AN UNKNOWN EUNUCH OF MASJID WAZEER KHAN LAHORE – THE ENIGMA OF FAMILY OF MULLAH YUSUF KASHMEERI

AN UNKNOWN EUNUCH OF MASJID WAZEER KHAN LAHORE
THE ENIGMA OF FAMILY OF MULLAH YUSUF KASHMEERI

Masjid Wazeer KhanNAZAK YUSUF KASHMEERI IN TRADITION OF YAQUT MUSTASIMI

Yaqut Musatasimi
Yaqut Musatasimi

A walk inside the Wazeer Khan Mosque Lahore reveals many names. A number of calligraphers are there. One is Mullah Yusuf Kashmeeri, who was also probably the first muezzin of the mosque and the same is mentioned in the letters of Imam Rabbani. Yusuf Kashmeeri was son of Ustad Haider Mimar, who had constructed a famous garden in Kashmeer for Empress Nur Jahan. The name is in an inscription on the garden itself. The family seem to have moved to Lahore. Yusuf had three sons, all famous calligraphers of their time. One was Muhammed Zaman, another Abdul Kareem and the third was Muhamed Saleh. Their names are on many manuscripts as well as inscriptions on Mughal Monuments. The name of Muhammed Saleh is inside the dome of the Gulabi Bagh mausoleum, attributed to Dai Anga. No problem there.

Katba Nazak child of Yusuf Kashmeeri 1071 AH
Katba Nazak child of Yusuf Kashmeeri 1071 AH

A hand written Quran dated 1071 AH , precarious condition due to water soiling, but the name of the calligrapher is intact. It cannot be read clearly in the way that the calligrapher has tried to hide his gender in same. It looks like it says that it is Faqeer Haqeer Nazak bin Yusuf Kashmeeri. But careful reading tells us something else. It can read as:

Muhammed Saleh son of Yusuf Kashmeeri
Muhammed Saleh son of Yusuf Kashmeeri

Al Faqeera Haqeer Nakzal bin Yusuf Kashmeeri
Al Faqeer Al Haqeer Nazak bin Yusuf Kashmeeri
Al Faqeera Haqeer Nazli bin Yusuf Kashmeeri.

But the simplest reading is that of NAZAK KASHMEERI. Nazak is not a proper name for a man, it can be a proper name for a woman, like Nazakat. But then it should say BINT YUSUF KASHMEERI. The solution lies in only one thing. This fifth child of Yusuf Kashmeeri was an eunuch and in the tradition of Yaqut Mustasimi, one of the greatest calligraphers in our Islamic history, doing his best within his gender. It is said that Yaqut used to write his Qurans siting on top of the minaret of a mosque in Baghdad. Perhaps our Nazak used to write Qurans on top of the minaret of the Wazeer Khan mosque Lahore. Allah bless his/her soul!

Yusuf bin Haider Kashmeeri
Yusuf bin Haider Kashmeeri

8 thoughts on “AN UNKNOWN EUNUCH OF MASJID WAZEER KHAN LAHORE – THE ENIGMA OF FAMILY OF MULLAH YUSUF KASHMEERI”

    1. Hello i hope you are doing well I am arslan working with AKCS-P right now I am making a report on Hujra’s of Wazir khan mosque can I please get your Email or any contact.
      Thanks.

      1. One hujra was with us from times immemorial. Umar Din Naqash, Baba Miran Baksh, Muhammed Hayat Naqash, etc etc.
        Use our email.

      2. Dear Arsalan,
        My mothers’ mother is a direct descendant of both the Wazir Khan family as well as Imam Gamu ( her forefather ) . I have been communicating with Umair Ajmal from the AKH Foundation regarding Imam Gamu and his Mausoleum under restoration . The Wall City programme .

        Part of the family Heir loom in our possession is a hand written Quran .
        This fits in well with this enquiry .
        Please contact mel as I would love to advance our knowledge and share information about this important history of our great City .
        WhatsApp
        +447976351498
        Email
        quereshi62@aol.com

        1. Date of writing
          Calligrapher
          Place of writing
          Seals. If. Any
          Simple or decorated
          Museum owns hundreds of MS including qur’ans of Lahore,
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  1. Eunuchs had capacity for cultural and intellectual work and Islamic way of life encouraged them. Phenomena of song and dance is regional dilemma.

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