Allahabad Sharif

{{Short description|Mosque and shrine in Kandiaro, Sindh, Pakistan}}

{{Infobox religious building

|building_name = Allahabad Sharif

|image = GMA Outside hall front view.jpg

| image_upright = 1.4

|caption =

|location = Kandiaro, Sindh

| country = Pakistan

|geo =

|religious_affiliation = Sunni Islam

| sect = Sufism

|status = Mosque

| functional_status = Active

|leadership = {{ubl|Khwaja Muhammad Tahir Bakhshi Naqshbandi|Sufi Manzoor Qadir}}

|architect = Manzoor Qadir

|architecture_type = {{nowrap|Mosque architecture}}

|architecture_style = {{ubl|Islamic|Ottoman|Saffavid}}

|year_completed =

|capacity = 10,000 worshippers

|length = {{cvt|330|ft|m|order=flip}}

|width = {{cvt|180|ft|m|order=flip}}

|dome_quantity = 101

|dome_height_outer = {{cvt|115|ft|m|order=flip}}

|dome_height_inner =

|dome_dia_outer = {{cvt|64|ft|m|order=flip}}

|dome_dia_inner =

|minaret_quantity = 1

|minaret_height = {{cvt|120|ft|m|order=flip}}

|materials = Fair-faced concrete

}}

File:GMA Mosque panoramic.jpg

Allahabad Sharif, also known as Grand Mosque Allahabad ({{Langx|sd|{{Naskh|الهه آباد درٻار}}}}) is a mosque and shrine in Kandiaro, Naushahro Feroze District, Sindh, Pakistan.{{Cite web|url=http://www.encyclopediasindhiana.org/article.php?Dflt=الهه%20آباد%20درٻار|title=الهه آباد درٻار |website=Encyclopedia Sindhiana}}{{cite web |title=Grand Mosque Allahbad - Full Information |url=http://www.islahulmuslimeen.org/grand-mosque-allahabad |website=www.islahulmuslimeen.org |accessdate=10 October 2018}} It is located on National Highway {{Convert|415|km}} from Karachi. The premises also house an education system up till Islamic University level, a hospital, an old age residence and an orphanage.

Patronage

Khwaja Muhammad Tahir Bakhshi Naqshbandi (Urdu: {{lang|ur|{{nq|حضرت خواجہ محمد طاہر بخشی نقشبندی}}}}), also known as Sajjan Saeen (Urdu: {{nq|سجن سائیں}}, Sindhi: سڄڻ سائين), a prominent Naqshbandi Sufi shaykh in Pakistan is the main patron of the masjid.{{Cite web|url=http://islahulmuslimeen.org/grand-mosque-allahabad|title = Grand Mosque, Allahabad}}

Architecture

The inspiration of Grand Mosque Allahabad has been drawn from the most traditional Islamic architectural sites. Preserving the (Kashi) hand painted tile heritage of the Indus valley civilization while utilizing the most advanced technology of fair-finish concrete.

The mosque consists of 101 domes. The main dome is at a height of {{convert|115|ft|m|order=flip}}, the second dome {{convert|78|ft|m|order=flip}}, and the remaining 99 domes are {{convert|26|ft|m|order=flip}}, with one symbolic minaret at {{convert|120|ft|m|order=flip}} indicating the unity of Allah. The domes and the sole minaret comprise the main design of the mosque.

Finish

Allahabad Mosque is unique in design incorporating a fair finish concrete structure combined with hand painted porcelain tile work. Floral patterns have been preferred over geometric designs which require inch by inch details to transfer them onto porcelain tiles.

A group of senior artists volunteered to set up a production unit using hand painting techniques, selection of colours and the firing process to create masterpieces of kashi tiles. They produced kashi tiles for 12 years and continue to produce signature designs, floral and calligraphic patterns on Kashi tiles to adorn the mosque.