A massive fire which broke out in the revered Khanqah-e-Moula shrine damaged it’s roof and spire partially. The fire, reports said, was caused by short-circuit. Reports said the fire was brought under control by the timely action of the locals and the fire tenders. Meanwhile, the concerned MLA Ali Muhammad Sagar visited the shrine on Wednesday and took stock of the situation.
Built in memory of renowned Muslim saint, scholar and preacher Mir Syed Ali Hamadani, the shrine mosque is highly revered as it stands out in reverence to the saint whose teachings helped spread Islam in the valley.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The Khanqah-e-Molla or Shah-e-Hamdan is one of the oldest Muslim shrines located on the banks of the river Jhelum in Srinagar city. An important religious destination in Srinagar, this shrine was originally built in 1395 and later reconstructed in 1732. Believed to contain “the secret of Allah” – the Khanqah-e-Molla is an excellent example of wood architecture that draws inspiration from Buddhist, Hindu and Islamic styles. Khanqah-e-Molla was originally constructed by Sultan Sikander (1389-1413 AD) in memory of Sufi saint Mir Syed Ali Hamdan, who stayed in Kashmir and was instrumental in the spread of Islam in Kashmir.
The Khanqah of Shah Hamadan was the first mosque to be built in Srinagar. The Shah used to meditate and offer his prayers daily on the banks of river Jhelum, at the same spot where the shrine now stands.
Khanqah-e-Molla was ravaged by fire in 1480, and reconstructed by Sultan Hassan Shah in 1493. Again in 1731, the shrine got damaged, with Abul Barkat Khan reconstructing it in 1731.Khanqah-e-Molla, as it stands today, has a square plan, erected on irregular walled base made of materials from ancient temples. The two-storied, two-tiered structure of the shrine has gently sloping pyramidal roofs demarcating each tier. The roofs are further accentuated by heavy woodwork adorning the cornices under the eaves.
The first tier features double-arcaded verandahs that run continuously around the building, and the second tier is in the form of an arcaded balcony protruding on all four sides of the main building. The pyramidal roof of the second tier is topped by an open pavilion for the muezzin, which is further crowned by a pyramidal spire. Parts of the roof have got covered with seasonal vegetation, creating a unique sight of intricate woodwork and terraced flowerbeds.
The shrine of the saint at Khanqah-e-Molla lies in a cloister at the northwest corner of the structure. the interiors of the building have beautiful paintings and carved woodwork. Antique chandeliers add to the beauty of the wooden structure. On the doorway of the saint’s shrine on the northwest corner. A date -1384 AD, marking the saint’s death, is carved above the doorway.
The Khanqah-i-Mualla is dedicated to Muslim preacher Mir Syed Ali Hamdani.
Also known as Shah Hamadan, the preacher came to Kashmir from the city of Hamadan in Persia in the 13th century. He is the responsible for the spread of Islam in Kashmir. The Shah stayed in Kashmir for many years and then left for Central Asia via Ladakh. The shrine (khanqah-e-moula) gains a special significance on 6th of Zilhaj (last month of Muslim calendar), the death anniversary of Mir Syed Ali Hamadni.
During the Sultanate period, many prominent Sufis from Central Asia escaped the persecution of the Mongol invaders and sought refuge in Kashmir. Here in the peaceful environs of the valley, they found a safe haven and earned patronage of the native kings. Over the years as their followers swelled, khanqahs were built and Sufism took root in the valley. The khanqah of Shah Hamadan being one of the oldest in the valley
Today, centuries later, the mohallas along the Jhelum survive in more or less the same fashion, retaining a old-world charm about themselves. On any given day here, you will find people tying sacred threads for a murad or distributing cooked rice for the speedy recovery of an ill family member. Even today the birth of the Hamadani calls for grand celebrations and people from across the valley pour in to pay their respects. Sufism in the streets of Kashmir remains a living faith.