Shrine of Prophet's Buraq in India

Water Tank with Pavilion Erected over Buraq's Footprint 
Photo Courtesy-Sahil Ahuja  

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

India is perhaps the only country in the world that has a shrine dedicated to Buraq. It was built by Sultan Iltutmish in Delhi. It is believed that the Holy Prophet himself had instructed the Sultan to erect a shrine in memory of Buraq. Iltutmish complied with the prophetic command and erected a shrine for Buraq in his famous complex popularly known as Hauz-E-Shamsi.  

Burāq means lightning in Arabic and is used for a steed in Islamic Theology. The term refers to , a creature from the heavens that carried the Prophet Hazrat Muhammad(S) from Mecca to Jerusalem and back during the Isra and Miraj( "Night Journey").Islamic history reveals that the Night Journey took place ten years after Hazrat Muhammad became a prophet. While he was resting at the Kaaba, the angel Jibril (Gabriel) appeared to him followed by Buraq. The Prophet  mounted Buraq, and in the company of Gabriel, they traveled to the "farthest mosque". The location of this mosque was not explicitly stated but it is generally accepted to be Al Aqsa Mosque of Jerusalem. At this location, he dismounted from Buraq, prayed, and remounted Buraq, who took him to the various heavens to meet first the earlier prophets and then God (Allah).

Surah Muhammad of holy Quran's describes the mystic travel to the Heavens “Glory to (Allah) Who did take His servant for a Journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the farthest Mosque, whose precincts We did bless, in order that We might show him some of Our Signs: for He is the One Who heareth and seeth (all things).” The night journey to heavens is stated to have taken place on 27^th Rajab, the seventh Islamic month and the event is celebrated as Shab-e-Meraj in Indian sub-continent. Special prayers also mark the occasion.

In Jerusalem, the famous western wall is believed to be the place where the prophet had tied the Buraq. But there is no shrine dedicated to Buraq in any other country. India earned this distinction when The Holy Prophet himself appeared in the dream of Iltutmish and instructed him to erect a shrine over the footprint of Buraq. While tracing the location seen in the dream, Iltutmish is claimed to have found the footprint of the Buraq near the Hauz-i-Shamsi, a water tank built for pilgrims by him in 1230.

Sultan was a great devotee of Chishti Sufi Hazrat Kutubuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki and he was deeply interested in mysticism. He was also father of Razia Sultan. Iltutmish also completed the remaining work of famous Qutub Minar and is rated as a successful Sultan of Slave dynasty.He was also a great builder and structures raised by him can be seen at Delhi, Badaun and Shamshabad.(Article has been contributed in view of 27th Rajab i.e. today.References available on request)