View source for Athar Jamad Mosque

{{short description|Mosque in Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{Refimprove|date=February 2014}}{{Tone|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox religious building
| name                  = Athar Jamad Masjid
| native_name           = The Big Mosque
| image                 = Athar Jamaath Masjid2.JPG
| religious_affiliation = [[Islam]]
| location              = [[Oppanakara Street]], [[Coimbatore]]
| established           = 1904
| tradition             = 
| leadership            = President:''<br />Haji. J.Kaleefullah Rowther
| architecture_type     = Mosque
| capacity              = 2000
| minaret_quantity      = 4
| minaret_height        = {{convert|85|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}
| website               = 
}}

'''Athar Jamad Masjid''' ( {{lang-ar|اثار جماعة المسجد}} ; {{lang-ta|அத்தார் ஜமாத் மஸ்ஜித்}} ; also known as ''The Big Mosque'' ) is located at [[Oppanakara Street]] and [[Town Hall Coimbatore|Town Hall]] within the [[Coimbatore]] district of [[Tamil Nadu]] in [[India]]. One of the oldest and biggest [[masjid]] in Coimbatore. It is a living testimony of city's history.<ref>{{cite web|author=kmdilip |url=http://www.coimbatore365.com/tourist_attractions_in_coimbatore/temples/athar_jamath_majeed_coimbatore.html |title=Athar Jamad Majeed coimbatore, Athar Jamad Masjid coimbatore, Athar Jamad Majeed Photos |publisher=Coimbatore365.com |access-date=2014-02-24}}</ref>

== History and construction ==
[[Perfume]] [[merchants]] named Athar who migrated from [[Tirunelveli]], built this [[monument]]al structure. It took 44 years for completion. It was in 1860 when the [[construction]] works commenced and finished in 1904. This strong structure made up of [[limestone]] and [[Mortar (masonry)|mortar]] and polished with egg white. The [[facade]] is covered with cusped arches surrounding the open [[courtyard]] where the prayer halls stand. There is a covered [[Wudu|ablution]] pond in the south-eastern corner and a small [[library]] on the eastern side. There's also a [[kitchen]] that prepares ''nonbu kanji'' (rice soup),<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/lsquoNonbu-Kanjirsquo-a-noble-thing-that-paves-way-for-communal-harmony/article16518692.ece | newspaper=The Hindu | title=‘Nonbu Kanji,’ a noble thing that paves way for communal harmony | date=21 September 2009 | first=Syed Muthahar | last=Saqaf | access-date=11 July 2020 }}</ref> in [[fasting]] period during [[Ramadan (calendar month)|Ramzan]] month. Hawkers line the entrance with their colorful [[amulets]] and items of [[worship]].

According to the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage ([[INTACH]]), the two minars, with domed roofs, on the northern and southern sides, are 85 feet high. This pair of silver [[dome]]s stands out in the skyline of Town Hall area. In better climes they could well have been the gates of [[heaven]] (also called as [[Jannah]]). These had crafted with [[wrought-iron]] hide behind cluttered cables lining Oppanakara Street. The gates tower up to the [[stained]] glass and four [[minaret]]s above. The mosque with a capacity of accommodating about 2000 worshippers for the [[Friday prayers]]. A [[Sufi]] [[dargah]] belonging to a [[Pir (Sufism)|Pir]] Jamesha Waliullah is in close proximity to the mosque.

== Dargah ==
The [[masjid]] is built beside the [[tomb]] of Jamesha Waliullah, a [[Waliullah]] who died in the 1850. His tomb, which is now a [[dargah]] on Big Bazaar Street is on the southern side of the masjid, and is worshipped by Non-Muslims like Muslims alike. Jamaat authorities say that they donated Big Bazaar Street to the [[Coimbatore Corporation|Corporation]], much before [[Independence of India|independence]], as Town Hall area had developed into the city's main business district. The [[quaint]] little dargah stands in the middle of the street. Visitors are blessed inside the dargah with amulets tied around their necks to ward off [[evil spirits]].

== Following ==
The [[Jamia|Jamaat]] comprises the descendants of the 52 families from [[Tirunelveli]] that moved to [[Coimbatore]] in 1850. According to Jamaat [[secretary]] A.R.Baserdeen, there are now 1355 members are alive. The Jamaat's elected executive committee manages the [[masjid]], Jamesha Waliullah [[dargah]] on Big Bazaar Street, Jungal Pir [[dargah]] on [[Trichy road]] of the same city and the Cemetery [[Masjid]] beside [[Coimbatore Junction]]. The committee also runs three schools in the area with a total strength of 1200 students. What's interesting is the democratic [[election]] process of the Jamaat, which has a [[voter]]’s lists and even requires signatures of the electors before [[Voting|polling]]. [[Court]] records show that this [[electoral process]] dates back to 1920.

Up to 2000 worshippers gather here for [[Friday prayers]]. During [[Ramadan|Ramzan]] and [[Bakrid]], crowds flock to the masjid and the [[dargah]] beside it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/09/03/stories/2009090350630100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130412003837/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/09/03/stories/2009090350630100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-04-12 |title=Metro Plus Coimbatore : The Big Mosque |date=2009-09-03 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=2014-02-24}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of mosques in India]]
* [[Timeline of Islamic history]]
* [[Islamic architecture]]
* [[Islamic art]]
* [[List of mosques]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

{{coord missing|Tamil Nadu}}

{{Mosques in India}}

[[Category:Mosques in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Mosques completed in 1904]]
[[Category:Coimbatore district]]