Qadam Sharif (Delhi)
Encyclopedia
The Dargah
Qadam Sharif in Delhi consists of a small tomb complex which also houses a mosque
, a madrasa and a shrine ("dargah"), which is surrounded by a massive gated wall.
constructed the large rectangular tomb
at its core for himself, and surrounded it with massive walls and impressive gates in typical Tughlaq style. However, when his son Fateh Khan died in 1376, he repurposed the tomb to be used for his son. Also added was a stone with a foot print of Muhammad
(the founder of Islam), which Firoz Shah had brought in from Mecca
. This foot print ("Qadam Sharif" = "Footprint of the Prophet" in English) gave the whole complex its name, Dargah Qadam Sharif. A mosque
and a madrasa round out the inner tomb complex.
In the centuries since then, the whole area has been "absorbed" by housing and commercial buildings, although the tomb, most of the walls as well as a couple of the gate houses are still clearly visible. Furthermore, the madrasa and mosque at the tomb are still actively used, and the foot print is an important pilgrimage
site.
The complex is located just northeast of the New Delhi Railway Station
in a dense "urban jungle." Since most of the maps (including the Eicher
city map) are highly inaccurate, one should use the map included in Peck's book to explore the area.
Nearby (and barely noticeable as a U-shaped building) are the remains of one of the glorious Seven Mosques of Firoz Shah's Wazir
Khan-i-Jahan Maqbul Tilangani
(Khan Jahan).
The exact coordinates for the tomb are (28.649818,77.211879) and the U-shaped building are (28.649328,77.217689).
On a side note, Firoz Shah final resting place was in a new tomb in Hauz Khas.
Dargah
A Dargah is a Sufi shrine built over the grave of a revered religious figure, often a Sufi saint. Local Muslims visit the shrine known as . Dargahs are often associated with Sufi meeting rooms and hostels, known as khanqah...
Qadam Sharif in Delhi consists of a small tomb complex which also houses a mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
, a madrasa and a shrine ("dargah"), which is surrounded by a massive gated wall.
History
Originally, Firoz Shah TughluqFiruz Shah Tughluq
-External links:*...
constructed the large rectangular tomb
Tomb
A tomb is a repository for the remains of the dead. It is generally any structurally enclosed interment space or burial chamber, of varying sizes...
at its core for himself, and surrounded it with massive walls and impressive gates in typical Tughlaq style. However, when his son Fateh Khan died in 1376, he repurposed the tomb to be used for his son. Also added was a stone with a foot print of Muhammad
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
(the founder of Islam), which Firoz Shah had brought in from Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
. This foot print ("Qadam Sharif" = "Footprint of the Prophet" in English) gave the whole complex its name, Dargah Qadam Sharif. A mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
and a madrasa round out the inner tomb complex.
In the centuries since then, the whole area has been "absorbed" by housing and commercial buildings, although the tomb, most of the walls as well as a couple of the gate houses are still clearly visible. Furthermore, the madrasa and mosque at the tomb are still actively used, and the foot print is an important pilgrimage
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
site.
The complex is located just northeast of the New Delhi Railway Station
New Delhi Railway Station
The New Delhi Railway Station , station code NDLS, situated between Ajmeri Gate and Paharganj is the main railway station in Delhi. New Delhi railway station is the second busiest and one of the largest in India. It handles over 300 trains each day with 16 platforms and about 360,000 passengers...
in a dense "urban jungle." Since most of the maps (including the Eicher
Eicher Motors
Eicher Group is a conglomerate of the firms Eicher Goodearth Ltd., Eicher Ltd., Eicher Motors Ltd., Eicher International Ltd., and ECS Ltd., based in New Delhi, India. The Eicher company has around 2500 employees located in four manufacturing facilities and 49 marketing and area offices around...
city map) are highly inaccurate, one should use the map included in Peck's book to explore the area.
Nearby (and barely noticeable as a U-shaped building) are the remains of one of the glorious Seven Mosques of Firoz Shah's Wazir
Wazir
Wazir or Vazir means Minister in Middle Eastern languages. It may refer to:-People:* Wazir Akbar Khan, an Afghan prince, general, wazir, ghazi, tribal leader, victor of first Anglo-Afghan war, hero and an Afghan legend....
Khan-i-Jahan Maqbul Tilangani
Malik Maqbul
Malik Maqbul or Khan-i-Jahan Maqbul Tilangani, was the Wazir or Prime Minister of the Delhi Sultanate, in the government of Feroz Shah Tughlaq , in the Indian sub-continent...
(Khan Jahan).
The exact coordinates for the tomb are (28.649818,77.211879) and the U-shaped building are (28.649328,77.217689).
On a side note, Firoz Shah final resting place was in a new tomb in Hauz Khas.