Shaykh Wajih al-Din 'Alwi RozaAhmedabad, India
The Roza of
Wahij al-Din (Wajihuddin) is a tomb and mosque complex located in the Khanpur
neighborhood in the historic walled city of Ahmedabad. The complex consists of
a large tomb, a mosque, and a tank. Its namesake is Shaykh Wajih al-Din ‘Alwi
(d. 1589/998 AH), an important intellectual and spiritual figure in Ahmedabad.
The construction of the building is attributed to Sayyid Ahmad-i Bukhari, known
as Sayyid Murtaza Khan, who was governor of Gujarat from 1606-1609/ ca.
1014-1018 AH.
The complex is situated with a large enclosure. The tomb is situated at the center, adjoining an open paved court. It is rectangular pavilion made of white marble. The exterior walls are pierced by windows with arched tops and doors with flat tops. Carved marble screens (jali) fill the spaces between the windows and doors above a solid dado that rises to around five feet high. Above the screens is a cornice supporting an overhanging eve. Above this is a parapet in the form of lotus leaves running around the length of the roof edge.
The interior is divided into three rows of six bays (eighteen
total), by two rows of five pillars. The Shaykh’s tomb lies under the second
bay from the west wall in the center row. It is vaulted by a large onion shaped
dome that sits on a tower elevated some feet above the rest of the building.
Thirteen of the remaining seventeen bays are vaulted with smaller domes. The
remaining four bays (each covering the area behind one of the four entrances, two on the south and two on the north sides)
are covered with pyramidal vaults cut off just above the level of the roof.
To the west of the tomb pavilion is a mosque of later date adorned
with a large pishtaq at its entrance.
Sources:
Burgess, James. The Muhammadan Architecture of Ahmadabad. Part II, 53. Archaeological Survey of Western India, Vol. 8. London: W. Griggs and Sons, 1905.
Michell, George, and Snehal Shah, eds. Ahmadabad, 108. Mumbai: Marg Publications, 1988.
The Roza of
Wahij al-Din (Wajihuddin) is a tomb and mosque complex located in the Khanpur
neighborhood in the historic walled city of Ahmedabad. The complex consists of
a large tomb, a mosque, and a tank. Its namesake is Shaykh Wajih al-Din ‘Alwi
(d. 1589/998 AH), an important intellectual and spiritual figure in Ahmedabad.
The construction of the building is attributed to Sayyid Ahmad-i Bukhari, known
as Sayyid Murtaza Khan, who was governor of Gujarat from 1606-1609/ ca.
1014-1018 AH.
The complex is situated with a large enclosure. The tomb is situated at the center, adjoining an open paved court. It is rectangular pavilion made of white marble. The exterior walls are pierced by windows with arched tops and doors with flat tops. Carved marble screens (jali) fill the spaces between the windows and doors above a solid dado that rises to around five feet high. Above the screens is a cornice supporting an overhanging eve. Above this is a parapet in the form of lotus leaves running around the length of the roof edge.
The interior is divided into three rows of six bays (eighteen
total), by two rows of five pillars. The Shaykh’s tomb lies under the second
bay from the west wall in the center row. It is vaulted by a large onion shaped
dome that sits on a tower elevated some feet above the rest of the building.
Thirteen of the remaining seventeen bays are vaulted with smaller domes. The
remaining four bays (each covering the area behind one of the four entrances, two on the south and two on the north sides)
are covered with pyramidal vaults cut off just above the level of the roof.
To the west of the tomb pavilion is a mosque of later date adorned
with a large pishtaq at its entrance.
Sources:
Burgess, James. The Muhammadan Architecture of Ahmadabad. Part II, 53. Archaeological Survey of Western India, Vol. 8. London: W. Griggs and Sons, 1905.
Michell, George, and Snehal Shah, eds. Ahmadabad, 108. Mumbai: Marg Publications, 1988.