Delhi was once ruled by a queen – Razia Sultan in the 13th century. Women once built mosques in the city – Khairul Manazil by Maham Anga in the 16th century and Fatehpuri Masjid by Fatehpuri Begum in the 17th century. Yet New Delhi seems to have turned its back on women in modern India. There are hardly any women friendly mosques in Delhi. Yes, there are a handful of mosques which permit women to come and pray. But in all such cases women are confined to either a small room or dingy basement. No thought is spared for women worshippers’ special requirements. It is under this light that Jamaat-e- Islami Hind deserves special credit for its new improved and expanded Masjid Ishaat-e-Islam in its campus in Abul Fazl Enclave in South East Delhi.
The new mosque is a soothing place which gives a sense of space to worshippers. The mosque has a designated floor for women. The first floor of the mosque, reserved for women, can accommodate 850 ladies at any given time. The floor has wall to wall rugs with clear markers for women to enable them to maintain social distance in the age of Covid 19. Importantly, the women can see the Imam and hear him clearly thanks to good audio system. The section has separate entry and exit for women. It also provides wuzu facility for them.
In due course facilities for discussions and reading of the Qur’ān will be provided. At present Qur’ān classes go on for two hours every day between 3 and 5 pm. Also, the women are likely to have special Taraweeh sessions in Ramadan besides having an opportunity to offer five daily prayers.
The mosque itself is hugely impressive and grand. It is probably one of the biggest mosques of Delhi after its renovation. While the old mosque prayer hall and corridors continue to be used, a huge prayer hall has been added to the complex. It can accommodate up to 2000 men for a single prayer session. Combined with other sections of the masjid, the place can accommodate about 7000 worshippers at any given time. So be it Friday or Eid, worshippers can be confident of finding space inside the masjid.
The new improved masjid complex is a simple but elegant structure. It wastes no money on ornamentation. It sticks to a minimalist technique when it comes to the mosque’s beautification. No flower motifs or engraved calligraphy is used. Instead simple mehrab like structures have been built and impressive woodwork done in the lower half of the pillars. The brown woodwork acts in contrast to white pillars. While the hall itself shines in milky white, the mimbar stands out with its soothing blue tile inlay work. So splendid is the mimbar that many worshippers captured it on their mobile after the first Friday prayers on March 26.
The complex is the brainchild of Canada based architect Taj Masud and engineer Ghulam Rasul. Speaking to Radiance, Rasul said the mosque’s dimensional area is 153 by 243 feet.
“It was a five-year project. We have created space for nearly 850 women.”
Speaking after the first Friday prayers, A K Kidwai, a trustee of the mosque, said, “We aim to improve the facilities shortly. We plan to have a better wuzukhana too. The mosques will remain open to men and women for five daily prayers.”
Incidentally, the first khutba at the bigger and better mosque was given by the former president of Jamaat-e-Islami, Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umeri. Quoting from Surah Taubah and various Hadith, Maulana Umeri emphasised the centrality of a mosque in the believer’s life and the special relationship a believer builds with a mosque. “Angels count the straws you pick up to clean Allah’s house. Mosques are centres of social upliftment for the weaker section. Mosques are meant to build nations. Mosques are centres of education and pivotal to a Muslim’s life,” he said.
The mosque offers free sanitizer and insists on social distancing. It also provides ample parking space besides lush green lawns and well maintained plants. In short , it is an oasis of calm amidst the din and chaos of Delhi.