Sidi Saiyyed Mosque THE SIDI SAIYYED MOSQUE IN Ahmedabad, Gujarat, is a sublime ode in stone to the extraordinary architectural legacy of the African diaspora in India. Although their forefathers were originally brought to India as slaves and maritime laborers, the descendants of these Africans rose to positions of power as military commanders in the armies of the sultans and became great patrons of art and architecture.
Called Sidis (or Siddis), an appellation of Africans, or Habshis, from the Arabic-Persian word for “people from Abyssinia or Ethiopia,” one of them was Shaykh Sayyid al-Habshi Sultani, or Sidi Saiyyed, who constructed his eponymous mosque. Built in 1573, the last year of the Gujarat Sultanate before the Mughals invaded, the mosque is one of the finest specimens of the prodigious architectural accomplishments of the Sidis in India. Situated in the heart of the 600-year-old walled city of Ahmedabad, the design of the mosque is entirely in the arcuate system of construction, involving arches, domes, squinches, and vaults. The mosque is set up like a theatre without a fourth wall, celebrated for the intricately carved filigree work on its jalis (screen windows). The 20th-century Indologist and art historian Vincent Arthur Smith described these jalis as the “most artistic stone lattice-work to be found anywhere in the world.”
The ornamental latticework adorns the 10 nearly semicircular windows of the mosque, with some displaying complex geometrical designs and others carved in the manner of intertwined trees and foliage. The most impressive of them all is the Sidi Saiyyed Jali, located to the right of the central walled arch. Sixteen feet in size, the carvings on this jali represent the Tree of Life motif, which is an artistic representation of a tree believed to grow in paradise according to Islamic mythology. This finely wrought motif has become an unofficial symbol of Ahmedabad, India’s first UNESCO World Heritage city.
When men pray in the speckled light of the jalis, few, if any, remember the man who built the mosque or think about his remarkable history. Sidi Saiyyed, or “Sidi Saeed” as an inscription in the mosque refers to him, was a royal slave in the service of Sultan Mahmud III, the last ruler of the Gujarat Sultanate. Upon the sultan’s death, he joined the retinue of the Abyssinian general Bilal Jhajhar Khan. By the time he retired from service, Sidi Saiyyed had amassed a considerable fortune, which he used to build his beautiful mosque, as well as for acts of philanthropic charity, such as feeding the poor daily in his public kitchen.
The mosque stands as a gateway toward unearthing the little-known history of the African diaspora in India. Drawn from Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Lower Egypt, Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique, the descendants of Africans in India have been integral in shaping its medieval history. Apart from serving in a military capacity, their contributions to art and architecture in India are numerous and spectacular. Though the numbers of the Sidi community in India is virtually insignificant in a country of 1.3 billion people, their past is vibrantly alive in the form of enduring architectural masterpieces such as the Sidi Saiyyed Mosque.
Know Before You Go The mosque is open 24/7. It is located in the middle of a busy intersection and parking may be difficult.
Ashmar Kalangottil343 days ago
A beautiful monument with a lot of artefacts engrossed to its walls . This is an iconic monument which talks about the social harmony that existed in this beautiful city of Ahmedabad
The artworks on the wall said to be done by slaves from Africa who where servents of the king
Arathi Shah343 days ago
Majestic and dazzling, Ahmedabad's iconic Sidi Saiyyed Mosque, or "Sidi Saiyyed ni Jali" as locals call it, is a treasure of both Ahmedabad and India. From the stunning laticework of the jalis to the beautiful turquoise water of the ablution pool, Sidi Saiyyed Mosque is the true epitome of perfection. The air has a magical feel to it whenever I see the ornate jalis of the mosque. The delicate stone latticework jumps from its confines and speaks to me. It speaks to me of grand empires. It speaks to me of wonderful people. It speaks to me of an evergreen city on the banks of the Sabarmati. I'm truly speechless after seeing this masterpiece. Yet, still, I can speak volumes about this place. Sidi Saiyyed ni Jali is a magnificent representation of the city of Ahmedabad. Hope Ahmedabad prospers and more people understand the true value of the world's heritage sites. ❤️ 🇮🇳
P.S. The awesome caretaker of the mosque gave me a detailed overview of the mosque's rich history and the meaning of the jalis' designs. Thank you to him and more like him.
Shardul Rawat1 year ago
I went there today and it was really soothing experience. I'm a Hindu but my Muslim brothers warm welcomed me and I even sat on the praying floor. It was a soothing experience and the people are really friendly. Being a holy place, don't forget to remove your footwear before entering. 5 stars to this place from my side. Will definitely visit once again.
Pratz B1 year ago
One the most gorgeous stone carved jaali in India. This coming from a fab of Mughal architecture and jaali work. This is just an outstanding piece of art and architecture. The artist has carved the stone as if it was a sheet of paper and he had the freedom to cut through it with the stroke of a knife. This is the symbol of the city and truly deserves that recognition.
A J1 year ago
This mosque located at a distance of 1.5 km from Ahmedabad city was made in the 16th century, which is the last mosque built during the Mughal reign. In this mosque, a tree picture has been prepared by carving on a stone, which is famous all over the country. You will be stunned after seeing this carving of stone... The mosque is entirely arcuated and is known for its ten intricately carved stone latticework windows (jalis) on the side and rear arches. The rear wall is filled with square stone pierced panels in geometrical designs. The two bays flanking the central aisle have reticulated stone slabs carved in designs of intertwined trees and foliage and a palm motif. This intricately carved lattice stone window is the Sidi Saiyyed Jali, the unofficial symbol of city of Ahmedabad and the inspiration for the design of the logo of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad. The central window arch of the mosque, where one would expect to see another intricate jali, is instead walled with stone. This is possibly because the mosque was not completed according to plan before the Mughals invaded Gujarat.
Faiyaz Barejiya1 year ago
The Sidi Saiyyed Mosque, popularly known as Sidi Saiyyid ni Jali, this is one of the most famous mosques of Ahmedabad, a city in the state of Gujarat, India.
As attested by the marble tablet fixed on the wall of the mosque, it was built by Shaikh Sa'id Al-Habshi Sultani. Sidi Sa'id was originally a slave of Rumi Khan,
beautiful and clean or climate change time into I feel personally in winter it self cold and in summer it self cold, the build of construction is fabulous and marvellous..
whenever u need to plan to see heritage place please see this masjid..
Gaurav Jani1 year ago
Loved the unique crafting in stone, this mosque is designed very carefully, it is better to visit this place on Sunday morning, visit only if you're going through nearby place.
THE SIDI SAIYYED MOSQUE IN Ahmedabad, Gujarat, is a sublime ode in stone to the extraordinary architectural legacy of the African diaspora in India. Although their forefathers were originally brought to India as slaves and maritime laborers, the descendants of these Africans rose to positions of power as military commanders in the armies of the sultans and became great patrons of art and architecture.
Called Sidis (or Siddis), an appellation of Africans, or Habshis, from the Arabic-Persian word for “people from Abyssinia or Ethiopia,” one of them was Shaykh Sayyid al-Habshi Sultani, or Sidi Saiyyed, who constructed his eponymous mosque. Built in 1573, the last year of the Gujarat Sultanate before the Mughals invaded, the mosque is one of the finest specimens of the prodigious architectural accomplishments of the Sidis in India. Situated in the heart of the 600-year-old walled city of Ahmedabad, the design of the mosque is entirely in the arcuate system of construction, involving arches, domes, squinches, and vaults. The mosque is set up like a theatre without a fourth wall, celebrated for the intricately carved filigree work on its jalis (screen windows). The 20th-century Indologist and art historian Vincent Arthur Smith described these jalis as the “most artistic stone lattice-work to be found anywhere in the world.”
The ornamental latticework adorns the 10 nearly semicircular windows of the mosque, with some displaying complex geometrical designs and others carved in the manner of intertwined trees and foliage. The most impressive of them all is the Sidi Saiyyed Jali, located to the right of the central walled arch. Sixteen feet in size, the carvings on this jali represent the Tree of Life motif, which is an artistic representation of a tree believed to grow in paradise according to Islamic mythology. This finely wrought motif has become an unofficial symbol of Ahmedabad, India’s first UNESCO World Heritage city.
When men pray in the speckled light of the jalis, few, if any, remember the man who built the mosque or think about his remarkable history. Sidi Saiyyed, or “Sidi Saeed” as an inscription in the mosque refers to him, was a royal slave in the service of Sultan Mahmud III, the last ruler of the Gujarat Sultanate. Upon the sultan’s death, he joined the retinue of the Abyssinian general Bilal Jhajhar Khan. By the time he retired from service, Sidi Saiyyed had amassed a considerable fortune, which he used to build his beautiful mosque, as well as for acts of philanthropic charity, such as feeding the poor daily in his public kitchen.
The mosque stands as a gateway toward unearthing the little-known history of the African diaspora in India. Drawn from Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Lower Egypt, Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique, the descendants of Africans in India have been integral in shaping its medieval history. Apart from serving in a military capacity, their contributions to art and architecture in India are numerous and spectacular. Though the numbers of the Sidi community in India is virtually insignificant in a country of 1.3 billion people, their past is vibrantly alive in the form of enduring architectural masterpieces such as the Sidi Saiyyed Mosque.
Know Before You Go
The mosque is open 24/7. It is located in the middle of a busy intersection and parking may be difficult.
The artworks on the wall said to be done by slaves from Africa who where servents of the king
P.S. The awesome caretaker of the mosque gave me a detailed overview of the mosque's rich history and the meaning of the jalis' designs. Thank you to him and more like him.
The mosque is entirely arcuated and is known for its ten intricately carved stone latticework windows (jalis) on the side and rear arches. The rear wall is filled with square stone pierced panels in geometrical designs. The two bays flanking the central aisle have reticulated stone slabs carved in designs of intertwined trees and foliage and a palm motif. This intricately carved lattice stone window is the Sidi Saiyyed Jali, the unofficial symbol of city of Ahmedabad and the inspiration for the design of the logo of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad.
The central window arch of the mosque, where one would expect to see another intricate jali, is instead walled with stone. This is possibly because the mosque was not completed according to plan before the Mughals invaded Gujarat.
As attested by the marble tablet fixed on the wall of the mosque, it was built by Shaikh Sa'id Al-Habshi Sultani. Sidi Sa'id was originally a slave of Rumi Khan,
beautiful and clean or climate change time into I feel personally in winter it self cold and in summer it self cold, the build of construction is fabulous and marvellous..
whenever u need to plan to see heritage place please see this masjid..