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Dargahs in India
History
The term dargah came into use sometime during the 9th century and has its origins in Persia. “Dar” means a dwelling place or house and “Gah” means time. Hence, the word dargah means “house of time”. This is a place where the Sufi saints who passed away many centuries ago have tombs built for them. There are hundreds of dargahs in India and millions of Muslim followers come here to pay their respects to the departed souls. These Sufi saints are given so much importance because right since 11th or 12th century, these saints were the only connecting link between the Indian Muslims and the teachings of Allah.
No Idol Worship
Dargahs are the places of worship or paying respects by the Muslims. The way Muslims worship is far different from other religions because unlike Hinduism, Christianity, Jainism or Buddhism, Islam does not propagate idol worship. None of the mosques or dargahs will have idols of Allah. Most of these holy places are just tombs of some of great Islam saints and scholars, where people visit to pay their respects. These saints are known as Sufi Saints and dargahs are usually magical structures built over the graves of these saints. Most of the dargahs in India are spacious structures and have a very good architectural style. These saints were believed to be the most loyal messengers and devotees of Allah, which is why Muslims visit these Dargahs to pay their respects.
Is a Dargah Similar to a Mosque?
Though many people interchange these two terms, in reality, these two do not mean the same. There are certain differentiating factors between the two. The first and foremost difference is that while a dargah allows all people to enter into it, a mosque allows only male members inside its premise. A mosque is where Muslims worship by prostrating on the floor to Allah. A dargah, on the other hand, is place where Muslims pay their respects to the saints who have reached heavenly abode. The religion of Islam strictly prohibits prostration in a dargah, as prostration should be done only for Allah and nobody else.
Some Famous Dargahs in India
Though there are many dargahs in India, a few of them deserve special mention due to their historical importance and value. They are the Ajmer Sheriff, Haji-Ali Dargah in Mumbai, Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah in Delhi, Nagore Dargah in Tamil Nadu etc. These places are turning out to be huge tourist attractions for international and Indian tourists.
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