Jama masjid shahi imam: Demonstrations are taking place across the country after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir. Many Muslim organizations from Hindus are protesting against terrorism and Pakistan and are demanding a strong lesson to the terrorists from the Government of India. Meanwhile, Syed Ahmed Bukhari, the royal Imam of the royal Jama Masjid of Delhi, has also done the work of showing a mirror to Pakistan. He has condemned Pakistan in strong words, saying that the panic through Pakistan, who were admitted to the border of India, who killed the innocents cannot be justified. Millions of Muslims of India have to be embarrassed by this act of Pakistan.

After the Pahalgam attack, the royal Imam has come into the limelight after his statement. In such a situation, let us know how the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid in Delhi is selected? Who selects them and how many years is the tenure of the royal Imam? When has the tradition of Shahi Imam going on?

What is the tradition of royal imam

The tradition of Shahi Imam in Jama Masjid in Delhi has been going on since the time of the Mughals. It is said that in the 1650s, when the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan built the Jama Masjid of Delhi, he told the rulers of Bukhara (Uzbekistan) to tell the need of an Imam for the mosque. After this Maulana Abdul Gafoor Shah Bukhari was sent to India. On behalf of Shah Jahan, he was given the title of Shahi Imam and Bukhari was made the Imam of Jama Masjid. This tradition has been going on since then. There is only a position of the royal Imam in the Government of India, but it is a tradition of the title given by the Mughal Sultanate which is going on from generation to generation.

How is the choice of royal imam

There is no concrete rule for the appointment of the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid in Delhi. Rather, they are appointed under the tradition that has been going on since the Mughal period and since the beginning, the Bukhari family has had this post. Before Syed Ahmed Bukhari, his father was holding the post of Shahi Imam. After him, this post is with Syed Ahmed Bukhari since 2014. In this way the post of Shahi Imam is going on hereditary. The current royal Imams make their son their successor while living. In 2024, Syed Ahmed Bukhari declared his son Syed Usama Shaban Bukhari as his successor.

How much is the tenure

There is no rule regarding how much will be the tenure of the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid in Delhi. The current royal Imams can remain in the post till they remain healthy, just as Syed Ahmed Bukhari has been in this post since 2014. After him, Syed Usama Shaban Bukhari will take over the post.

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