>Monkbot at 20:46, 18 January 2021

2021-01-18T20:46:12Z

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{{Other places|Big Mosque (disambiguation){{!}}Big Mosque}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox religious building
|name = Kazimar Big Masjid
|native_name_lang = Kazimar Periya Pallivasal
|image =kazimarbigmosque.JPG
|image_upright=
|map_type =
|map_size =
|map_caption = The main entrance of Kazimar Periya Pallivasal
|coordinates = {{coord|9.91275|78.1142|display=inline,title}}
|religious_affiliation = [[Sunni]], [[Hanafi]], [[Shadhili|Shazuli]], Qadiri
|leadership = '''Govt. Qazi of Madurai''':<br> Syed Khaja Mueenuddeen
|location = [[Madurai]], [[India]]
|established = 1284
|architecture_type = [[Mosque]]
|architecture_style = [[Indo-Islamic architecture|Indo-Islamic]],
|capacity = 1200
|length =
|width =
|dome_quantity = 1
|minaret_quantity = 8
|minaret_height =
|materials = Calcium sand stones
|website = http://www.maqbara.com
|tradition=[[Hanafi]]
}}
[[File:maqbara.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Madurai Hazrat's [[Maqbara]] located within the Big Mosque]]
'''Kazimar Periya Pallivasal''' or '''Kazimar Big Mosque''' is the oldest [[mosque]] in [[Madurai]] city, [[Tamil Nadu]], India constructed in the year 1284AD (Hijri 683) and continues to be in existence for more than 7 centuries till today. The mosque was founded by Kazi Syed Tajuddin, a descendant of the Islamic prophet [[Muhammad]], who came from [[Yemen]] during 13th century and received this land from the [[Maaravaramban Kulasekara Pandyan I|King Kulasekara Ku(n) Pandiyan]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://indica.co.in/kazimar-big-mosque |title=Archived copy |access-date=15 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116080102/http://indica.co.in/kazimar-big-mosque |archive-date=16 January 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The mosque which was the first [[Muslim]] place of worship in Madurai.<ref>{{cite book|title=Muslim Architecture of South India: The Sultanate of Ma'bar and the traditions of maritime settlers on the Malabar and Coramandel Coasts (Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Goa) |first1=Mehrdad |last1=Shokoohy|publisher=Inter-India Publications|year=2003|isbn=0-415-30207-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ovxq8enmRKUC&pg=PA52}}</ref><ref>[http://www.etownmadurai.com/kazimar-big-mosque-and-maqbara]</ref>
The mosque was managed by Syed Tajuddin during his life time followed by his children and descendants hereditarily for more than 7 centuries till today. Almost all of Kazi Syed Tajuddin's descendants (Huqdars of this mosque called as Syeds) have lived in the same locality ([[Kazimar Street|Kazimar street]]) for more than 700 years, and have managed the mosque since then.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/c/26118866|title=Clipping of Express Publications - The New Indian Express-Madurai}}</ref>

The mosque, which can accommodate about 1,200 people, is within 500 metres of the Periyar (central) bus stand, within one kilometre southeast of [[Madurai Junction]] railway station<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dinamalar.com/360_view_detail.asp?id=407#top|title=ஹாஜிமார் பெரிய பள்ளிவாசல் மதுரை}}</ref> and 1.5 km southwest of the [[Meenakshi Temple]].

==Founder==
Kazi Syed Tajuddeen is the founder of this mosque. He is son of Jamaluddin Mufti al Ma'abari who travelled to India from Yemen during 13th century. Syed Tajuddeen's elder brother Syed Alauddin settled in [[Kayalpatnam]]. He died and is buried there. Syed Tajuddeen settled in Madurai and began the construction of this mosque in the year 1281. The construction took 3 years and the mosque was opened for prayers in the year 1284. The founder of this mosque Hazrat Kazi Syed Tajuddin died on 15 Rajab 692 [[Hijri]] - March 1293AD and was interred in the large cemetery surrounding the mosque. Founder's day (Urus anniversary of Qazi Syed Tajuddin) is celebrated in this mosque every year on 15th of Rajab with great fervour.

==Maqbara==
[[File:Qazi Shajra1.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The genealogical lineage of Qazi Syed Tajuddin and Maqbara Hazrats as seen in Madurai Maqbara.]]
[[Madurai Maqbara]], the grave ([[dargah]]) of Madurai Hazrats (Sheikhuna Meer Ahamad Ibrahim Periya Hazrat, Sheikhuna Meer Amjad Ibrahim Chinna Hazrat and Sheikhuna Syed Abdus Salaam Ibrahim Saalim Hazrat - all descendants of Islamic Prophet Muhammad) is located inside the mosque.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maqbara.com/index.php|title=Maqbara Hazrats accepting Fassiyatush Shadhiliyya|website=www.maqbara.com}}</ref> People from all over India and foreign visitors come here for ziyarat (spiritual visit.) The anniversary urus of Periya Hazrat is commemorated on 13th of Ramadan and Chinna Hazrat on 28th of Shawwal. Syed Abdus Salaam Ibrahim Saalim Hazrat's anniversary is celebrated on 18th of Rabiul Aakhir.

==Kazis of Madurai==
[[File:Qazi_pulpit.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The musallah and pulpit of the mosque from where Hazrat Qazi Syed Tajuddeen, his descendant Qazi Meer Ahmad Ibrahim Periya Hazrat and other Qazis lead prayers.]]
Syed Tajuddin was appointed as Kazi (Islamic Jury) of Madurai by the [[Madurai Sultanate|Government of Madurai Sultans]] and till today his descendants who live at Kazimar street, [[Madurai]], are appointed as Kazis to the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]]. Sheikhuna Meer Ahmad Ibrahim well known as Periya was appointed as Chief Qazi (Qaziyul Quzzat) of Madurai by the government of [[Nawab of Arcot]]. As such the huqdars of this mosque have been appointed as Kazis of Madurai to the government continuously since 13th century from the period of Qazi Syed Tajuddin till today. The present government Qazi of Madurai, Moulana Moulavi A.Syed Khaja Mueenudeen<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/Regions-earliest-interface-with-Islam-was-here/articleshow/34263769.cms|title=Region's earliest interface with Islam was here - Times of India}}</ref> is huqdar of this mosque and a descendant of Qazi Syed Tajuddin.

==Imams==
The founder of this mosque Kazi Syed Tajuddin himself was Imam of this mosque during his lifetime. The service of presiding the daily prayers and Friday sermons (Imamat and Qitabat) are done by the descendants of the founder Qazi Syed Tajuddin, from his period until today. The present Imams Moulavi Hafil Syed Muhammad Mueenuddeen Ibrahim Faizi, Moulavi Hafil Syed Alimullah Baqavi have been in service since 1998.

==Huqdars==
The descendants of Kazi Syed Thajuddeen are referred as Huqdhars (Share holders) of this mosque. Today's huqdars belong to 19th and 20th generation from Qazi Syed Thajuddin. Originating from a single ancestor and having managed to live in the same locality for 7 centuries, there are around 450 Huqdars who are closely inter-related with ancestry and with matrimonial relationships. Kazimar Big mosque is being managed by the descendants of Kazi Syed Tajuddin (Huqdars) without any break since the inception of the mosque.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/1527835/The-New-Indian-Express-Madurai/02022018#page/20/1|title=Express Publications The New Indian Express-Madurai epaper dated Fri, 2 Feb 18}}</ref> The right to manage the mosque by the descendants of the founder of the mosque is confirmed by Tamil Nadu Waqf Board in its proforma issued in the year 1954 after surveying all the Waqf properties India Post Independence. The genealogical records of all the heirs of Kazi Syed Tajuddin and the managers of this mosque are maintained in the mosque office. All Syeds belong to the [[Sunni]] sect of [[Islam]], its [[Hanafi]] school and most of the [[Lineal descendant|descendants]] of Kazi Syed Tajuddin are Shazulis who practice the Sufi order (Tariqa) Fassiya ash Shazuliya.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Us|url=http://www.shazuli.com/about-us/|website=Madurai-Tamil Nadu-India|access-date=10 May 2018}}</ref>

==Management==
All the 450 heirs of Kazi Syed Tajuddin (Syeds - Huqdars of this mosque) constitute the general body from among whom the management committee is selected. Presently, the mosque is being managed by a board of four trustees selected from, among and by the Huqdars of this mosque who are the descendants of the founder of this mosque Kazi Syed Tajuddin. Their tenure is for three years. In January 2017 the General body of huqdars of the mosque resolved to increase the seats in the management committee from four to fourteen. The earlier committee of four would be trustees and the additional committee of ten would be executive members.

==Madrasa==
Kazi Syed Tajuddin arabi [[Madrasah]] is located inside the mosque campus in which around 120 students learn basic Arabic. This madrasa managed by kazimar big mosque is run by Moulavi Hafil Syed Alimullah Baqavi.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.dinamalar.com/360_view_detail.asp?id=407#top 360 degree view of Kazimar Big Mosque and Madurai Maqbara].
{{Mosques in India}}

[[Category:Sufi shrines in India]]
[[Category:Mosques in Madurai]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Madurai]]
[[Category:Dargahs in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Erwadi-related dargahs]]

Kazimar Big Mosque - Revision history

>Monkbot at 20:46, 18 January 2021