Kazimar Big Mosque

Kazimar Big Masjid
Religion
Affiliation	Sunni, Hanafi, Shazuli, Qadiri
Leadership	Govt. Qazi of Madurai: Syed Khaja Mueenuddeen
Location
Location	Madurai, India
Geographic coordinates	9°54′46″N 78°06′51″E / 9.91275°N 78.1142°E / 9.91275; 78.1142
Architecture
Type	Mosque
Style	Indo-Islamic,
Date established	1284
Specifications
Capacity	1200
Dome(s)	1
Minaret(s)	8
Materials	Calcium sand stones
Website
http://www.maqbara.com

Kazimar Periya Pallivasal or Kazimar Big Mosque is the oldest mosque in Madurai city, Tamil Nadu, India constructed in the year 1284AD (Hijri 683) and continues to be in existence for more than 7 centuries till today. 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(n) Pandiyan.^[1] The mosque which was the first Muslim place of worship in Madurai.^{[2] [3]} The mosque was managed by Syed Tajuddin during his lifetime followed by his children and descendants hereditarily for more than 7 centuries till today. Almost all of Kazi Syed Tajuddin's descendants (Huqdars of this mosque called as Syeds) have lived in the same locality (Kazimar street) for more than 700 years, and have managed the mosque since then.^[4]

The mosque, which can accommodate about 1,200 people, is within 500 metres of the Periyar (central) bus stand, within one kilometre southeast of Madurai Junction railway station^[5] and 1.5 km southwest of the Meenakshi Temple.