Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid declares his son successor
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New Delhi: In Delhi's historic Jama Masjid, Shahi Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari declared his son Syed Shaban Bukhari as his "successor". The declaration was made in a 'dastarbandi' (investiture) ceremony held in the masjid courtyard on Sunday, PTI reported.
Imam Syed traced the history of the mosque while addressing the ceremony and recalled that the first Shahi Imam, Hazrat Syed Abdul Ghafoor Shah Bukhari, was appointed by Emperor Shah Jehan.
It is a tradition of the masjid that Imams declare their successors during their lifetime over the 400 years of the mosque's history.
"I declare that Syed Shaban Bukhari is my successor", Syed Ahmed Bukhari announced at a gathering of Islamic scholars and other dignitaries.
After the announcement, the tying of the 'dastarbandi' (turban) began according to the tradition associated with the ceremony.
Syed Shaban Bukhari (29) was anointed as the mosque's Naib Imam in a 'dastarbandi' ceremony in November 2014.
In the event of Syed Ahmed Bukhari's death or ill health, he will serve as the 14th Shahi Imam of the Jama Masjid,
The 'dastarbandi' ceremony lasted more than an hour. Attendees include many 'ulemas' (Islamic scholars).
Some congratulatory posters bearing images of the Shahi Imam and his son were put up along the street running in front of the mosque.
Syed Ahmed Bukhari is the son of Syed Abdullah Bukhari, the 12th Shahi Imam, who died at the age of 87 in 2009. It was in October 2000 that Syed Ahmed Bukhari was declared his father's successor