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Jamia Mosque
Multan also boasts of having some of the oldest mosques which were once considered as the jewels of the city. These mosques now remind us the glorious past of Multan as it was governed by Muslims for more than a thousand years.The first mosque ever built in Multan was the Jamia Mosque which was constructed on the orders of Mohammad-bin- Qasim the famous general who conquered Multan in 712 AD Ruins of this mosque were visible till 1954 at Qasim Bella which have now been washed away by the repeated floods of the river Chenab.
Sawai Mosque
Sawi mosque is supposed to be the oldest mosque which still exists though it has no roof now and most of its decorations have been damaged. Some portions of this mosque are still intact which indicate that glazed blue tiles were profusely used for ornamentation. Mosque Ali Mohammed Khan
The second oldest mosque of Multan which is still in good shape is Mosque Ali
Mohammad Khan also called as mosque Wali Mohammad Khan. It is an excellent
building, situated in the busiest Chowck Bazar of the city. It was built by
Nawab Ali Mohammad Khan Khakwani, in 1757 (1171 A.H.) when he was the governor
of Multan in the time of Alamgir II. The mosque is provided with a reservoir for
the ablutions, baths, and a large hall for prayers. During the Sikh period, the
gateway of the Mosque was used as the court house of the Nazim, while its great
hall was utilized for keeping the Granth, or the holy book of the Sikhs. The
mosque was restored to the Muslims by the British Government at the commencement
of the British rule.
Mosque Phool Hattan
This mosque is located in the Main Bazar (now called Chowck Bazar) of the city.
It was named so because it was located in the midst of the flower sellers bazar.
The story recorded by Latif in his book "Early History of Multan" is
reproduced here. "it is said that the Mughal Emperor Farrukh Sher (1713-1718 AD)
on his visit to Multan, being childless, asked a Fakir to pray on his behalf,
that he might be blessed with a male issue. The fakir prayed for him, and a son
was born to the Empress. His Majesty, through the governor of Multan, presented
the fakir with an offering of Rs. 80,000, and with this money the liberal minded
fakir had this mosque built.".
Eid Gah Mosque This grand mosque of Multan is located on the main Multan-Lahore
highway in the North-East of the city. It was built in 1735 AD by Nawab Abdul
Samad Khan when he was the governor of Multan. It is a very spacious mosque
provided with a vast courtyard and a huge prayer chamber measuring two hundred
and fifty feet long and fit-four feet broad crowned by seven domes. Its exterior
was faced with glazed blue tiles and interior was ornamented with colorful
faience mosaics. This grand mosque suffered extensively during the Sikh period
as it was used for military purposes and Diwan Mul Raj arranged here the refuge
for the two British officers Mr. Vans Agnew and Lt. Anderson who were finally
killed during the 1848-49 siege.
Ornamentation of the mosque has been neglected and now (1988) a
tomb is being constructed just out side the mosque which has completely
destroyed its beauty and outlook because it looks higher than the mosque. |
