Mecca Masjid of Hyderabad

Located very close to Charminar, Mecca Masjid is one of the biggest and oldest mosques of Hyderabad. Since some bricks were brought from Mecca to built the mosque, it was named after the most holiest place of the Muslims.

History of Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad

The fifth ruler of Qutub Shah Dynasty, Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah commissioned the importing of soil from the holiest pilgrimage place of Islam, Mecca. This soil was used to make bricks for the construction of the central arch of the mosque in Hyderabad. 

Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah planned a city for which the Makkah masjid was supposed to be the centre piece. There are three facades that are arched and have been carved out of the same granite piece. It took a total of five years to quarry this huge piece of granite. 

The complete construction of the mosque took 77 years beginning from the time when Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah started the construction till the time when Aurangzeb completed it. This was approximately between 1617 to 1694. Around 8,000 or more workers were recruited during this period to build the Makkah masjid.

Architecture of Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad

The prayer hall in the mosque is 180 ft. in length and 220 ft. in width. It is a good 75 ft. in height and makes a massive and elegant place for prayers. Arches are known to be one of the main structures of the Muslim architecture. One can find a total of 15 arches in the hall. 

There are three walls with five arches each. On the fourth side, the wall providing the Mihrab rises. The granite that took a total of five years to quarry has been used not only to make the beautiful arched facades of the mosque but also the two pillars which are octagonal in shape. 

The courtyard of the mosque houses the tombs of the Asaf Jahi rulers. The courtyard of the mosque houses a museum which has preserves of ancient and sacred relics. It is said to have preserved Prophet Muhammad's hair.

Like the other Qutub Shahi monuments in the city, the Mecca Masjid also exhibits the exceptional architectural intricacies of the time period and the delicate architectural tastes of the Islamic rulers. Many references and sermons from the holy Quran have been inscribed on the arches of this elegant masjid.

It is belief that there are two benches made of stone and slab on the edge of the pond and it is said that whoever sits on these benches returns to sit on them again.