The Khanqah-e-Moula, also known as Shah-e-Hamadan Masjid and Khanqah, is a

Sunni Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam and the largest religious denomination in the world. It holds that Muhammad did not appoint any successor and that his closest companion Abu Bakr () rightfully succeeded him as the caliph of the Mu ...

mosque A mosque ( ), also called a masjid ( ), is a place of worship for Muslims. The term usually refers to a covered building, but can be any place where Salah, Islamic prayers are performed; such as an outdoor courtyard. Originally, mosques were si ...

located in the Old City of

Srinagar Srinagar (; ) is a city in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir in the disputed Kashmir region.The application of the term "administered" to the various regions of Kashmir and a mention of the Kashmir dispute is supported by the tertiary ...

in Jammu and Kashmir,

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

. Situated on the right bank of the river

Jhelum Jhelum (; , ) is a city, located along the western bank of the Jhelum River, in Punjab, Pakistan. It is the 21st largest city in Punjab and 31st largest in Pakistan, by population. Located in northern Punjab, it serves as the capital of the ...

between the Fateh Kadal and Zaina Kadal bridges, it was built in 1395 CE, commissioned by Sultan Sikendar in memory of Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani. It is held to be the first ''Khanqah''—mosques associated with specific saints—in the

Kashmir valley The Kashmir Valley, also known as the Vale of Kashmir, is an intermontane valley in northern Jammu and Kashmir, a region in Indian-administered Kashmir.(a) (subscription required) Quote: "Kashmir, region of the northwestern Indian subcont ...

. It is one of the best examples of Kashmiri wooden architecture, and is decorated with ''papier mache''. The mosque structure is a

Monument of National Importance A monument is a type of structure that was explicitly created to commemorate a person or event, or which has become relevant to a social group as a part of their remembrance of historic times or cultural heritage, due to its artistic, historical ...

History

The mosque was commissioned by Sultan Sikandar Butshikan in 1395 CE in memory of the Islamic preacher Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani. In recent centuries, some have claimed it was built on top of the ruins of a Hindu Kali temple. The central figure involved in the widespread conversion to Islam in Kashmir. Also known as ''Shah-e-Hamadan'' (the King of Hamadan), the preacher came to Kashmir from the city of

Hamadan Hamadan ( ; , ) is a mountainous city in western Iran. It is located in the Central District of Hamadan County in Hamadan province, serving as the capital of the province, county, and district. As of the 2016 Iranian census, it had a po ...

Persia Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...

in the 14th century. He is credited for the spread of Islam in Kashmir. In 1480 AD, the shrine was destroyed in a fire. The then-ruler, Sultan Hassan Shah, expanded its premises and rebuilt it. In 1731 CE, the Khanqah was again destroyed by fire and then rebuilt by Abdul Barkat Khan.

2017 fire

On 15 November 2017, a fire broke out in the shrine which damaged the spire of the building. Fire tenders were brought on the scene and they managed to arrest the spread of the fire which prevented any further damage to the building. Restoration work was immediately started and on 30 March 2018, a refurbished crown was successfully installed on the spire of the shrine.

Gallery

Shah Hamadan Mosque, srinagar 1906.jpg, Sketch of the mosque, 1906 Khanqah, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.jpg, The mosque's interior has intricate woodwork and is richly decorated with ''papier-maché'', seen above in 2007; the wooden structure makes it prone to fires, the latest such incident occurring in 2017 Kalleshwari Temple Srinagar.png, View of the Khanqah from the Jhelum river. On the bank saffron marks indicate the veneration of the place where once a Kali temple existed.

References

External links

{{Mosques in India 14th-century mosques in India Monuments of National Importance in Jammu and Kashmir Mosque buildings with spires Mosques in Srinagar Sunni mosques in India Buildings and structures completed in 1395 Religious buildings and structures completed in 1732 Mosques completed in the 1730s

History

2017 fire

Gallery

See also

References

External links