VirgilBugnion41 at 19:45, 12 May 2025

2025-05-12T19:45:20Z

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{{Short description|Muslim shrine in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox religious building
| name = Dastgeer Sahib
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| image = Dastgir Sahib (6134053356).jpg
| image_upright = 1.4
| image_alt =
| caption = The shrine and mosque in 2011
| alt =
| religious_affiliation = [[Sunni Islam]]
| tradition =
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| district =
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| deity =
| rite = [[Sufism]]
| festival = 
| organisational_status = {{ubl|[[Sufi shrine]]|[[Mosque]]}}
| ownership =
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| bhattaraka =
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| consecration_year =
| functional_status = Active
| religious_features_label =
| religious_features =
| location = [[Khanyar]], [[Srinagar]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]]
| country = [[India]]
| map_type = India Jammu and Kashmir
| map_size = 250
| map_alt =
| map_relief = 1
| map_caption = Location of the shrine in [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]]
| grid_name =
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| administration = [[Central Waqf Council]]
| coordinates = {{coord|34|5|34.7|N|74|49|3|E|region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| heritage_designation =
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| architecture_style = [[Khatam|Khatamband]]
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| groundbreaking =
| year_completed = {{circa|1767}}
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| width_nave =
| interior_area = {{cvt|8000|sqft|m2|order=flip}}
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| minaret_quantity =
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| spire_quantity = Two
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}}

The '''Dastgeer Sahib''' is a [[Sufi]] [[shrine]] and [[mosque]] located in the [[Khanyar]] area of [[Srinagar]], in the union territory of [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]], [[India]]. The shrine houses the relics of [[Abdul Qadir Gilani|Abdul Qadir Jeelani]] (1077-1166), a [[Sufi saint]] of [[Ahlul-Bayt|Mohammed's progeny]] who earned deep reverence across the subcontinent, despite never having set foot in the region.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historic Dastgeer Sahib Shrine: A majestic symbol of Kashmir's spiritual, cultural legacy |url=https://brighterkashmir.com/historic-dastgeer-sahib-shrine-a-majestic-symbol-of-kashmirs-spiritual-cultural-legacy |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=Brighter Kashmir}}</ref>

The shrine has played a significant role in the socio-political landscape of Kashmir. One notable incident occurred on 8 May 1991, when paramilitary forces opened fire on civilians at the shrine, resulting in 18 deaths and 44 injuries.{{cn|date=January 2025}} The shrine has been administered by the [[Central Waqf Council]] since 2003.<ref name=":0" />

== Architecture ==
[[File:Dastgir Sahib interior (6133513727).jpg|thumb|Dastgeer Sahib interior]]
The shrine is notable for its impressive interior spaces, which accommodate worshippers. The ceiling is crafted in the traditional '[[Khatam|khatamband]]' style and features numerous crystal [[Chandelier|chandeliers]]. The walls are adorned with elaborate [[Papier-mâché]] work, making the shrine's decorative elements distinctive in modern architecture. The shrine spans an area of approximately {{convert|8000|sqft|m2|order=flip}}, although modifications over the years have affected its original layout.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2012-07-01 |title=The Revered Dastgeer Sahab |url=https://kashmirlife.net/the-revered-dastgeer-sahab-5075/ |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=Kashmir Life |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==History==
The Dastgeer Sahib is a 200-year-old{{since when?|date=January 2025}} shrine situated in Khanyar. It is associated with Abdul Qadir Gilani, whose hair strand, a relic locally known as ''Mouia Pāk'', is believed to be housed here which was reportedly brought to Kashmir by a merchant from [[Kandahar]] in 1806. It also contains an old [[Quran]] believed to be written by [[Ali Ibn Abi Talib]] in 6th-century [[Kufic|Kufi script]]. The shrine was reportedly constructed between 1845 and 1854 under the patronage of Mir Husain Qadri, a [[Philanthropy|philanthropist]] who contributed significantly to religious structures in the region.

The ''Kashmir Encyclopedia'', published by the state's cultural academy, suggests that the structure was initially established during the governance of Noor Khan Bamzai in 1767 by Syed Ghulam-ud-Din Azad, a descendant of Shah Sakhi Muhammad Fazil, who introduced the [[Qadiriyya|Qadri order]] to Kashmir. The shrine underwent repairs and expansions in 1879 after a fire caused significant damage, during which the spire's pointed ball was plated with gold.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Fazili |first=Ashraf |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AX_XEAAAQBAJ |title=OUR HERITAGE: Kashmir Chronicles Part 2 |date=2023-09-17 |publisher=Ashraf Fazili |pages=233 |language=en}}</ref>

It is the centre of the activity hub of the Khanyar and is surrounded by a large market. On the [[Urs]] or birth date of the Abdul Qadir Gilani, thousands of people from all over Kashmir go there to pray to [[Allah]] and watch the [[ziyarat]]. There are five graves situated inside it. It is said that it is of one of the students of the Qadiri [[silsila]] of Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir Jelani.{{cn|date=January 2025}}

===Fire===
The shrine was badly damaged in a fire on 25 June 2012. The relics of the saint that were located inside a fireproof vault were not damaged.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-25/india/32408100_1_saint-relics-fire|title=Fire in Dastgeer Sahib shrine in Srinagar|date=25 June 2012|work=[[The Times of India]]|accessdate=11 July 2012}}{{dead link|date=October 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The shrine was restored to its original state.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_fire-gutted-dastgeer-sahib-shrine-to-be-reconstructed-omar-abdullah_1709137 |title=Fire gutted Dastgeer Sahib shrine to be reconstructed: Omar Abdullah |date=1 July 2012 |access-date=11 July 2012 |work=DNA India }}</ref>

== See also ==
{{stack|{{portal|India|Islam}}}}
* [[Islam in India]]
* [[List of mosques in India]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commonscat-inline|Dastgeer Sahib}}
* {{YouTube|id=rBEw8rmKSic|title=Video showcasing the structure and interiors of the shrine}}
* [https://www.contemporarynomad.com/pir-dastgir-sahib-in-srinagar-kashmir/ 360° interior view of Dastgeer Sahib - ''ContemporaryNomad.com (by Tony and Thomas)'']

{{Mosques in India}}

[[Category:18th-century mosques in India]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Srinagar]]
[[Category:Mosques completed in the 1760s]]
[[Category:Mosques in Srinagar]]
[[Category:Religious buildings and structures completed in 1767]]
[[Category:Sufi shrines in India]]
[[Category:Mosque buildings with spires]]

Dastgeer Sahib - Revision history

VirgilBugnion41 at 19:45, 12 May 2025