minarets. Each minaret is topped by a dome, and adjoined to an arcaded balcony lining either side of the prayer hall. [6]

The sahn (courtyard) of the mosque measures 108 square metres. [4] It contains a sundial, as well as the remains of a hammam . Two minarets lie on either side of the main entrance to the mosque complex. [3]

Towards the southern end of the mosque lie the marble tombs of the Asaf Jahi rulers and family members, save the first (Asaf Jah I) and the last (Asaf Jah VII). These are housed in a rectangular, arched, and canopied building, which was added in 1914 during the rule of Mir Osman Ali Khan, the last Asaf Jahi ruler. [6] [11] [10] At both ends of this resting place for the Asaf Jahi's are two rectangular blocks with four minarets each. These minarets have elegant and circular balconies with low ornamental walls and arches. Above them is an octagonal inverted platter from which the rest of the minarets soar until arrested by a dome and a spire.[ citation needed ]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toli Masjid</span> Mosque in Hyderabad, India

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The culture of Hyderabad, also known as Hyderabadi Tehzeeb or Dakhini Tehzeeb, is the traditional cultural lifestyle of the Hyderabadi Muslims, and characterizes distinct linguistic and cultural traditions of North and South India, which meet and mingle in the city and erstwhile kingdom. This blending was the result of the geographic location of the region and the variety of historical dynasties that ruled the city across different periods—its inception by the Qutub Shahi dynasty in 1591 AD, the occupation by the Mughal Empire and its decline, and the patronage under the Asaf Jahi dynasty.

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The history of Telangana, located on the high Deccan Plateau, includes its being ruled by the Satavahana Dynasty, the Kakatiya Dynasty (1083–1323), the Musunuri Nayaks (1326–1356), the Delhi Sultanate, the Bahmani Sultanate (1347–1512), Golconda Sultanate (1512–1687) and Asaf Jahi dynasty (1724-1950).

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culture of Telangana</span> Cultural history of an Indian state

The Culture of Telangana in India has a cultural history of about 5,000 years. The region emerged as the foremost centre of culture in Indian subcontinent during the rule of Kakatiyas, the Qutb Shahis and Asaf Jahi dynasties—. The rulers patronage and interest for culinary, arts and culture transformed Telangana into a multi-cultural region where two different cultures coexist together, thus making Telangana the representative of the Deccan Plateau and its heritage with Warangal and Hyderabad being its epicenter. Hyderabadi cuisine and Kakatiya architecture both from Telangana, are on the list of UNESCO creative city of gastronomy and UNESCO World Heritage Site. The regions major cultural events celebrated are "Kakatiya Festival" and Deccan Festival along with religious festivals Bonalu, Bathukamma, Dasara, Ugadi, Sankranthi, Milad un Nabi and Ramadan.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Architecture of Telangana</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Architecture of Hyderabad</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qutb Shahi architecture</span> Indo-Islamic architectural style

Qutb Shahi architecture is the distinct style of Indo-Islamic architecture developed during the reign of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, also known as the Golconda Sultanate.

Hyderabad is the capital of the Indian state of Telangana and de jure capital of Andhra Pradesh. It was established by Qutb Shahi sultan Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah in 1591 AD to expand their capital beyond the Golconda fort. The Charminar Masjid was constructed upon the inception of Hyderabad, the iconic mosques of Mecca Masjid and Hayat Bakshi Mosque were constructed during this dynasty and these style of architecture is known as Qutb Shahi Masajid—(Qutb Shahi Mosques). In 1769 AD when the city became capital of the Nizams of Hyderabad—(also known as Asaf Jahi dynasty), they had constructed many mosques in the process to expand the city, Afzal Gunj Masjid and Shahi Masjid are the resemblance of Asaf Jahi Masajid—(Asaf Jahi Mosques). Some of the iconic mosques in Hyderabad such as Toli Masjid, Mian Mishk Masjid, Spanish Mosque and Paigah Mosque were constructed by the prominent nobles of the former rulers of Hyderabad state.

Jama Masjid is a 505 year old Mosque in Golconda, Hyderabad, India. It was constructed in 1518 by the first Qutb Shahi ruler Sultan Quli Qutb Shah - while he was governor of the Bahmani Sultanate in current Telangana.

References

  1. ↑ "Location of Makkah Masjid". Google Maps. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  2. ↑ Michell, George (1999). Architecture and art of the Deccan sultanates. Mark Zebrowski. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 53. ISBN   978-0-511-46884-1. OCLC   268771115.
  3. 1 2 3 Dayakar, G (2019). Qutb Shahi Architecture in Hyderabad- A Special Study. p. 28. ISBN   9788193828243.
  4. 1 2 Burton-Page, John (2008). Indian Islamic Architecture: Forms and Typologies, Sites and Monuments (PDF). Brill. p. 146. ISBN   9789047423652.
  5. ↑ UNESCO "tentative list"
  6. 1 2 3 Khalidi, Omar (2009). A Guide to Architecture in Hyderabad, Deccan, India. Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture & MIT Libraries. p. 41.
  7. ↑ Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, Travels in India (English translation), Oxford University Press, Humphrey Milford, translated by Ball, London 1925 pg 205. Both volumes translated from Le Six Voyages of J. B. Tavernier (2 vols. 4to, Paris, 1676)
  8. ↑ "Bomb hits historic India mosque". BBC News Online. 18 May 2007.
  9. ↑ "HuJI ban takes no note of 'terror' role". The Times of India . 8 August 2010. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012.
  10. 1 2 Alfieri, Bianca Maria; Borromeo, Federico (2000). Islamic Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent. Lawrence King Publishing. p. 162. ISBN   9781856691895.
  11. ↑ "Welcome to TCI".
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