Mecca Masjid (Hyderabad ) Makkah Masjid images, timings

Mecca Masjid, Hyderabad Overview

Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad is one of the oldest and largest mosques in the city. Commissioned in 1614, it was built through the efforts of by Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah, however, the construction saw completion only in the year 1694. Together with the Chowmahalla Palace, Laad Bazaar, and Charminar, the mosque forms the four very important heritage attractions in the city. Located near the famous monument - Charminar - it can be easily reached from any part of the city.

With a capacity to accommodate as many as 10,000 people at any given time, the imposing facade of the Mecca Masjid is indeed a humbling sight to behold. Its interiors are a testament to the grandeur of the rulers of the Quli dynasty. However, please note that, at present, only followers of Islam religion are allowed to enter the mosque.

History of Mecca Masjid

The grand architecture of the Makkah Masjid was built during the reign of Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, who the fifth Qutb Shahi Sultan of Hyderabad. He laid down the first stone of the edifice himself in the year 1614, following which about 8,000 workers toiled ceaselessly for 77 years to complete this splendid architecture. Mecca Masjid saw its completion in the year 1691 by the hands of Aurangzeb, who had overthrown the Qutb Shahi dynasty by that time. He even commissioned various repairs and renovations of the mosque.

Mecca Masjid suffered a terrorist attack in the year 2007 when a bomb blasted in the main prayer hall claiming sixteen victims. Suspected to have been a cell phone - triggered pipe bomb, the bomb went off near the Wuzukhana where ablutions are performed. Two more live bombs were subsequently discovered by the police and diffused right away. The police were unable to track the perpetrators, but a number of names made the rounds. The spirit of the community and their faith in the Almighty helped them overcome this setback and today, Mecca Mosque is one of the most visited holy places in India.

Architecture of Mecca Masjid

The architecture of Mecca Masjid is as massive as it detailed in design. A grand gateway welcomes you to a path that leads up to the entrance of the court where you will find a scintillating water fountain. A vast pond of water is situated right nearby, and it is believed that anyone who sits on the benches by the pond revisits them at least once again in their lifetime. The main prayer hall of the Makkah Masjid is 75 feet high and 180 feet long with a capacity of 10,000 people. Fifteen ornamental arches decorate the roof of this hall along with crystal chandeliers from Belgium. These arches act as a support system for three walls of the structure, such that five arches support each of the walls. Sermons from the Holy Quran are delicately carved onto the surface of the arches, imparting them a unique divinity. Embellishments of floral motifs are also carved on these arches, which was typical of Qutb Shahi style of architecture.

The columns of the Makkah Masjid are octagonal in shape and give way to arched balconies at the same level as the roof of the mosque itself. The columns themselves rise much higher and end in the shape of a spired dome. Inside the dome lies five pathways to the tombs of the Asaf Jahi dynasty. The domes at the zenith of the mosque were not a part of the original architecture, rather they were later additions under the rule of the Mughals. Other heritage items such as a single strand of hair belonging to Prophet Mohammad himself, also find a way here. There is also provision for the devotees to feed flocks of pigeons that frequent the Mecca Masjid, as this deed is believed to be a blessed one. The atmosphere of the Friday prayer service here has a serene quite enveloping it and is the perfect place to seek the blessings of the Almighty.

Importance of visiting Mecca Masjid

It is believed that Quli Qutub Shah, the fifth ruler of the Quli dynasty laid down the foundation stone of the edifice, and the arch embellishments over the main sanctum are made from the soil of the Holy Land of Mecca. It is due to this reason that it is called the 'Makkah Masjid' as well. In addition to being an important pilgrimage site, the mosque also houses the tombs of Asaf Jahan rulers and the Nizams. Purportedly, a hair belonging to Prophet Muhammad himself has been safely secured in the premises of the Makkah Masjid as well.

How To Reach Mecca Masjid

Mecca Masjid is situated quite close to Charminar Bus Stand, so you can hop aboard any bus as long as you make sure that you get off at this bus stand. From here you can either walk or hire a taxi or an auto-rickshaw to get to Mecca Masjid.