The name of the shrine, Hazrat Bal, is a combination of the Persian word Hazrat meaning "respected" and the Kashmiri word Bal meaning “place''1. Hazrat Bal shrine is situated at a distance of four miles from the city of Srinagar, and this great Muslim shrine commands an excellent view of the Dal Lake. The shrine is known by different names like Assar-e-Sharief, Dargah Sharif and Madinat-us-Sani, and is the epitome of the love and devotion of Muslims for the Prophet. The construction of this shrine started in 1968, under the supervision of Muslim Auqaf Trust's Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. The construction of this white marble edifice with a domed structure was completed in the year 19792.
The mosque has a deep-rooted history that dates back to the 17th century. The place where the mosque stands today was originally the site of Ishrat Mahal and a garden, which were built in 1623 by Shah Jahan's subedar, Sadiq Khan. Upon his arrival in 1634, Shah Jahan ordered the conversion of the palace into a place for offering prayers. When Moi-e-Muqqadas arrived in Kashmir in 1699, it was kept in the Naqashbad Sahib for some time, before becoming a part of the Hazratbal3.
This shrine attracts a large number of Muslims every Friday, and a common prayer is held in the mosque in which thousands of votaries participate4. According to local beliefs, it houses Moi-e-Muqqadas – the sacred hair of Prophet Muhammad's beard. The shrine also experiences an influx of visitors on special occasions, when holy relics are displayed5.