Mumbai, not plain (Cour 2/2) 7/12 — Makhdoom Ali Mahimi Dargah built in 1431

Mahim Gate (called colloquially) is among the most iconic of Mumbai’s Indo-Islamic (It blends Indian with Persian akin Mughal and Deccani styles) architecture. The titular sufi of Mahim Dargah was the first from this sub-continent to construct an exegesis (i.e. Tafsirur Rahman) on the Quran (he wrote around 100 books, only 21 are known, and 10 remain, though). Since there are stories of how he assisted the law enforcement (Gujarat Sultanate) against smugglers, Bhandari Militia (a predecessor of the Mumbai Police set up by the East India Company) and the today’s police have both seeked his spiritual help historically. The very adjoining Masjid (or one nearby) may have been built by the Tughlaq Sultanate (some time after 1343), and either-way, both buildings are among the oldest Islamic structures in Maharashtra. Mahim Dargah was built by the Muzaffarid Sultanate at his burial spot, since Kokan’s Pole Star (his moniker) was not only the Qazi of Thane (Mahim was a part of the district), but he was also the sultan’s brother-in-law. Further, the nearby police station (he is even considered as the patron saint of Mumbai’s police) was constructed around his preaching spot in 1923 (and it still contains his belongings) and there’s a replica of the gate nearby. There is even a flyover (named after this titular pir) from JJ Hospital to CSMT that possesses two replicas as well (added in 2023). This was captured with Abhishek as well.

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