Sidi Saiyyed’s Jali, which is the identity of Ahmedabad, was built during the year 1572 AD 1572 by a man named Sidi Saiyyed. The mosque of Sidi Saiyyed is famous for its magnificent Jalis (latticework windows). The work done closely on the nets of the mosque is famous all over the world.
Sidi Saiyyed Habshah came to Gujarat from Ethiopia via Yemen. And later Sidi Saiyyed worked in the court of Sultan Naseeruddin Mohammad Shah III. The people who settled here after coming to India from Africa are called Sidi. Sidi Saiyyed used to be called big hearted man who helps the poor. He had a stock of books.
This grand monument of Sidi Saiyyed was constructed during the reign of Sultan Muzaffar Shah III, the last ruler of Gujarat. The work of the mosque was going on, but unfortunately in the year 1583, Sidi Saiyyed died. And till date this mosque is under construction. It is said that Sidi Saiyyed was buried here after his death. But there is no tomb to be seen here as its evidence.
It is said that Sidi Saiyyed got many villages as estate and built this mosque out of the capital coming from those villages. But later when Akbar won Gujarat, the amount received from the village stopped coming for him. Because of which the work of the mosque remained unfinished and it is said that due to this, stones were positioned in a place of Jali at a dwelling which today we can see in the middle of the wall of the mosque.
It is also said that when India became independent, the British took this third Jali with them, however there is not enough evidence to back that theory. In this mosque made of Indo-Islamic architecture, yellow sandstone has been used. It is said that this lattice has been made by working on a single stone.
This windows has been carved from the branches of the palm tree. A peepul tree (fig tree)is also shown in this lattice. The artistic shape of the trees and leaves wrapped in each other has been constructed. During the British era, Lord Curzon protected this Jali. During the British period this mosque was used as government office. In the year 1880, two wooden models were made out of paper copying the mosque for the collection halls of London and New York.
Today, the mosque, as a representation of the tree of life, has become the hallmark of Ahmedabad city. When the Tsar of Russia came to India, he visited this place. Queen Elizabeth of England was also very impressed by this Jali too.
The mosque of Sidi Saiyyed is located near Lal Darwaja. There are four Jalis in total in this mosque. There is a garden near this mosque through which you can go behind the mosque from where the Jalis looks even more beautiful. The Jali of Sidi Saiyyed Mosque is the hallmark of Ahmedabad.
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