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The Masjid is picturesque with a vast courtyard
& refreshment stalls. It contains the tomb
of the Muslim saint Haji Ali. His devotees built
the mosque and the tomb in the early 19th century.
About the Saint : The
saint came to India with the permission of his
mother with
his brother and finally reached the Shores of
Bombay - near Worli or at some place opposite
the present tomb. His brother went to their native
place. Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari {R.A} sent a
letter with him to their mother informing her
that he was keeping good health and that he had
decided to reside at that place permanently for
spreading Islam and that she should forgive him.
Till his death he was praying and giving knowledge
about Islam to the people and devotees regularly
visiting him.
Haji Ali is a handsome example of Islamic architecture standing
on an island. In fact, this holy place is visited
by many devotees as well as visitors who are attracted
by the beauty of the site. The widespread belief
is that whoever prays to the deity here is never
disappointed. A number of pilgrims come here for
thanksgiving. Pir Haji Ali's Shahs sister also
followed her brother's footsteps and became his
companion in ascetic suffering. There is a mausoleum
built for her a little distance away on
Worli
Bay.
History
of Dargah : This monument has been sentinel to the shores of Bombay since a long time. 500 yards into the sea from the shore.
The dargah was built by Haji Usman Rangikar, the
man who owned the ship that took pilgrims to Mecca.
The road leading to Dargah from Lala
Lajpat Rai Rd up to the gate of Haji Ali Dargah
Complex was constructed in 1944, The building
called Kawwal khanna, Ladies rest shade, Laterine
and the Bldg for resident presently called Mashriqui
and Maghribi manzil and the gate of Dargah Complex
was constructed in between 1948 and 1982.
The
Dargah and Mosque was reconstructed, remodeled
and renovated between 1960 and 1964. The
new sanatorium building was constructed by demolishing
the old ground floor structure for sanitarium
between 1978 and 1982. Widening and increasing
the height in between 1984 and 1990 reconstructed
the road leading to Dargah from Lala Lajpat Rai
Marg to the gate of Haji Ali Dargah complex.
The
Kinara masjid was also developed and reconstructed
from time to time on the space available since
last 300 years.
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