Hazratbal Mosque

Location:	Banks of Dal Lake
Dedicated To:	Prophet Mohammad
Highlights:	Houses Moi-e-Muqqadus (preserved sacred hair) of Prophet Mohammad

The Hazratbal mosque is situated in Srinagar district, on the western banks of the picturesque Dal Lake. Facing the beautiful Nishat Bagh, the mosque offers a spectacular view of the lake and the mountain afar. This revered shrine houses the Moi-e-Muqqadus (preserved sacred hair) of Prophet Mohammad. Public display of the hair takes place only on religious occasions. Some of the other names of the Hazrat Bal mosque are Assar-e-Sharief, Madinat-us-Sani and Dargah Sharif. One of the most revered Muslim shrines, Hazratbal is an epitome of the love and respect of Muslims for the Prophet.

Hazratbal Shrine of Kashmir, India dates back to as far as the early seventeenth century. The Subedar of Mughal Emperor Shahjahan, Sadiq Khan, constructed Ishrat Mahal (Pleasure House), along with a garden at the site of the mosque in 1623. However, when Shahjahan visited the place in 1634, he ordered the conversion of the palace into a prayer house. But, it was only during the reign of Emperor Aurangzeb that Moi-e-Muqqadus arrived in Kashmir in 1699. Initially, it was kept in the shrine of Naqashbad Sahib situated in the center of the city. However, the unparalleled huge rush of people that inundated the shrine to look at the Moi-e-Muqqades made the place seem quite small. Thus, it was decided to shift the Moi-e-Muqqades to Hazratbal, then known as Sadiqabad.

The Hazratbal Mosque of Kashmir is a beautiful structure of immaculate white marble. The Muslim Auqaf Trust headed by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah started the construction work on this marble structure in 1968. The construction took about eleven years and the mosque was completed in 1979. The Friday prayers offered at Hazratbal attract the resident Muslim in huge numbers. Another attraction of Hazratbal is that it is the only domed mosque in Srinagar.