Haji Ali Dargah , Mosque in Mumbai

Four years after plans were first made to demolish and reconstruct Haji Ali dargah, one of most prominent shrines and landmarks of Mumbai, the project has got the final set of permissions from the government.

With the commencement certificate to start work in hand, the first step will be to demolish the dilapidated structure. Though the shrine of Pir Haji Ali Shah Baba dates back to the 14th century, the present structure nestled like a pearl in the sea, was constructed a little over a hundred years ago. But with constant erosion the building has become dilapidated, leading to concerns over safety.

Haji Ali Dargah is one of the most popular religious places in Mumbai, visited by Hindus and Muslims alike. It is basically the tomb of Haji Ali, a wealthy merchant who renounced all the worldly possessions and became a saint, after he returned from a pilgrimage to Mecca. Along with the tomb, there is also a mosque at Haji Ali. There are two different accounts of how the tomb of Haji Ali came into being. As per one version, the saint drowned in the sea and his devotees built a tomb at the spot where he died.

Another version goes that Haji Ali died on his pilgrimage to Mecca and his body was put in a casket. The casket is said to have floated back to Bombay, stopping near the rock bed on the sea here. The place where his casket was found later served as the venue of his dargah (tomb), built by his devotees. Haji Ali Dargah is situated on an islet, in the middle of Worli Bay, located off the coast of Worli. It is visited by a large number of devotes every day. The rush particularly swells on Thursdays and Fridays.

The 500-yard causeway that leads to the Haji Ali Mosque is not surrounded by railings. Since it is lashed by sea waves, one can visit the dargah only when the tide is low. The location of the mosque serves as one of the major attractions luring tourists here. With the sea forming as the backdrop, Haji Ali becomes a sight to behold. The entire structure is spread over an area of around 4,500 m and stands adorned with an 85 foot high tower. Inside the mosque complex, one finds the tomb supported by a magnificent silver frame.

A pathway connects the shore to the Haji Ali mosque. The mosque was built amidst the sea with a narrow path to give it a celestial look. The path is used for reaching the shrine and can only be used during low tides. The mosque has a sprawling courtyard which represents a bright and cheerful ambience. Men and women can offer prayers in separate rooms. The gallant white structure resembles traits of Mughal art and architecture. The tomb is covered in exquisite red and green chaddar. The tomb is wrapped in a silver frame held by huge pillars and is adorned in ravishing mirror work. 99 names of the Allah are inscribed on the pillars. The white dome and minarets looks spectacular against the setting sun. The saline winds from the sea are eroding the shrine of its entire splendor.

Leading lady of Halla Bol, Vidya Balan, had heard a lot about the immense faith and power of belief in the holy dargah of Haji Ali baba, off the Mumbai coastline.

And she’d wanted to visit the shrine for a long time, but had never got the opportunity. It was only while filming for Raj Kumar Santoshi’s Halla Bol, that she got the opportunity to visit the revered spot for the very first time.

It was during the shooting of the song Piya haji by Pakistani singer Amzad Farid Sabri. Like she told us, “I have lived in Mumbai for such a long time but it was the first time that I physically visited the dargah.

I knew that it has lot of power and did wonders for those who believe in it, irrespective of religion or caste, but the minute I set my foot there, I felt so much at peace with myself.

It may come as a surprise to many that the much publicized and talked about ‘qawwali’, ‘More Haji Piya’, from HALLA BOL was initially planned to be only a part of the audio album, and was not suppose to feature in the film.

However seeing the good reactions to the promo (with the ‘qawwali’ in the background), the worldwide distributors of HALLA BOL, Pyramid Saimira, have decided to include the same in the movie.

‘More Haji Piya’, rendered by Pakistan’s Amjad Farid Sabri, has now been picturised on Ajay Devgan, Vidya Balan and the singer himself, at Bombay’s Haji Ali ‘dargah’. It has subsequently been added to the film.

Built in 1431, this monument has been sentinel to the shores of Bombay since a long time. 500 yards into the sea from the shore, Haji Ali is said to be the tomb of an ancient merchant saint, who died on his way to Mecca. His casket was brought to Bombay, where the dargah was built by Haji Usman Rangikar, the man who owned the ship that took pilgrims to Mecca.
The structure is white with domes and minarets like the Mughal architecture. The dargah is a renowned pilgrimage site among the Muslims. Non-Muslims are also allowed to visit the dargah. Inside the dargah the tomb is covered with a red and green brocade chaddar(sheet) and an exquisite silver frame supports it. The tomb has a courtyard that normally has a festive atmosphere. The main hall has pillars on which the ninety-nine names of Allah are written. The whitewashed structure attracts visitors in large numbers on Thursdays and Fridays. This shrine is thronged by Hindu and Muslim devotees alike.

This early 18th century shrine contains the tomb of a Muslim Sufi saint ‘Haji Ali’ . There are two local legends which claim to trace the hazrath’s antecedents. One story has it that Haji Ali was a rich , local businessman who gave up materialism after a visit to Mecca and then took up meditation.

Another legend says that he was an Afghan mystic who lived and meditated here. He specifically ordered that after his death , his casket should be cast off into the sea off the shore of what is today Pakistan. However , the casket surfaced intact at the spot where the shrine is today.

Haji Ali Mosque, The Haji Ali shrine is located on a small island on the Arabian Sea. There is a walkway which connects the shore to the shrine. This walkway is the only way to enter the shrine and it can be used only during low tides. High tides and monsoon rains completely cover the walkway. Inside the shrine there is a courtyard which normally sports a festive, talkative atmosphere.

The structure has typical white, Mughal domes and minarets. Although it is a famous Muslim pilgrimage site, non-Muslim visitors are welcomed. The shrine looks its best when seen from the shore silhouetted against the setting sun.

The structure is a slim solitary minaret. It is linked to the mainland by a tenuous causeway, which is practically nonnegotiable during rough monsoon, tides. Behind the sculpted entrance, a marble courtyard contains the central shrine. Hundreds of worshippers stoop to press their forehead against the richly brocaded red and green chaddar covering the tomb, lying in an exquisite silver frame supported by marble pillars and is decorated with artful mirror work: blue, green, yellow chips of glass arranged in kaleidoscopic patterns interspersed with Arabic patterns which spell the ninety-nine names of Allah.

The Haji Ali Mosque is constructed deep into the sea with a narrow path leading to the mosque, giving it a delicate and unearthly look. During the high tide, the mosque almost become an island while the rest of the times, it can be reached through the concrete causeway. Following the Muslim tradition, there are separate rooms for prayer for men and women. The sculpted entrance has a marble courtyard behond containing the sacred shrine. A rich red brocaded chaddar cover the tomb of Haji Ali that lies in a beautiful silver frame supported by mirror decorated arty pillars.
Situated at the end of a 500m causeway protruding into the Arabian Sea is the whitewashed Haji Ali Mosque, containing the tomb of a Muslim saint Haji Ali who is believed to have meditated on these very shores. It is said that Haji Ali was a wealthy Muslim merchant who renounced all his worldly belongings before embarking on a pilgrimage to Mecca. He died in Mecca and the casket miraculously drifted and came to the spot where the mosque and tomb were built by his devotes in the early 19th century. The Mosque lies opposite to the famous Mahalakshmi temple and can be approached from Lala Rajpatrai Marg.
Haji Ali is a handsome example of Islamic architecture standing on an island. In fact, this holy place is visited by many devotees as well as visitors who are attracted by the beauty of the site. The widespread belief is that whoever prays to the deity here is never disappointed. A number of pilgrims come here for thanksgiving. Haji Ali’s sister also followed her brother’s footsteps and became his companion in ascetic suffering. There is a mausoleum built for her a little distance away on Worli Bay.

There are many miracles that have happened during the life of Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari {R.A} and after his death. It is a belief of the Muslims as mentioned in the Quran Sheriff that the Holy Saints who sacrifice and devoted their lives in the way of Allah never die and one should not call them dead. They are alive in the graves and get their food and necessities from Allah.

It is learnt from reliable sources that Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari {R.A} was Qutub-E-Akbar. Whatever is known about miracles is learnt from the caretakers and trustees from generation as the Saint had never married and had no descendents. Some people tried to display themselves as his descendants or heirs and have destroyed the exact history of the saint, his tomb and Dargah.

Oil and the Lady : It is learnt from rivayat {being told by the people} that Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari {R.A} was sitting at some lone place and was busy in his prayers when one lady passed from there crying and screaming. When the Saint enquired about her crying she told the Saint by pointing to an empty vessel and said that she had dropped some oil from the vessel and that if she goes home without the oil her cruel husband would treat her badly and that’s why she was crying in need of help. The Saint asked her to be calm and went with her to the place where the oil had been dropped and then he took the vessel from her and pushed the earth with his thumb and the oil came out like a fountain and the vessel was full. The Saint gave her the vessel with oil and she went away happily. But at the same time the earth told the Saint that he had pushed it and had given it trouble and some day when he would be buried it might take revenge of this. The Saint then realized that he had committed a mistake and from that day he became very serious and was not keeping well.

The Pathway : Before his death he advised his followers that they should not burry Him at any proper place or graveyard and should drop his coffin that it should be buried by the people where and when it is found so that is why his tomb is in the middle of the sea where some stones over a small mountain were lying above the sea. The present chairman informs it and managing trustee, Mr. A. S. Merchant that earlier there was no pathway in the sea and people collected stones and made a temporary path during low tide. During high tide however the path was destroyed. In 1944 his father Mohammad Haji Aboobakar who was appointed trustee by The Attorney General, Goverment of Bombay had decided to build a permanent pathway but he was hesitant as he was not sure if the path would withstand the sea fury during the monsoon season almost all the roads of Mumbai become rough and have potholes but till today the pathway of the Dargah has never been damaged or unsafe for the people to reach the Dargah Sheriff. This is one of the biggest miracles of the saint hundreds of years after his death.

Miracles of the Dargah : In 1949 there was a big storm in Mumbai, which had not left a single building without the slightest damage, but there was no damage to the Dargah, sanatorium or the pathway. There were waves of the size of mountain and most people were scared that they would drown. They then bowed down at the wall of the Dargah, said their prayer and there was lightening on the waves and the people returned home without any harm to themselves or to their property.

It is learned from the thousands of visitors and devotees who have visited the tomb of the Saint that with proper faith and belief they have achieved whatever they have had asked for from the Saint blessings.

During the heavy rains on 26th July 2005 there was a huge destruction over most of the part of Mumbai but the Haji Ali Dargah was not affected  by this incident.

The Masjid has a narrow concrete pathway about a kilometer built over water to reach the shrine and can only be reached at low tide.

The walkway is lined with pitiful wailing beggars. The courtyard of the Masjid is surrounded by refreshment stalls and other kinds of shops which take away the solemnity of the place. Haji Ali dargah is an integral part of Mumbai’s heritage and Indian culture. The rocks exposed at low tide behind the Masjid are a favourite spot if you are interested in catch sea breezes. The best time to visit is on Friday or on Thursday evenings.

The Masjid can be reached only during low tide. The whitewashed Masjid also has a cool courtyard generally full of people and refreshment stalls. The rocks exposed during low tide at the rare end of the Masjid are a favourable spot to catch some cool sea breeze. There’s nothing somber about the building’s cool courtyard, which is generally full of chattering families and refreshment stalls.

A short flight of marble steps leads into the dargah where the body of the saint is enclosed in a semi-circled tomb, in an exquisite silver frame engraved with all the ninety-nine names of Allah. The top of the tomb is covered with a zari cloth and flowers and other offerings by devotees lie scattered around the tomb. The devotees pray and touch their heads and lips to the cloth. Ladies, as is the case in all mosques, have a separate room for prayers. All visitors need to remove their shoes before entering the shrine.