The Hazratbal Shrine is a sacred Muslim pilgrimage destination, located in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. Situated on the banks of the famous Dal Lake in Srinagar, the Hazratbal mosque lies opposite the beautiful Nishat Garden, thereby offering a spectacular view of the lake and the mountains afar.
One of the most revered Muslim shrines, Hazratbal reflects the devotion and respect of Muslims for Prophet Mohammad. The Prophet’s hair, that is ‘Moi-e-Muqqadus’, is preserved at the Hazratbal Shrine. The ‘Moi-e-Muqqadus’ is usually on public display inside a glass casket only on religious occasions.
The history of Hazratbal Shrine dates back to the seventeenth century, when Sadiq Khan - the Subedar of Mughal Emperor Shahjahan, built ‘Ishrat Mahal’ (Pleasure House), along with a garden at the site of the mosque. But in 1634, Shahjahan ordered for the palace to be converted into a prayer house. The shrine, in its present structure, was built by the Muslim Auqaf trust.
It was much later, in 1699, during the reign of Emperor Aurangzeb, that the ‘Moi-e-Muqqadus’ arrived in Kashmir. Initially it was preserved in the shrine of Naqashbad Sahib, located in the heart of the city. But the huge rush of devotees to get a glimpse of the sacred hair prompted it to be shifted to the comparatively bigger, Hazratbal Shrine which was then known as Sadiqabad.
