The Shrine of Sheikh Ibrahim (RA) is popularly known as Thagh Baba (RA) Sahib. A small, but glorious, architectural piece of the late Mughal period is seen in utter neglect at the left bank of river Jhelum at Shah Mohalla, Safa Kadal. The single-chambered shrine, basically, is a mausoleum, which, as per local belief, houses the mortal remains of the saint and his other disciples.
Internally, the mausoleum has eight graves in two rows of four. These are covered over by a magnificent set of black marble tombstones, which represent a high degree of craftsmanship. The pattern on which the tombstones are laid is very astonishing. The joints, which existed between the actual grave and the tombstone are quite visible to the extent that a thread passes easily through these joints. The legend goes that two men holding the two extreme ends of a piece of thread, while inserting it from one end of the gap that existed between the actual grave and its tombstone, would take it to the other end without any obstruction. Many devotees of the shrine have experienced it. One wonders what the weight of these large tombstones rests. The tombstones on these graves are imposed by a wonderful mechanism, which seems to be unbelievable. “This well-advanced and well-ornamented set of tombstones is not seen anywhere else,” believe the experts. This type is a bit relevant to the tombstones of Mughal mausoleums of Delhi, Agra and Lahore.
The square-chambered shrine itself is imposed on a nicely formed terrace. The chamber of the mausoleum is formed of highly polished baked Badshahi bricks. The external walls have been given such a glazing finish that even joints are not visible. The chamber also has some arched ventilators, two in each corner.
Presently the structure is roofed unskillfully and it looks as if no set pattern has been followed while restoring its roof. Originally the shrine had a domed roof which, of late, has crumbled externally but internally, its traces are quite visible and seem to be waiting for the fall of the chamber.
As per the local legend, the shrine has been constructed by Aurangzeb Alamgir who is also believed to have raised a stone tomb of the grave of Akhun Mullah Tayub (RA), situated only a few yards away from this shrine.
Although this shrine is a small one, it represents the grace of brick and stonework. Unfortunately, at present, the shrine has turned into a neglected monument. The government as well as the people of the locality too have turned indifferent to it. The carelessness has encouraged boundless encroachments from all sides, which has been causing an alarm to the structure1.
1 Kashmir Heritage Tourism by Iqbal Ahmad, 141-143.