Jama Mosque, Delhi

De Masjid-i-Jehan-Numa, dem commonly know as de Jama Masjid (Urdu: جامع مسجد, romanized: jāme masjid) of Delhi, be one of de largest Sunni mosques insyd India.

Ein builder be de Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, between 1644 den 1656, wey ebe inaugurated by ein first Imam, Syed Abdul Ghafoor Shah Bukhari. E dey situate insyd de Mughal capital of Shahjahanabad (today Old Delhi), na e serve as de imperial mosque of de Mughal emperors til de demise of de empire insyd 1857. Na dem regard de Jama Masjid as a symbolic gesture of Islamic power across India, well into de colonial era. Na e sanso be a site of political significance during chaw key periods of British rule. E remain for active use, wey ebe one of Delhi ein most iconic sites, dem closely identify plus de methods of Old Delhi. De mosque structure be a Monument of National Importance.

 Names 

De mosque get two names. De older one, wey Shah Jahan bestow, be Masjid-i-Jehān-Numā, dem interprete as "mosque wey dey reflect de whole world", probably an allusion to de Jām-e-Jehān Numā. De oda more common one be Jāmā Masjid (, from de Arabic wey dey mean "congregational mosque"), wich emerge among de common populace. De term Jama Masjid no be unique to dis mosque; since de 7th century, na dem dey use am make e denote fe community mosque anaa Friday mosque, wey hence chaw around de world dey bear dis name den variants of am.

 Location 

De mosque dey locate within de historic city of Shahjahanabad, today dem know as de locality of Old Delhi. Across from de mosque be de Red Fort den Sunehri Masjid. As one of de focal points of Old Delhi, Jama Masjid be surrounded by chaw commercial centres, such as de historic Chandni Chowk. De tomb of Abul Kalam Azad, Indian independence activist, dey locate adjacent to de mosque.

 History 

 Construction den Mughal era 
Mughal emperor Shah Jahan build de Jama Masjid between 1650 den 1656, for de highest point of Shahjahanabad. Na approximately 5,000 workers wey construct am. Na de workforce be diverse, wey dey consist of Indians, Arabs, Persians, Turks, den Europeans. Na de construction be supervised primarily by Sadullah Khan, de wazir (anaa prime minister) during Shah Jahan ein reign, den Fazil Khan, de comptroller of Shah Jahan ein household. Na de cost of de construction for de time be ten lakh (one million) rupees. na dem inaugurate de mosque for 23 July 1656 by Syed Abdul Ghafoor Shah Bukhari, from Bukhara, Uzbekistan. Na he be invited by Shah Jahan make he be Shahi Imam (Royal Imam) of de mosque.Dalrymple, p.252

Na de mosque be one of de last monuments dem build under Shah Jahan. After ein completion, e serve as de royal mosque of de emperors til de end of de Mughal period. Na de khutba be recited by de Mughal emperor during de Friday noon prayer, wey dey legitimise ein rule. Na de mosque be hence a symbol of Mughal sovereignty insyd India, wey dey carry political significance. Na e sanso be an important centre of social life give de residents of Shahjahanabad, wey dey provide a space wey dey transcend class divide for diverse people make dem interact.

 Modern era 
De Jama Masjid dey serve as Delhi ein primary mosque, wey e largely get congregational function. De Muslims of de city traditionally dey gather hie make dem offer communal Friday prayer, as well as for major festivals such as Eid. De mosque sanso be a major tourist attraction, wey dey derive a significant amount of income thru de visits of foreigners.

De function of de mosque as an autonomous political space continue insyd de modern era. For example, insyd 2001 (insyd de aftermath of de 9/11 attacks) na de mosque be a site of protest against U.S bombings insyd Afghanistan. Insyd 2019, massive protests occurr for de site secof de controversial Citizenship Amendment Act.

 Renovation 

Insyd 2006, na dem report dat de mosque be in urgent need of repair, wey dey follow wich de Saudi Arabian king Abdullah offer make he bia for am. Na de Imam say dat he receive de offer directly from de Saudi authorities, buh na dem request dem make dem approach de Indian Government. However, na de Delhi High Court say dat na dis matter get no "legal sanctity" wey dey give no "special equities" to de Imam.

A project wey dey aim make dem renovate de Jama Masjid den ein surrounding remain unimplemented since de early 2000s, secof chaw administrative den logistical roadblocks.

 Architecture 

Na dem build de Jama Masjid as a part of Shah Jahan ein new capital insyd Delhi, Shahjahanabad. For de time of ein construction, na ebe de largest mosque insyd de Indian subcontinent. Na Shah Jahan claim say dem model de mosque after de Jama Masjid of Fatehpur Sikri, wey dis be reflected insyd de design of chaw exterior features, such as de façade den courtyard. However, de interior of de mosque more closely dey resemble de Jama Masjid insyd Agra.De mosque predominantly dey use red sandstone, wey be set apart from ein predecessors by a more extensive usage of white marble. Black marble sanso dey feature as a decorative element.Dem dey find Arabic den Persian calligraphic pieces for various surfaces of de structure, wey ein content dey range from religious to panegyric.

Na dem build am for a hill ein top, de mosque dey situate for a plinth dem elevate  above de surrounding city. De complex be oriented to de west, towards Mecca. An imperial college, imperial dispensary, den madrasa use to lie adjacent to de structure, buh na dem destroy dem insyd de uprisings of 1857.

 Gates 
Dem dey access de mosque by three sandstone gates. De most prominent of dese be de three-storey high eastern gate, wich historically act as de shahi (royal) entrance, dem reserve give de use of de Emperor den ein associates per. De oda two entrances be de northern den southern gates, wich be two stories high wey na ebe used by de general population. Each gate be accompanied by a three-sided sandstone stairway, plus white markings make e designate prayer positions. De cabinet wey locate insyd de north gate get a collection of relics of Muhammad – de Quran dem wrep for deerskin top, a red beard-hair of de prophet, ein sandals dein ein footprints dem embed insyd a marble block.

 Courtyard 
De square sahn (courtyard) be paved plus red sandstone, wey dey face de eastern gate. E get a side length of at least , wey fi accommodate 25,000 worshippers. Insyd ein centre dey lie a marble ablution tank, wey dey measure  long den  wide. Open arcades dey run along de edges of de courtyard, thru wich de surroundings of de masjid be visible. Chhatris dey mark de four corners of de courtyard, wey dey rise above de arcades.

 Prayer Hall 
De prayer hall dey measure  long den  wide. Three marble domes dey rise up from ein roof, wey dey feature golden finials. De façade of de prayer hall dey feature a grand pishtaq insyd de centre, flanked by five smaller, cusped archways for either side. Above each archway of de prayer hall be sam calligraphic pieces. De interior of de hall dey bear seven mihrabs (prayer niches) for de western qibla wall, wey dey correspond to de seven bays into wich de hall be divided. Dem intricately decorate de central mihrab den clad insyd marble, plus a marble minbar (pulpit) wey dey lie to ein right. De hall be floored plud white den black ornamented marble make e look like a Muslim prayer mat.

 Minarets 
De mosque ein domes be flanked by two sandstone minarets, for de northeast den southeast corners. Dem be  high wey dem longitudinally stripe plus white marble. Each minaret dey consist of 130 steps, along wich viewing galleries dey occur for three places. Both minarets be topped plus a marble chhatri.

 Shahi Imam 

Na ebe apparently make dem build Shah Jahān ein wish de most important mosque insyd India, widout any parallel anywer insyd de Mughal Empire. He sanso decide dat ein Imam (de Muslim religious leader wey dey lead de prayer) na he for cam turn de most important religious leader of ein reign. Na de Imam of Jama Masjid thus receive de title of Shahī Imam (religious leader install by emperor). Na dem crown all subsequent Mughal emperors from Aurangzeb to Bahadur Shah II (1837-1857) by de Shahi Imam of de Jama Masjid insyd Delhi.
Na de Imams of Delhi ein Jama Masjid traditionally be de direct descendants of de first Imam of de Masjid, Syed Abdul Ghafoor Shah Bukhari, wey na he be appointed by Shah Jahan.Dem know dema position as dat of de Shahi Imam, anaa Royal Imam. Dem know de person next-in-line to de position as de Naib Imam, anaa Deputy Imam. De Shahi Imams dey bear de last name of Bukhari, wey dey denote dema ancestral origin insyd Bukhara (of modern day Uzbekistan). Dem list de imams wey na dem occupy de position below.
OrdinalNameTitleTerm startTerm endTime insyd office1Abdul Ghafoor Shah BukhariImam-us-Sultan23 July 16562Abdul Shakoor Shah Bukhari3Abdul Raheem Shah Bukhari4Abdul Ghafoor Shah Bukhari Thani5Abdul Rehman Shah Bukhari6Abdul Kareem Shah Bukhari7Mir Jeewan Shah Bukhari8Mir Ahmed Ali Shah Bukhari9Mohammed Shah Bukhari16 October 189210Ahmed BukhariShams-ul-Ulama11Hameed Bukhari20 February 19428 July 197331 years, 138 days12Abdullah Bukhari8 July 197314 October 200027 years, 98 days13Ahmed Bukhari I14 October 200025 February 202423 years, 134 days14Shaban Bukhari25 February 2024incumbent1 year, 18 daysSources:"Imam Bukhari's family tree". 15 October 2008.

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 The Jama Masjid Of Delhi

Category:1656 establishments insyd India
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