117-year-old Baba Jee Masjid in Timergara still stands majestically

TIMERGARA: Built in the heart of Timergara city, 117-year-old Baba Jee Masjid is still stand majestically in its old and real condition.

A well-known spiritual and religious personality of the area, Mohiuddin alias Baba Jee constructed the mosque in 1899. The mosque consists of two big halls and four verandas.

The grave of Baba Jee is also located in one corner of the mosque.

The wood logs and doors are skilfully engraved. These are masterpieces of artwork and attract visitors from all parts of the country.

Mehtabuddin, a caretaker of Baba Jee mosque, told The News that some foreign visitors had offered 4,000 US dollars to buy one door of the mosque, but they rejected the offer.

Fazal Hannan, an elder hailing from the nearby Kandaro village, said his father had told him the wooden logs and doors of the mosque were engraved by Abdul Qadir Ustad belonging from Peshawar.

He added that the wood logs for the Baba Jee mosque had been provided by the ruler of the Dir state, Nawab Muhammad Sharif Khan.

Fazal Hannan said that in the past the management of Baba Jee mosque used to arrange a daily ‘langar’ (free food) for the devotees who stayed at the mosque for learning.

He said that a separate guestroom was constructed in the vicinity of the mosque where guests from far-off areas used to stay.

“It was my desire to visit the historic Baba Jee mosque because I had heard much about it from my elders,” said Shahab Ali, a visitor.

He said the mosque was a national heritage and it was the responsibility of the provincial and district governments to take measures to preserve it so that the next generation may have awareness about their elders’ love for religion. 

Farmanullah, a grandson of Baba Jee, told this scribe that a large number of visitors from abroad also visited the mosque and get satisfaction by worshipping there.

He asked the provincial and district governments to pay heed to the maintenance of the historic mosque.