Shaheed Ganj Mosque

Construction of mosque

Abdullah Khan Mosque was built by Abdullah Khan during the reign of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Abdullah Khan was a cook of Prince Dara Shikoh, elder son of Shah Jahan, in 1653 AD, who rose up to the position of kotwal (Chief police officer) of Lahore for his services. It was completed in 1134 AH or 1722 AD by the Falak Beg Khan. According to the deed, Sheikh Din Mohammad and his descendants were appointed its mutawallī (trustee).

Sikh rule, occupation of the mosque and construction of gurdwara

There was a public square near the mosque, where criminals were punished during the tenure of Nawab Zakaria Khan, a Mughal governor of the Punjab in the 18th century. Taru Singh, a man who provided assistance for the Sikhs fighting the Mughals, was tortured, and was scalped. After that incident, the Sikhs officially declared Taru Singh as a martyr and named the public square as the Shaheed Ganj (Martyr Square). In 1762, the Bhangi Sikh Sardar army conquered Lahore and occupied the mosque, together with the public square. The Muslims were not allowed to enter and pray, although the Sikhs were given the right to pray. The Sikhs built a gurdwara (Sikh temple), known as Gurudwara Shaheed Ganj Bhai Taru Singh, in the courtyard and used the mosque building to house the Sikh priests.

British rule and demolition of the mosque

After British colonial occupation of the Punjab in 1849, Shaheedganj Mosque became an issue between the Muslims and the Sikhs. The Muslims kept on protesting against the Sikh occupation of the Shaheed Ganj Mosque. On April 17, 1850, Nur Ahmad, a resident of Lahore, claimed to be a mutawallī (trustee) of the mosque and filed a case in Punjab High Court. Nur Ahmad filed several suits between 1853 and 1883 to recover the Shaheed Ganj Mosque, but courts maintained the status quo.

On 29 June 1935, the Sikh announced that they would demolish the Shaheed Ganj Mosque. Several thousand Muslims assembled in front of the mosque to protect it and Anjuman-i Tahaffuz-i Masjid Shahidganj (Organization for the protection of the Shaheedgunj Mosque) was formed. Sir Herbert Emerson, the Governor of the Punjab, tried to negotiate to find mutually acceptable solution. But, on the night of 7 July 1935 the Sikhs demolished the mosque, minutes of British India Privy Council say "by or with the connivance of its Sikh custodians", leading to riots and disorder in Lahore. The news shocked the Muslim community of Lahore which expected a peaceful solution. The British authorities imposed a curfew in the city and the situation was controlled.

Muslim's reaction

Haji Hafiz Pir Syed Jamaat Ali Shah ( 1834–1951) born in Alipur Sharif Dist, Sialkot, Pakistan and mass leader of traditional Muslims of south Asia through All India Sunni Conference led a movement Shaheed Ganj Mosque movement. After the demolition of the mosque the Muslims held a public meetings on 19–20 July at the Badshahi mosque, and marched directly on the Shaheedganj mosque. Police opened fire on the crowd on 20 July. The Muslims finally dispersed on 21 July, after more than a dozen had died from police gunfire.

Court case

The judgement of Bombay High Court on 2 May 1940 on 'Masjid Shahid Ganj Mosque vs Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak' recognized the building as a Mosque but maintained that the Statute of limitations has passed since the property has been occupied by the Sikhs for more than 170 years.

Architecture

The mosque consisted of three domes and five arches. It had a projecting mehrab (niche), facing toward the Mecca as in all the mosques, in the centre of the west wall where the Imam leads the prayers. The mosque had a courtyard and an orchard of fruit trees.