Najaf of Lucknow

Shah Najaf Imambara-Lucknow

( This article has been contributed in view of Maula-E-Kainat's Birth Day tomorrow.) 

Dr. Mazhar Naqvi

Shah Najaf, remarkably beautiful imitation of Maula Ali’s shrine in Iraq, will be celebrating its bicentenary next year. Built by first king of Awadh Ghazi-Uddin –Haider in 1816, Shah Najaf is also used as an Imambara and also contains the grave of its builder.  The shrine enjoys tremendous popularity and considered to be the most significant after Asafi and Hussainabad imambargahs. As its Badshah Ghazi Uddin Haider had made adequate provisions for its upkeep, Shah Najaf ranks among the most maintained Imami shrines of India. In their accounts, Mrs. Mir Hasan Ali and Hoffmeister have generously admired the beauty of Shah Najaf, especially its elegant entrance and façade of the main  edifice.

History reveals that the Ghazi Uddin had ordered the construction of Shah Najaf out of his sheer devotion to Maula Ali at near Paltan Ghat on the bank of river Gomti. An architectural masterpiece,. Shah Najaf is profusely illuminated with colorful and sparkling lights on the birthday of Hazrat Ali on 13^th day Rajab every year. The shrine is surrounded by two quadrangles, one inside the other. The entrance leads the visitors to the main Hall through a picturesque and well laid garden. In the middle of the hall lies buried Ghazi-Uddin- Haider. His silver mausoleum is close to the graves of his three wives namely, Mumtaz Mahal, Mubarak Mahal and Sarfaraz Mahal. Shah Najaf also has a magnificent dome with a lean neck It also two beautiful gateways on the front and rear sides. The rear gate faces the river. At the time of the construction of Shah Najaf, Gomti used to flow below the rear gate but now it has drifted and a road has been developed over the bund built to prevent the floods. This road runs between the river and the shrine..

During 1857, Shah Najaf had witnessed fierce battle between the British and Indian soldiers. The Qadam Rasul located in its vicinity was used by British as a platform to launch attack on the soldiers fighting for begum Hazrat Mahal and her supporters. It is also recorded that British had taken control of shah najaf but could not muster courage to desecrate it like Asafi Imambara and other imambargahs after recapturing Lucknow.

Devotees in large number visit shah najaf every day and watch with amazement its fortress like appearance due its high walls dotted with battlements. They are also left bewildered when they enter the main hall after crossing the verandah and find themselves amidst heavily decorated relics and glasses of Nawabi era.( References available on request)