Rasul Allah's Footprints(Qadams) in Bangladesh

Entrance of Nabiganj Qadam Rasool

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

Bangladeshis deserve full praise for preserving ‘Qadam Rasools’ (Footprints of the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad) better than their Indian counterparts. While most of Indian ‘Qadam Rasools’ have either been forgotten or in a state of utter neglect, the situation is far better in Bangladesh. The most famous Qadam Rasool of Bangladesh is that of Nabiganj on the eastern bank of the River Lakhya in district Narainganj. 
According to early 17^th century book of Mirza Nathan titled ‘Baharistan-e-Ghaibi’, an Afghan Chief Masoom Khan Kabuli had purchased the blessed footprint from an Arab Merchant. Kabuli had also rebelled against Emperor Akbar and installed the footprint inside his fortress built on a raised ground. Later, a landlord of Dhaka, Ghulam Nabi erected a shrine in 1911 AH/177-78 AD. It was a single domed structure with a verandah in front. The relic was kept in the middle of the chamber usually in a metal dish filled with rose water.

The relic, measuring 24 ´ 10cm, is cut in the shape of a footprint. Following the footsteps of his father Ghulam Nabi’s son Ghulam Muhammad also built a two-storey monumental gateway in 1220 AH/1805-6 AD to enhance popularity and significance of the shrine. Huge numbers of devotees visit the shrine to touch and kiss the relic every day and they also offer incense, flowers, sweets and money at the shrine. Apart from the footprint, the complex also has a specious mosque inside. A number of graves also exist inside the premises and locals believe that they belonged to mystics of a bygone era.
The main entrance of the shrine has a lovely decoration around its three storied building now and it has found a prominent place on the tourist map of the country.

Qadam Mubarak of Chittagong

Another important Qadam Rasool was built in the port town of Chittagong by  Mughal administrator Yasin Khan  in 1719.It also has a mosque in the centre, with two rooms on either side; one houses the footprint of the Holy Prophet  and the other is associated with the sacred memory of  a 12th century saint of Baghdad. Yet another significant Qadam Rasool of Bangladesh is also located in Bagicha Haat area of Chittagong district’s sub-division Chandanaish. It is however not know as to who built it and when. It can be concluded it must have been built by any of the Arab, Persian and many other foreign traders who had settled in Chittagong being an important seaport with bright commercial prospects since 16^th century. It is worth mentioning here that the blessed footprints of the prophet had arrived in Bengal through Arab Merchants in 13^th century. (Reference: 1- Baharistan-e-Ghaibi 2- BANGLAPEDIA (Parveen Hasan) 3- Lonely Plant Photo Courtesy-Google images)