The 17th Century ‘Guru’s Mosque’ – A Symbol of Inter-Faith Harmony in Punjab
In the town of Hargobindpur, Punjab, stands a 17th-century mosque that has been recognized by UNESCO and the UNDP as a memorial to inter-faith harmony.
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Today, this place of worship stands silent, devoid of worshippers. Known as the ‘Guru’s Mosque’, it was built on the orders of Sikh Guru Hargobind Singh for the Muslim minority of the region.
The mosque’s history dates back to the early 16th century, when the sixth Sikh Guru, Hargobind Singh, established the town of Hargobindpur near the Beas River. Despite the growing religious tensions during the Mughal era under Emperor Jahangir, the Guru, known as a spiritual and martial leader, took an unprecedented step.
Upon learning that the local Muslim community had no place of worship, the Guru ordered the construction of a mosque on a hillock. As per local historian Balbir Singh, “Guru Ji’s principle was that no one should be deprived of their faith. He ensured that Muslims had a place to offer their prayers, no matter how few their numbers were.” For centuries, the call to prayer echoed from this mosque, until the Partition of India in 1947, when the Muslim families of Hargobindpur migrated to Pakistan.
Though the mosque could have fallen into ruin, its Sikh neighbors did not let history be erased. In the 1990s, the Punjab Waqf Board approached Sikh leaders, requesting the restoration of the mosque. As Nihang leader Baba Prem Singh recounts, “We told them that this is not just a mosque, but a gift from the Guru.” Historians concurred, and in 2022, Sikh volunteers led the renovation efforts.
The restoration of the ‘Guru’s Mosque’ gained global attention in 2003, when UNESCO and UNDP’s ‘Culture for Peace’ project recognized it as a “memorial to tolerance.” On this occasion, Maulana Hamid Husain Qasmi, the Imam of the Jama Masjid in Amritsar, led the Eid prayers in a city where no Muslims now reside.
Today, the mosque is cared for by Nihang Sikhs, who reverently protect this legacy. As sewadaar Joginder Singh says, “We clean the floors, repair the walls, just as our elders respected Guru Ji’s wish.” However, with no local Muslim presence, the mosque sees little regular prayer. As the ‘Guru’s Mosque’ stands as a pristine symbol of a shared past, a question lingers: can symbols alone keep the spirit of tolerance alive? For now, its guardians answer through their actions, as Baba Prem Singh affirms, “We will protect this heritage, for the Guru taught us that faith is for all.”
