ABU HURAIRA (R) MOSQUE

Razarchar, Madaripur.

CLIENT: ABDUS SAMAD FARIDI.

DESIGN ARCHITECT   : Mesba Ul Kabir.

AREA OF LAND       :KATHA

AREA OF BUILDING   : 40300SFT , Madrasha: 38000 SFT

PROJECT YEAR       :

COMPLEATED        : 2011

SPIRITUAL BELIEF (FAITH) OF THE CLIENT (CONTEXT):

Probably in the year of 1998, I was introduced to Maulana Abdus-SamadFaridi. A friend of mine introduced me to him to design a masjid in Konapara, nearDemra. He was a bearded, tall and well-behaved person. He loved pan (Beetle leaf)and Indian Surovi Zorda (Tobacco), always carrying a small dose in a paner dala(box) and offering it to every one he met. He stayed in Vojjo Teler Goli, nearcrossing of Old Elephant Road and New Elephant Road in a rented building,occupying two floors. On the ground floor was his chamber with separate waitingspace for men and women. The upper floor was his residence. He performed intriguingspiritual treatment for patients facing physically or mentally problems, likerecovering lost things, overcoming bad luck, reuniting with spouse, for havinga successful business, betterment of income, for making important people happy,for wanting offspring etc. Mainly, anyone suffering from unusual supernatural influenceor problem. He was, probably the best and most famous shaman (JINN er Todbir)for removal of from evil powers.

A little backstory I had heard, when he was the Imam ofAeroplane Masjid in Elephant Road near New Market, he used to call upon Jinns tohelp suffering people and a Jinn would appear on roof, with startling sound. Peoplewere frightened by that sound, so to avoid that, he performed his treatment indifferent ways.

A betel leaf (pan pata) was place in front of a girl notmore than 12 years old. In his chamber, after listening the problem of patient(man, women or children) he asked the girl to look at the betel leaf and revealthe causes of the problem or who was responsible.

This session starts from morning to midday. Evening sessionstarted after Maghrib prayer to midnight. After the initial morning session, medicinepreparation began. It was not normal medicine. Referring to the prescription preparedby him in morning session, he used to write on a paper with red ink which werespatially prepared in Arabic language. The words were mostly verses from theHoly Quaran, this paper had to be dipped in water and drank for mentionednumber of days. In some case this paper would be placed in a small metal amulet,known as Tabiz. For girls having difficulty find a suitable spouse, water wouldbe poured into a white porcelain dish, which has Quranic verses written in redink. This red ink dissolved water was then given to the girl to drink. In some case, theamulet has to drop in a deep pond, in some cases the abulet has to be hung on abranch of tree. In some cases, the amulet had to put under something heavy.There were many other ways for treating a person. Here, I have mentioned onlyfew of them, quite interesting.

There was always a heavy load of patent in morning andevening for counseling, but males were allowed only average 2/3 hours. I haveseen many VIP person attaining his treatment.

CHANAGE OF MIND:

For Konapara masjid, he took me to many places, especiallyother masjids, to gather reference and ideas for designing this masjid. During prayertimes, we went to masjids to perform salat. I had to face very difficult situationthere as I didn’t know how to perform salat. I would imitate his posturesduring salah, to act as if I was also performing salah. This shook me intorethinking my own spirituality and faith. May Allah forgive me.

I was a nonbeliever, but believed in the creator, thealmighty who created nature. Around me, the words of the representator ofreligion, the mollahs, usually didn’t synchronize with logic, science orreason. Let’s get rid of this pain by knowing the meaning of Quran. In one night,it struck my mind why not learn salat instead of acting.

MASJID ABU HURAIRA BACKGROUND:

Moulana Abdus Samad Faridi born in Shibchar, Madaripur aremote place. When I visited that place there was no electricity, no road. Insummer time, one has to travel by walking and in the rainy season, by boat. Atthat time flood was regular each year. He wanted to study in madrasa but hisfather admitted him in a school for general education. He did not listen to hisfather so his father drove him out of the house., With his mother’s support hecontinued his study in madrassa. After completing his study, he used to travelIndia, Pakistan to acquiring more knowledge and met many religious leaders(PIR, DHORBES) for his treatment of patent (Alternative medicine) and settledin Aero-plane Masjid in Elephant Road.

He used to perform hajj every year, after returning fromhajj probably in the year of 1999 he requested me to build a huge masjid with Madrasaon hi remote village. I was astonished by his desire. In a remote village withno communication, no facilities, how would he construct such a big masjid, fromwhere he would get all the needed materials? It will be vacant most of thetime, how will he manage to transport huge construction material and equipmentand arrange fund!

At that time, I was one of his favorite companions, I don’tknow why. So, I picked up the courage and asked him the why he wanted toconstruct such a grand masjid with madrasa complex.

He replied, that while performing the last hajj, he felt hegot instructed to build a grand masjid with other education facilities. Thename of this masjid will be in the name of ABU HURAIRA (H:) very close personof Prophet, also highest contributor to Hadith.

Half of the land low are affected during flood every year.In order to construct, the material had to be transported during rainy seasonby boat. Soil condition was not good, and concreate pile was needed. Forconstruction, skilled labor arranged from Dhaka.

CONCEPT:

Construction of 4 story masjid started with ground floor foreducation, library, office -cum-administration, common guest room with toiletblock and ablution. Veranda is placed on the south side. The guest rooms areconnected to a big pond, through a huge concrete staircase, for ablution and bathing.

Considering flood water level, the main masjid starts from the1^st floor. It is connected from the ground floor to the road by a staircaseand two internal stairs, of which, one is inside of 120’-0’ high minar. Both northand south sides have open terraces with arch walls to reduce heat and act as ascreen wall. 2 VIP guestrooms with attached toilet are provided here. Graduallythe 2^nd and 3^rd floor decrease due to architectural andfunctional requirement. There is a huge dome with a platform on the 3^rdfloor. The dome can be visible from each floor from the inside of the mosque. Abig void in the two upper floors synchronizes with the dome.

The client was greatly influenced by the Masjid-un-Nababi,in Madina. So, the green color of dome as well as the 120’ high minar of themosque was influenced of Masjid un Nababi’s. After first basic color coat, the masjidlook magnificantly pure, shrine like and beautiful with all the white. However,we have to compromise in our life sometimes. Half circle area used all overwith green tinted glass.

FUND:

Funding is the life line of any project. The client used toknow many businessmen, industrialist, wealthy people but never asked directlyfor money. His philosophy was to ask directly to Allah, the Almighty. He usedto live a very simple life. More than 80% percent of his income was spent inthis complex. He also established big Kawami Madrasa with 300 to 350 studentswith the accommodation and dining etc. free of any charge.

IMPOSSIBLE TO POSSIBLE:

Initially there was two of small tin shade building for KawamiMadrassa and accommodation. Toilet block was far away in a jungle of bambootrees. At night, using toilet was terrifying, surrounded by the call of wildanimals.

Things are started to change. He had contact with high levelpeople, mostly those who had benefitted from his treatment. A road forMadaripur to his complex, few kilometers long was commissioned, but obstructionfrom the village people stalled it. Getting land for road was difficult. Somehow,with the chief engineer of related department (who was also his admirer), hemanaged. Within a year of initially filling the road, within a year a puccaroad passing through his complex. Electricity line from Madaripur was alsomanaged.

Within 4/5 years, this remote village transformed with updatedfacility. It is really remarkable and hard to perceive. Around the complex, allthe accommodation and facility grew. Now the masjid area has adequate musullis comingprayer.

The dream of Moulana Abdus Samad Faridi came true.

‍