“Minal Mumineen” Syedna Taher Saifuddin’s leading role in the historic renovation of Masjid-e-Aqsa

Masjid-e-Aqsa in Baitul-Muqaddas, Jerusalem, had not been renovated in over 400 years - it had been in the hands of the Ummayyads, the Abbasids, the Fatimids, the Crusaders, the Ayyubids, and the Ottomans. Additionally it had suffered through numerous earthquakes. In the 20^th century, Mufti Amin al-Husayni attempted to raise major funds for the renovation of this historic and iconic Masjid. The fund raising effort was slow to start, and was met with much apathy in the Muslim world. In 1352H (1932) the Mufti approached several nawabs in India however they did not respond positively to his requests. Syedna Taher Saifuddin offered to host the Mufti in India, where he stayed for over two months and with the support of Syedna Taher Saifuddin raised a significant contribution that helped the renovations progress.

The names of the major contributors were inscribed below a band of Quranic verse in the main prayer area near the Mehrab in Masjid-e-Aqsa. It is by divine providence that Syedna Taher Saifuddin’s name appears right after a corner exactly below the words “min al-mumineen” (from the mumineen) in the Quranic verse above. The photo of this inscription is presented here.