Kazimar Big Mosque
The Kazimar Big Mosque, also known as the Kazimar Periya Pallivasal, is a Sufi Hanafi mosque in Madurai city, in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The mosque was constructed in and is the oldest mosque in the city. The mosque was founded by Kazi Syed Tajuddin, a descendant of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, who came from Yemen during 13th century and received this land from the King Kulasekara Ku Pandiyan.
The mosque can accommodate approximately 1,200 worshipers and is within of the Periyar bus stand, and within southeast of Madurai Junction railway station, and southwest of the Meenakshi Temple.
Founder
Kazi Syed Tajuddeen founded the mosque. He was the son of Jamaluddin Mufti al Ma'abari who travelled to India from Yemen during 13th century. Syed Tajuddeen's elder brother, Syed Alauddin, settled in Kayalpatnam, and he died and is buried there. Syed Tajuddeen settled in Madurai and began the construction of the mosque in the 1281 CE. The construction took three years and the mosque was opened for prayers in 1284 CE. Hazrat Kazi Syed Tajuddin died on 15 Rajab 692 AH and was interred in the large cemetery surrounding the mosque. Urus, the anniversary of the death of Qazi Syed Tajuddin, called Founder's Day, is celebrated in the mosque on 15th of Rajab annually.Huqdars and mosque management
The descendants of the founder, Kazi Syed Thajuddeen, are referred as huqdhars of the mosque, and total approximately 450 individuals, the majority of who are the 19th and 20th generation of the founder's descendants. Almost all of the huqdhars have lived in Kazimar Street since the 13th century, and have continually managed the mosque since its establishment. Many are closely inter-related. All Syeds belong to the Hanafi school of Sunni Islam, and most of the descendants of the founder are Shazulis who practice the Sufi order, Fassiya ash Shazuliya.During his lifetime the mosque was managed by Kazi Syed Tajuddin. The right to manage the mosque by the descendants of the founder was confirmed by the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board in 1954 after the Independence of India, when all Waqf properties were surveyed. The genealogical records of all the heirs of Syed Tajuddin and the managers of the mosque are maintained in the mosque office. All 450 descendants of Syed Tajuddin constitute the general body from among whom the management committee of the mosque is selected. In January 2017 the general body of huqdars resolved to appoint a committee of four as trustees, and to appoint an additional ten members as executive members. The management committee comprises the four trustees and the ten executive members.