Pathar Masjid: A brief history
It is said that military of Maharaja installed a cannon on the roof of Pathar Masjid to blown up Shahi Hamdan shrine, which is situated across the Jhelum. However, an influential Pandit, Birbal Dhar, intervened into the matter and saved the shrine.
Pathar Masjid (Mosque made of stone) had been a political and spiritual centre after it was re-opened in 1930s, decades after its use as a granary cum storehouse. The mosque was built by the wife of Mughal Emperor Jahangir, daughter of Itmad-ud-Daula (vazir of Akbar), Empress Nur Jahan in year 1623 C.E. under the supervision of Mughal historian and architect Malik Hyder. It is said that when she was asked about the cost of building the mosque she pointed towards her shoe (meaning the cost of her shoe), and hence many scholars during her time and later didn’t permit praying there.
Within the courtyard of the mosque are large chinars planted within which lies the mosque. It was made of locally available white limestone and such material can only be seen in Mullah Shah mosque on Hari Parbat.
The mosque has a length of 180 feet and breadth of 51 feet. The facade consists of 9 arches, including a large arched portico in the centre. The plinth is surmounted by a lotus leaf coping. The roof consists of 27 domes central one of which is the largest. Many parts of the mosque were demolished during the Sikh rule.
Unlike most of the mosques in the valley, Pathar masjid doesn’t have a traditional pyramidal roof. It is dome shaped supported by 18 massive square columns having projections on two sides.
Phula Singh defeated Jabbar Khan and Ranjit Singh captured Kashmir in 1819. Phula Singh was the military general of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. During this time Pathar Masjid was taken over by Maharaja Ranjit Singh and used as a storehouse. It is said that military of Maharaja installed a cannon on the roof of Pathar Masjid to blown up Shahi Hamdan shrine, which is situated across the Jhelum. However, an influential Pandit, Birbal Dhar, intervened into the matter and saved the shrine.
The masjid became the rallying point for agitations by Muslims for their rights when Partap Singh ordered its conversion into an orphanage dedicated to the Hindu deity Hanuman. In October 1932, the Muslim leadership called a general convention of the Muslims of the state. On 15th October 1932, the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference was formed. Sheikh Abdullah was unanimously elected its first president. The inaugural session of the conference was held on October 14–16, 1932, at Pathar Masjid.