Haji Ali Dargah , Mosque in Mumbai

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.

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.

Miracles of the Saint : 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 Haji Ali Dargah in the Mahim Bay can be reached from Mahalaxmi by a narrow causeway, and that only at high tide, when it is above the sea. A handsome example of Indian Islamic architecture, associated with legends about doomed lovers, the dargah contains the tomb of Saint Haji Ali. It sits 500 yards off the coast in the waters of Mahim Bay, near the neighborhood of Worli. It is connected with the Mahalaxmi Temple via a small path that goes into the sea, only accessible during low tide.

Introduction

India’s economic capital and the abode of the candyfloss silver screen, the spark called Mumbai attracts thousands of moths towards itself round the year. Though it is the lure of the Bollywood glamour and the promise of a livelihood that make people run to Mumbai; the Arabian sea and the Western Ghats topped up with the lip smacking Paw Bhaji and Vada Paw along with important historical monuments like Gateway of India, Elephanta caves, Haji Ali mosque, along with the Bombay Stock Exchange, the water parks and shopping malls, this truly cosmopolitan city offers a heady cocktail of history and the contemporary. Mumbai is therefore a haven for business, movie and tour buffs alike.

Location

The Haji Ali Dargah is located off the coast of Worli, Mumbai on a tiny islet. It stands about 500 yards into the waters of the Arabian Sea.

Entrance

Haji Ali is open to everyone. It cannot be entered at high tide since the causeway leading to it gets submerged in water. The mosque looks particularly beautiful at sunset with its reflection on the crimson waters.

The look of the Mosque

This beautiful whitewashed mosque is connected to mainland by a narrow causeway that gets submerged at high tide. The white mosque reflected on the blue waters then looks serenely picturesque. The mosque is built around a plot of 2500 m with an 85 ft minaret at its centre. Beyond the gate is a marble courtyard where the edifice of saint Haji Ali stands. The tomb within is covered in red and green satin cloth like in all dargahs. The marble pillars in the main hall are adorned with colored glass chips. However, much of the beauty of this dargah is now at stake due to constant exposure to saline water.

History

This mosque was built in 1431 by the Muslim saint Haji Ali who renounced his worldly possessions and devoted himself in meditation. According to the legend, Haji Ali died on his way to Mecca and the casket carrying his body floated back to these shores. His devotees cremated him at this spot, which is now an important pilgrimage for people of all religion all over the country.

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Honoring the Muslim saint Haji Ali this mosque was built in the middle of the sea with only a narrow path leading to it giving it an ethereal look. As per the Muslim traditions separate praying rooms for ladies and gents are provided here to pay their respects. It is set 500 yards into the sea and can be reached only in low tide. The Haji Ali mausoleum has an offshore location, opposite the Mahalakshmi racecourse. During high tide, the connecting causeway is submerged in water giving the impression that the mosque and tomb are floating out at sea in splendid isolation. This is The Haji Ali Dargah, the floating tomb of a wealthy Mohammedan merchant who renounced his worldly ways before embarking on a pilgrimage to Mecca.

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.

History
The legend goes that Haji Ali died on a pilgrimage to Mecca and miraculously his casket floated back to these shores. The mosque is picturesque with a vast courtyard and refreshment stalls. It contains the tomb of the Muslim saint Haji Ali. The saint is believed to have been a wealthy local businessman who renounced the material world and meditated on a nearby headland following a pilgrimage to Mecca. His devotees built the mosque and the tomb in the early 19th century. Alternate version says that Haji Ali died while on his pilgrimage to Mecca and his casket surprisingly floated back to Mumbai (then Bombay).

Attractions of the Mosque
The mosque can be reached only during low tide. The whitewashed mosque also has a cool courtyard generally full of people and refreshment stalls. The rocks exposed during low tide at the rare end of the mosque 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.

Honoring the Muslim saint Haji Ali this mosque was built in the middle of the sea with only a narrow path leading to it giving it an ethereal look. As per the Muslim traditions separate praying rooms for ladies and gents are provided here to pay their respects. It is set 500 yards into the sea and can be reached only in low tide. The Haji Ali mausoleum has an offshore location, opposite the Mahalakshmi racecourse. During high tide, the connecting causeway is submerged in water giving the impression that the mosque and tomb are floating out at sea in splendid isolation. This is The Haji Ali Dargah, the floating tomb of a wealthy Mohammedan merchant who renounced his worldly ways before embarking on a pilgrimage to Mecca.

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.

History
The legend goes that Haji Ali died on a pilgrimage to Mecca and miraculously his casket floated back to these shores. The mosque is picturesque with a vast courtyard and refreshment stalls. It contains the tomb of the Muslim saint Haji Ali. The saint is believed to have been a wealthy local businessman who renounced the material world and meditated on a nearby headland following a pilgrimage to Mecca. His devotees built the mosque and the tomb in the early 19th century. Alternate version says that Haji Ali died while on his pilgrimage to Mecca and his casket surprisingly floated back to Mumbai (then Bombay).

Attractions of the Mosque
The mosque can be reached only during low tide. The whitewashed mosque also has a cool courtyard generally full of people and refreshment stalls. The rocks exposed during low tide at the rare end of the mosque 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.