Masjids in the Mandalay Palace ground and in the Mandalay city

Masjids in the Mandalay Palace ground

 

Written by Maung Maung Skw and translated by Dr Ko Ko Gyi.

 

(NOTE: Although my brother wrote this post separately, I think this should be included in the “Meiktila” series I am translating, as Myanmar Military created Mandalay riots in 1997 is already in the original series. I hope our readers could understand that there is already a trend in popular novels about presenting not in a simple periodical order but scrambling the order of the sequence or series. For example, look at the Star Wars movie series.)

 

During the King Mindon’s reign, Chief of the Royal Bodyguard unit was Abdul Kareem Khan.

Chief of the Royal Bodyguard Abdul Kareem Khan, as a devout Muslim, used to regularly perform five times prayers in congregation together with other praying people and is known as Salaate Jamaat.

He used to pray at Wali Khan Masjid in-front of the Palace i.e. outside the palace.

At first there was no problem for him to regularly going out of the Palace and coming back inside.

 

But after the Myin Khun and Myin Khone Tine’s failed coup d’état attempt where the Crown Prince Kanaung was assassinated, the security was tightened and it gave rise to problems even for the Chief of the Royal Bodyguard.

For the security of the palace, as the palace gates were ordered to close from dusk to dawn and no one was allowed to go in or out in the night…
For Abdul Kareem Khan, it was difficult to pray “Fajr” (pre-dawn), “Maghrib” (sunset) and “Isha’a” (night) prayers (which were as if in the present curfew time).

When he asked exemption from that strict security details from the King Mindon, instead of giving him special permission to go in and out of the palace gate any time, the King himself donated a Masjid named Shwe Pannet Ya Masjid at the South-East corner moat inside the palace compound. (The Masjid named Shwe Pannet Ya Masjid because the King himself attended the symbolic laying of the foundation of that Mosque.)

During British Colonial time, that Masjid was removed to a new place at the west of Mya Nan San Kyaw Palace because the original place was used as part of the building of Polo Playground they were building for their officers.

 

That Nandwin Masjid, were I had prayed many times was destroyed by Myanmar Military in 1997 under the General Tun Kyi who was the Divisional Commander at that time.

 

That fateful day was in 1997, on the same day as some other Masjids in Mandalay were also attacked and damaged (by the crowd of Terrorist Buddhists now popularly known as angry crowd). Government Agent Provocateurs created the unrelated false rumours about the alleged rape in Ah Lae Baung quarter. That was to cover-up to divert the attention from the dissatisfaction and anger of the Buddhist monks and public of the opened tummy of the Maha Myat Muni Payargyi, (digging and robbing of the jewelry was believed to be committed by the military government to get the powerful big ruby).

 

At the same time when the Myanmar Military was destroying the Nandwin Masjid, Ah Lae Baung mosque, Muslim houses in Ah Lae Baung quarters, Dawn Yoe Masjid, Sein Pan Masjid, Panset Masjid, Dae Wun Masjid, Shwe Phone Shein (Phayagyi) Masjid, Kwun Chan Hlwa Htaung Masjid and Than Lan Masjids were attacked and destroyed at the same time. Other numerous Mosques were also destroyed superficially.

Masjids in the Mandalay city were just attacked and destroyed partially but Nan Dwin Masjid was totally destroyed. (It was bulldozed by the military bulldozers.)

 

Another Masjid in the Moat (Palace compound) was “Nan Myo Jail Mosque” built during the British Rule.

 

(NOTE: Actually that was built and donated my Muslim Turkey Prisoners of War i.e. WW1)

“Mandalay Jail” is divided into two divisions, “one for Remand prisoners” and another for “convicts”. That Mosque was in the division for convicts. Just a small bricked building of about 15×20 square ft.

But it had all the features and requirements for a Masjid: i.e. a Minbar, a Mihrab, (bookshelves to hold) copies of the Qur’an and the place for Wudu (Ablution)

 

(NOTE:

The minbar is a raised platform in the front area of a mosque, from which sermons or speeches are given. The minbar is usually made of carved wood, stone, or brick. It includes a short staircase leading to the top platform, which is sometimes covered by a small dome.

 

The mihrab is an ornamental indentation in the wall of a mosque, which marks the direction of the qiblah (i.e. Masjid Haram in Mecca). Mihrabs vary in size and color, but are usually shaped like a doorway and decorated with tiles and Islamic calligraphy to make the space prominent. Ref: About.com.Islam. )

I had prayed in that masjid when I was in jail.

Another Masjid in the moat (Palace compound) was also a Jail Mosque.

That was built by the British for officers and staff of jail, just outside the jail wall and was definitely inside the palace area (in the moat and palace wall).

Now a days, it was an abandoned old dilapidated building as there is no more worshipers and no one was allowed to repair and maintain that Masjid.

 

In 1992, when I went to see some friends in prison, I had seen that part of the Masjid’s roof and walls were damaged and it was used as the Jail Staff’s shop selling the food and things to the visitors to give to the prisoners in the jail.

 

But under the ruins of the inner side of the Masjid, I saw the glimpse of the minbar for sermons and the mihrab, where the Iman (Maulvi) lead the followers at prayers.

So I wish to tell definitely that there were at least THREE MASJIDS in the Palace compound. (In the moat)

 

(NOTE: As the King Mindone sanctioned Shwe Pannet Ya Masjid was shifted by British

to a new site at the west of Mya Nan San Kyaw Palace, we could definitely claim that there were FOUR sites of land used for Masjids in the Nan Dwin or Palace Compound, where Sujūd (Arabic: سُجود‎, [sʊˈdʒuːd]), or sajdah (Arabic: سجدة‎, pronounced [ˈsædʒdæ(tu)]), is an Arabic word meaning prostration to God (Arabic: الله Allah) in the direction of the Kaaba at Mecca which is usually done during the daily prayers (salat) were done. Re: Wikipedia.)

 

Mohammed A Naf commented: Yes Haji, you are right. Nan Dwin Shwe Pannet Ya Masjid site is now occupied by the Military Division 111’s petroleum and oil storage.

 

Maung Maung

Shwe Keraweik

 

APPENDIX

I hereby wish to add the “List of Masjids in Mandalay” which I contributed in Wikipedia.

 

List of Masjids in Mandalay.^[1] During Pagan Min reign, Mindon Prince and brother Ka Naung Prince run away with their servants to Shwe Bo and started a rebellion. U Bo and U Yuet were the two Muslims who accompanied the princes. Some Kala Pyo Burmese Muslim artillery soldiers followed them.^[2]

In the Royal Defence Army, many Cannon-crew members were Kindar Kala Pyos and Myedu Muslims.^[3] Captain Min Htin Min Yazar’s 400 Muslims participated to clear the land for building a new Mandalay city. Kabul Maulavi was appointed an Islamic Judge by King Mindon to decide according to the Islamic rules and customs on Muslim affairs. Burmese Muslms were given specific quarters to settle in the new city of Mandalay^[4] King Mindon donated his palace teak pillars to build a mosque at North Obo in central Mandalay. His Majesty also permitted a mosque to be built on the granted site for the Panthays Burmese Chinese Muslims.^[5] Inside the Palace wall, for the Royal Body Guards, King Mindon himself donated and started the building of the Mosque by laying the Gold foundation at the South-eastern part of the Palace located near the present Independent Monument. This Mosque was called the Shwe Pannet Mosque. That mosque was destroyed by the British to build the Polo playground. The King donated the rest house in Mecca for his Muslim subjects performing Hajj.

Aung Mye Tharzan Township^[6]

S/N	Mosque	Situation	Donor	Quarters	Built	Comment/present administrator
1	Miba zay (Parent\’s market)	Amara Tharni	Trader U Phalu	23	1863	Descendants
2	Nwar Chan Kone	Amara Tharni	Royal Milk supplier U Kyar Ko Nyi	36	1863	School
3	Ywar Thar	Daw Na Phwar	Akbart Calvery Officer U Chone	53	1863	Elected executive members
4	Nan Shea\’	Anheit Taw	Madaras Merchant Sema	3	1863	Elected executive members
5	Wali Khan	Maha Zeyabon	Naymyo Gonayap Khan Sab	796	1857/1878	Descendants
6	Shwe Pannet (Golden foundation)	Nandwin (Palace compound)	King Mindon\’s donation	Mingala	1858	Near the present Independence monument. Demolished
7	Ko Yandaw (Royal security)	Nandwin	Religious Dept.	Military	1803	Ar Lawi
8	Inside Jail	Nandwin	Governor General	Jail	1939	Mandalay Jail
9	Kyauk Masjid	Pyigyi Kyet Thayae	Diamond Merchant Ma Cho	162	1858	Elected executive members
10	Tha Htay Dan	Pyigyi Kyet Thayae	Richman U Maung Gyi	173	1858	Descendants
11	Sit Kaing Dan	Pyigyi Kyet Thayae	Royal Purchasing Officer U Mya Hnin	171	1858	Elected executive members
12	Mingala	Pyigyi Kyet Thayae	Trader U Shwe Oo, U Hmut	171	1858	Descendants of U swe Pwint U Tun
13	Surti Jamei\’	Pyigyi Kyet Thayae	Mulla Ismail	180	?1850	Elected executive members
14	Aye Chaint	Pyigyi Kyet Thayae	Merchant U Shwe Oh	116	?1850	Damaged in 1942
15	U Shwe Taung	Thiri Malar	U Shwe Taung & sister Ma Ma Ywe\’	206	1863	Demolished
16	Waheidiar	Thiri Malar	Merchant U Saw	210	1863	Demolished
17	Sate Pateesu	Thiri Malar	Khalifa U Maung Maung	211	1863	Demolished
18	Alae\’ Baung	Thiri Malar	Sekyar U Rashid Daw halima	216	1863	Descendants
19	Hninsee Chan	Pyigyi Yanlon	Fire brigade Captain Hninsee	63	1863	Elected executive members
20	Hindustani	Pale Ngwe Yong	Merchant Amarnat	154	1909	Elected executive members

Chan Aye Tharzan Township ^[7]

S/N	Mosque	Situation	Donor	Quarters	Built	Comment/present administrator
1	Kinta Kala Pyo	Yan Myo Lone	Byae Tike Thandawsint U Boo	751	1858	Near previous Mingalar tagar
2	Kinta Kala Pyo	Yan Myo Lone	Comrade/Thwe Thauk U Pho Naing	572	1863	Descendants
3	Ta Pae (Kat Kye Tan)	Mawra Giwar	Ta Pae Mayor U Pho Yit	712		U Pho Thar-Daw Hmyin
4	East Kone Yoe	Haymar Zala	Royal Nandawin Gardener U Pho & brothers	609	1863	1885-shifted
5	Sekyar Kasimeer	Mawra Giwar	Mingla Cannoncrew Captain U Hnit	680	1863	U Kyi/Daw Khet and others
6	Sekyar (South)	Mawra Giwar	Royal Captain Hashim	680	1863	Hj Abd. Hamid
7	Falan Bo	Mawra Giwar	Royal Cannoncrew Commander U Yar Baw	681	1863	U Win Hj U Ba Toke and othrs
8	East Achote (South)	Aung Nan East	U Pho Thwe son of Khalifa U Hmwa	553	1863	Elected executive members
9	East Achote (North)	Aung Nan East	Trader U Phoya, Daw Cho & Daw Yu	553	1863	Elected executive members
10	Koyandaw (South)	Aung Nan East	Tat Hmulay Maung Maung Hlaing & Daw Mi Mi Lay	559	1863	U Par Daw Thae
11	Koyandaw (North)	Aung Nan East	Tat Hmulay Maung Maung Hlaing & Daw Mi Mi Lay	559	1863	Damaged in 1942
12	Malon Mosque	Kyae Khatwin(N)	Richman U shwe Bay	558	1863	Damaged in 1942
13	Taung Baloo	Aung Nan	Poet U Nu and others	579	1863	Descendants
14	Oh Daw	Chan Aye Thar Zan	KT U Pho Thet	593	1875	Rebuilt in 1942
15	South Oh Bo	Chan Aye Thar Zan	Hj U Yusof Daw Bii	592	1875	Rebuilt in 1942
16	Yanadabon Oh Bo	Chan Aye Thar Zan	Head of Royal Traders U Min Chain	592	1863	Hj U Myit
17	South Sin Kyone	Chan Aye Thar Zan	U San Pyaw & Indian Council U Dun	591	1863	Descendants
18	North Sin Kyone	Chan Aye Thar Zan	U San Thee	598	1863	Elected executive members
19	Shia Mosque	Chan Aye Thar Zan	Royal Custom Officer Bakar Ali	597	1863	Elected executive members
20	Amyoke Tan Lay	Chan Aye Thar Zan	Min Ye Yan Nain U Da Naing	597	1863	Hj U Sein & Hj Daw May
21	June\’	Chan Aye Thar Zan	King Mindon\’s Royal Servant U Toe	596	1863	Elected executive members
22	Baho (= Central)	Chan Aye Thar Zan	Nandawin U Phothar\’s grandsons	615	1863	Relocate in 1885
23	Tike Tan	Chan Aye Thar Zan	Merchant U Cho Daw Thawt U Ebrahim & Bros	603	1865	Renovated by U Ohn Maung
24	Saing Dan	Thiri Haemar East	Ruby U Nyein	242	1863	0
25	Daun Yoe	Thiri Haemar East	(Royal Saw mill) U Yoe & U phaw Oo	249	1863	Hj Than Than
26	Achote (West)	Aung Nan West	Silk Merchant U Mya & Daw Pu	552	1919	Hj U Kyaw Thein, Sister Hj Daw Khin May
27	Yanadabon Achote	Aung Nan West	Maung Maung Hlaing & Daw Htay	552	1863	Descendants
28	Dae Wun Yadanabon	Dae Wun	Hj U Pho Myit	325	1875	Previous Ship shaped Island
29	Wore Su Mosque	Wore Su	Bengali sailors	326	1919	Damaged
30	Htin Win Mosque	Htin Win	River Transport Department	321	1918	Damaged
31	Zarweiyar	Chan Aye Thar Zan	Khalifa U San Yar	585	1863	Attasia Administers

Maha Aung Myae Township ^[8]

S/N	Mosque	Situation	Donor	Quarters	Built	Comment/present administrator
1	Sein Pan Benali Masjid	Sein Pan	Ship owner Chaudery	331	1905	Descendants
2	Ywar Haing	Dae Wun East	U Pho Ya	283	1908	Damaged
3	Wor Chan	Koon Chan	Royal maid Daw Nan Yeik	537	1863	U Sae/Daw Yi/bombed
4	Yap Htan	Koon Chan	Silfk Merchant U Pe/U Ba Din	538	1863	Descendants
5	Hlwa Htaung	Hlwa Htaung	Silfk Merchant U Ban/U Ba Win	544	1863	Elected executive members
6	Than Lan	Than Lan	U Pho/Daw Yit	544	1863	Mayor U Tokekalay
7	Mya Kone Paw	U Kyar Gyi	Royal Security Capt San Tun	545	1863	Elected executive members
8	Panthay	Kinsanahahi	Yunnan Sultan Sulayman	549	1868	Descendants
9	Anouk (west) Pali (Masjid)	Sekyar Nwezin	Broker U Khin and others	678	1885	Elected executive members
10	Bone Oh	Sekyar Nwezin	Royal Captain U Kyae	678	1863
11	Mingala Alae (central)	Sekyar Nwezin	Royal Captain U Yawk	677	1863
12	Sulae	Sekyar Nwezin	Royal Captain U Maung	674	1863
13	Letpan	Sekyar Nwezin	Comrade/Thwe Thauk U Pyawn	684	1863
14	Islamic Centre	Mandalay University	Students and Mandalayans	619	1915	Lecturers & Students
15	Shwe Phone Shein	Phayagyi	Kamman Captain U Shwe Oh et al.	829	1785	Hj U Ba Khin and et al.
16	PanSet	Than Hlet Maw	Hj Daw Phwar		1863	Elected executive members
17	Eidgar	Than Hlet Maw	Sunnat Jamaat		1920	Land & Pond present
18	Sittang	Mye Par Yat Army Camp	Municipal		1918	Foundation only left

Early Masjids in Mandalay, Pyigyi Tagun Township, period of Amarapura

Approved by the Burmese Kings and Hluttaw or Parliament ^[9]

S/N	Mosque	Situation	Built	‘	‘	Comment/present administrator
1	East Masjid	Rakhine qrt. Taun Myint	Badon Min Bodaw\’s period			Rakhine Taungote Kamman Archers
2	West Masjid	Rakhine qrt. Taun Myint	Badon Min Bodaw\’s period			Rakhine Taungote Kamman Archers
3	Central Masjid	Rakhine qrt. Taun Myint	Radanabon period			Rakhine Taungote Kamman Archers
4	Mingala Masjid	Rakhine qrt. Taun Myint	Radanabon period
5	Kauthali Masjid	Near Zaung Kalaw Pond	Radanabon period			Descendants
6	Yaedwin Pyet Rakhine Masjid	Near Zaung Kalaw Pond	Radanabon period			Descendants

Chan Mya Tharzi Township, Amarapura Period Masjids ^[10]

S/N	Mosque	Situation	Built	‘	‘	Comment/present administrator
1	Dawna Chan Masjid	Kyunelone Ou Shaung	Badon Min\’s time 1785			Dawna village head U Tharyar
2	Dawna Chan Masjid	Kyunelone Ou Shaung	Badon Min\’s time 1785			Dawna village head U Moe
3	Dawna Chan Masjid	Kyunelone Ou Shaung	U Shaban Daw Shin			1927 burnt & rebuilt
4	Dawna Chan Masjid	Kyunelone Ou Shaung	U Shaban Daw Shin			Hj U San Hj Daw Sae
5	Dawna Chan Masjid	Kyunelone Ou Shaung	U Shaban Daw Shin			Teak trader Hj U Ko Gyi
6	Khine Ywar Masjid	Chan Aye Tharzi	Gang Chief Dadalay Yaryar			Descendants
7	Thochan Masjid	Myo Thit (new town)	U Aung Pu and grandson Royal Chef U Ywet			Descendants

References

1. Mandalay Prophet’s day Diamond Jubilee Magazine, pp 82, 84, 85, 86 & 87, “Islamic History Catalogue of Mandalay Radanabon (Mahar Prophet day Diamond Jubilee and anticipation to 150th. Anniversary of Mandalay)” by Maung Maung Gyi (Man) [History Researcher]
2. Konbaung Dynasty Royal History Vol. 3. Page 139.
3. U Maung Maung Tin’s Burmese Kings’ Royal Articles, page 66-71-72.
4. The “Twentieth Anniversary Special Edition of Islam Damma Beikman.” Myanmar Pyi and Islamic religion. The reprint of the records of the lectures given by Pathi U Ko Lay in 1973. from page 109,110 and 111.
5. The Emergence Of The Panthay Community At Mandalay, by Professor U Maung Maung Lay.
6. Maung Maung Gyi page 84
7. Maung Maung Gyi page 85
8. Maung Maung Gyi page 86first table
9. Maung Maung Gyi page 86 second table
10. Maung Maung Gyi page 87

 

Please read the “List of Masjids in Mandalay” From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia