Dastgeer Sahib

The Dastgeer Sahib is a Sufishrine and mosque located in the Khanyar area of Srinagar, in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India. The shrine houses the relics of Abdul Qadir Jeelani (1077-1166), a Sufi saint of Mohammed's progeny who earned deep reverence across the subcontinent, despite never having set foot in the region.^[1]

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. The shrine has been administered by the Central Waqf Council since 2003.^[2]

The shrine is notable for its impressive interior spaces, which accommodate worshippers. The ceiling is crafted in the traditional 'khatamband' style and features numerous crystal 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 740 square metres (8,000 sq ft), although modifications over the years have affected its original layout.^[2]

The Dastgeer Sahib is a 200-year-old 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 Kufi script. The shrine was reportedly constructed between 1845 and 1854 under the patronage of Mir Husain Qadri, a philanthropist who contributed significantly to religious structures in the region.

La Enciclopedia de Cachemira , publicada por la academia cultural del estado, sugiere que la estructura fue establecida inicialmente durante el gobierno de Noor Khan Bamzai en 1767 por Syed Ghulam-ud-Din Azad, descendiente de Shah Sakhi Muhammad Fazil, quien introdujo la orden Qadri en Cachemira. El santuario fue reparado y ampliado en 1879 después de que un incendio causara daños significativos, durante el cual la esfera puntiaguda de la aguja fue bañada en oro. ^{[ 2 ] [ 3 ]}

Es el centro neurálgico de la actividad de Khanyar y está rodeado por un gran mercado. En el Urs , o fecha de nacimiento de Abdul Qadir Gilani, miles de personas de todo Cachemira acuden allí para orar a Alá y presenciar la ziyarat . En su interior se encuentran cinco tumbas. Se dice que una de ellas pertenece a uno de los discípulos de la silsila Qadiri del jeque Syed Abdul Qadir Jelani.

• El Islam en la India
• Lista de mezquitas en India

Contenido multimedia relacionado con Dastgeer Sahib en Wikimedia Commons

• Vídeo que muestra la estructura y el interior del santuario en YouTube.
• Vista interior de 360° de Dastgeer Sahib - ContemporaryNomad.com (por Tony y Thomas)