Baitul Mukarram

Baitul Mukarram
বায়তুল মোকাররম

The structure of Baitul Mukarram resembles the Kaaba in Mecca
Basic information
Location Dhaka, Bangladesh
Geographic coordinates 23°43′46″N 90°24′46″E / 23.7294°N 90.4128°E / 23.7294; 90.4128Coordinates: 23°43′46″N 90°24′46″E / 23.7294°N 90.4128°E / 23.7294; 90.4128
Affiliation Hanafi/Sunni
Administration Islamic Foundation, Bangladesh
Year consecrated 1959
Status active
Ownership Government of Bangladesh
Architectural description
Architect(s) Abdulhusein M. Thariani
Architectural style Islamic architecture
Groundbreaking 27 January 1960
Completed 1968
Specifications
Capacity 40,000
Height (max) 99 feet

Baitul Mukarram, also spelled as Baytul Mukarrom (Arabic: بيت المكرّم‎‎; Bengali: বায়তুল মোকাররম; The Holy House) is the national mosque of Bangladesh. Located at the center of Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, the mosque was completed in 1968.[1] The mosque has a capacity of 30,000, giving it the respectable position of being the 10th biggest mosque in the world. However the mosque is constantly getting overcrowded. This especially occurs during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which has resulted in the Bangladeshi government having to add extensions to the mosque, thus increasing the capacity to at least 40,000.[2]

Architecture

The mosque has several modern architectural features whilst at the same time it preserves the traditional principles of Mughal architecture which has for some time been dominant in the Indian sub-continent. Baitul Mukarram's large cube shape was modeled to that of the Ka'abah at Mecca making it a noticeable structure being unlike any other mosque in Bangladesh.

Exterior design

The mosque is on a very high platform. The Baitul Mukarram Mosque’s building is eight storied and 99 feet high from the ground level. According to the original plan, the main entrance of the mosque was to be on the eastern side. The 'shaan' on the east is 29,000 square feet with ablution space on its south and north sides. Ablution or Wu’du Place cached an important part when the Baitul Mukarram was begun. The absence of a dome on the main building is compensated by the two superficial domed entrance porticoes, one on the south, and the other on the north. The height of these porticoes consists of three rabbit's foot shaped arches, the middle of which is bigger than the rest.

Interior design

Two patios (roofless inner courtyard) ensure that enough light and air enter the prayer hall of Baitul Mukarram Mosque. The mehrab of the hall is rectangular instead of semi-circular. Excessive ornamentation is avoided throughout the mosque, since minimizing ornamentation is typical of modern architecture.

Garden

The garden is laid out in a style borrowed heavily from Mughal gardens, however unlike the traditional Mughal gardens which represent the Islamic Heaven, the garden does not have the Char-Bagh system most likely due to not having enough room for such a garden. The future of this garden is unknown, if the Bangladeshi government extends the mosque, it will most likely have to remove the garden.

History

The mosque complex was designed by architect, Abdulhusein M. Thariani. In 1959, owner of then Bawany Jute Mills, Haji Abdul Latif Bawany proposed to Major General Omrao Khan, then military administrator of East Pakistan, of building a grande mosque in Dhaka. Omrao Khan agreed to help on building such mosque. Same year, 'Baitul Mukarram mosque committee' had been established and 8.30 acre of land between new Dhaka and old Dhaka had been chosen. At that time, there was a large pond in present mosque's location. It was known as 'Paltan pond. The pond was filled up and on 27 January 1960 then president of Pakistan Ayub Khan commenced the work. Pray for first time took place on Friday, 25 January 1963.[3]

The plan included shops, offices, libraries and parking areas within the complex. Though there has been a tradition of dome mosque for Muslim, this building did not maintain the rule of traditional mosque in that time. A Mosque without a dome over the roof of its main prayer hall must have been a unique experiment. The mosque was built when the country was the Part of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Khatibs

Khatibs Of Baitul Mukarram
Serial No. Year Name Comments
11963 Abdur Rahman Bekud
21963-1964 Jafar Ahmed Usmani Author of the 22 volume magnum opus I'laa' al-Sunan.
31964-1974 Mufti Amimul Ehasan He authored more than 200 books, some renowned are, Fiqhus-sunan wal Athar, Qawa'idul-Fiqh, Fatwae Barkati. He also prepared the 5 time Salat (Prayer) chart for Bangladesh.
41974-1984Abdul Moeez
51984-2007 Ubaidul Haq The longest serving Khatib of the mosque. Served until his death in 2007.[4]
62007-2009 Muhammad Nurruddin Acting khatib
72009–Present Muhammad Salah Uddin

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ↑ Thariani and Co: Architects and Engineers. Booklet in section under projects completed "mosques".
  2. ↑ Amin, Md. Shahidul (2012). "Baitul Mukarram Mosque". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  3. ↑ http://www.amadershomoys.com/newsite/2014/07/27/65467.htm#.U9QkeKMWbmE
  4. ↑ Baitul Mukarram Khatib laid to rest, www.snnbd.com, Retrieved 14/07/2013.

External links

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