| Dastgeer Sahib | |
|---|---|
.jpg) The shrine and mosque in 2011 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Sunni Islam |
| Rite | Sufism |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Khanyar,Srinagar,Jammu and Kashmir |
| Country | India |
  Location of the shrine inJammu and Kashmir | |
| Administration | Central Waqf Council |
| Geographic coordinates | 34°5′34.7″N74°49′3″E / 34.092972°N 74.81750°E /34.092972; 74.81750 |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Khatamband |
| Completed | c. 1767 |
| Specifications | |
| Interior area | 740 m2 (8,000 sq ft) |
| Spire | Two |
TheDastgeer Sahib is aSufishrine andmosque located in theKhanyar area ofSrinagar, in the union territory ofJammu and Kashmir,India. The shrine houses the relics ofAbdul Qadir Jeelani (1077-1166), aSufi saint ofMohammed'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.[citation needed] The shrine has been administered by theCentral Waqf Council since 2003.[2]
.jpg)
The shrine is notable for its impressive interior spaces, which accommodate worshippers. The ceiling is crafted in the traditional 'khatamband' style and features numerous crystalchandeliers. The walls are adorned with elaboratePapier-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[when?] shrine situated in Khanyar. It is associated with Abdul Qadir Gilani, whose hair strand, a relic locally known asMouia Pāk, is believed to be housed here which was reportedly brought to Kashmir by a merchant fromKandahar in 1806. It also contains an oldQuran believed to be written byAli Ibn Abi Talib in 6th-centuryKufi script. The shrine was reportedly constructed between 1845 and 1854 under the patronage of Mir Husain Qadri, aphilanthropist who contributed significantly to religious structures in the region.
TheKashmir Encyclopedia, published by the state's cultural academy, suggests that the structure was initially established during the governance of Noor Khan Bamzai in 1767 by Syed Ghulam-ud-Din Azad, a descendant of Shah Sakhi Muhammad Fazil, who introduced theQadri order to Kashmir. The shrine underwent repairs and expansions in 1879 after a fire caused significant damage, during which the spire's pointed ball was plated with gold.[2][3]
It is the centre of the activity hub of the Khanyar and is surrounded by a large market. On theUrs or birth date of the Abdul Qadir Gilani, thousands of people from all over Kashmir go there to pray toAllah and watch theziyarat. There are five graves situated inside it. It is said that it is of one of the students of the Qadirisilsila of Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir Jelani.[citation needed]
The shrine was badly damaged in a fire on 25 June 2012. The relics of the saint that were located inside a fireproof vault were not damaged.[4] The shrine was restored to its original state.[5]
Media related toDastgeer Sahib at Wikimedia Commons
