Fatehpuri Masjid
Fatehpuri Masjid is a 17th-century mosque located at the western end of the
oldest street of Delhi, Chandni Chowk. It is opposite the Red Fort on the
opposite end of Chandni Chowk.
Fatehpuri Masjid was built in 1650 by Fatehpuri Begum, one of Mughal
Emperor, Shah Jahan's wives who was from Fatehpur, and the mosque at Taj
Mahal is also named after her. Mufti Mukarram Ahmad is the chief Mufti and
Imam of the mosque and has been Imam there for almost 42 years and before
him his father Maulana Mufti Mohammad Ahmad (Died on 21st Oct 1971/1391 AH)
was Imam and Mufti in Fatehpuri Mosque.
About Mufti Mukarram
Mufti Mukarram Ahmed is an Indian Muslim religious and literary scholar. He
is the Shahi Imam of grand royal mosque at Fatehpuri, Chandni Chowk, Delhi
India. He subscribes to Sunni Barelwi ideology. He is a scholar of Arabic,
Urdu, Persian, English and Hindi who represents Muslims (Ahle Sunnat) on
issues such as moon sighting and Eid celebration. It is the Oldest Committee
of Delhi. Mufti Mukarram also represents Khankahe Aalia Naqshbandiya and he
is Murshide Tariqat Silsila Nakshbandiya Mujaddidiya, Chishtiya, Qadriya and
Sohr-wardiya. He has written several books on Islamic teachings.
Architecture
The mosque is built using red sandstone and has a fluted dome with Mahapadma
and Kalash on the top. Flanked by minarets, the mosque has a traditional
design with the prayer hall having seven-arched openings. The mosque has
single and double-storey apartments on the sides.
The central iwan in the middle is flanked by three arches on each side.
History
The British had auctioned the mosque after the 1857 war to Rai Lala
Chunnamal for Rs. 19,000 whose descendants still live in the Chunnamal
haveli in Chandni Chowk), who preserved the mosque. Later in 1877 it was
acquired by the government in exchange for four villages and was restored to
the Muslims at the Delhi Durbar when the British allowed the Muslims back in
Old Delhi. A similar mosque, called Akbarabadi Masjid built by the
Akbarabadi Begum was destroyed by the British.
The Khari Baoli, which is today Asia's largest spice market, gradually
developed after the construction of the mosque. Muslim festivals Id-ul-Fitr
and Id-ul-Zuha are celebrated with great enthusiasm at the mosque.
Getting There
The nearest airport is Indira
Gandhi International Airport (IATA: DEL, ICAO: VIDP), situated in Palam,
15 km (9.3 mi) south-west of the New Delhi railway station and 16 km (9.9
mi) from New Delhi city centre.
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