Mosque Architecture in Delhi: Continuity and Change in Its Morphology
Mosque Architecture in Delhi: Continuity and Change in Its Morphology
net/publication/267627164
CITATIONS READS
0 1,058
1 author:
Asif Ali
Aligarh Muslim University
17 PUBLICATIONS 17 CITATIONS
SEE PROFILE
Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:
Development of Mosque Architecture in North India and its Influence on Malaysian Mosques View project
All content following this page was uploaded by Asif Ali on 01 November 2014.
Asif Ali*
ABSTRACT
This paper presents the summary of a recently
completed dissertation by the author keeping in view the
objectives viz.
1) to study and identify the essential elements of the
mosque, their meanings and their functions,
2) to study the evolution of the mosque architecture in
Delhi from early Islamic period to present time and
3) to identify and establish the continuity and the
change in the morphology of the mosque in Delhi
and the factors which influenced its development
through time.
To answer the research question and to accomplish
the objectives mentioned above, following methodologies
were adopted.
In order to view the continuity and changes in the
mosque architecture in Delhi, it seemed essential to
study their historical enquiry. It was not only the survey
of the historical mosque but the approach was to
understand the future of mosque architecture through
their past. This enquiry allowed us to observe the
evolution of the mosque architecture and the study of its
different elements.
Almost 28 representative mosques were studied,
beginning from the very first mosque built in Delhi up to
the present-day mosques. The mosques were selected on
the basis of their chronology, at least one from each
dynasty of Muslim rule in Delhi or representing a
particular typology. Contemporary mosques were
selected from several clusters of Muslim population in
East, West and South Delhi. The selection criteria of a
contemporary mosque were based on a public survey of
each region. The people were asked to mention the name
5) Chinese Type
The Chinese mosque typology is characterized by
the series of courtyards intertwined with gable roof
timber structures (Fig.5). The precedents for the form of
a Chinese mosque are the house, temples and palaces of
the region.
2) Mihrab (Niche)
It is a niche placed generally in the centre of the
Qibla wall of the main prayer hall. The early mosques
and even prophet’s (SAW) mosque did not have Mihrab.
It was introduced by the Caliph Al-Walid I in the
Prophet’s (SAW) mosque later (Peterson, 2002, p. 186).
The Mihrab was always an ornamental element and
sometimes multiple Mihrabs were also included. Mihrab
points toward the Qibla (Fig.7).
5) Calligraphy
Calligraphy is also a significant decorative element
in the mosques because of the prohibition of figurative
presentation. Apart from their aesthetic value these,
sacred Qu'ranic writings have their symbolic meaning
too.
3) Tughlak’s period
During this period, grey sandstone was replaced to
red sand stone and mosques were having less
ornamentation (Chandra, 2012). Begumpuri mosque
based the Iranian model has a prayer hall on the
western side of the courtyard and domed arcades on rest
of the three sides with an entrance at the centre (Fig.13).
The prayer hall consists of a projected Iwan with
tapering turrets and flanked by two domed aisles. Khirki
mosque and Kalan Mosque at Hazrat Nizamuddin have
4) Lodi’s Period
A single nave prayer hall was evolved during Lodi’s
period. It was a departure from the previous hypostyle
prayer hall type mosque. Bara Gumbud Mosque is the
one of the earliest models of these kinds of mosques.
This characteristic was continued till the late Mughal
period and the reason was advancement in the
development of an unusual type of arch which was
evolved during late Tughlaq’s period. Moth ki Masjid has
a similar plan as that of Sikander Lodi’s mosque but has
a façade with better proportions.
5) Mughal’s Period
Jamali Kamali Mosque built by Sheikh Fazal al Allah
in 1528-29 AD is one of the most beautiful mosques of
Babur’s period. The early mosques of Mughal’s period
are single domed, two aisles on both the sides with
projected Pishtaq from the wings and fluted small
circular towers are framing the central Pishtaq having
calligraphic inscription of Qur’an. Sometimes, the
mosques have a separate entrance for royal family
members but the architectural characteristics of these
Fig.16.Lal Masjid
CONCLUSION
The author observed the following salient findings of
the dissertation.
1) In Delhi, the glory of mosque architecture reached at
its zenith under the sovereignty of Mughals during
medieval period. With the declination of Mughals,
the patronage of mosques passed on from the rulers
to the influential people of the society.
2) During British period, the artisans continued the
architectural style of later Mughal period. However,
they seemed to be experimenting with comparatively
smaller mosques built in inexpensive materials.
3) In modern time, the mosque architecture has been
developed generally by common people without
involvement of formally trained architects and
technical advisors. The haphazard construction due
to lack of funding and absence of supervision led the
mosque architecture into a poor state in the region
with few exceptions. The mere act of applying arches
on the façade which even are sometimes not well
proportioned with the whole structure has been a
Arabasque Pattern
Geometric Pattern
Framed Structure
Muezzin’s Room
Delhi Quartzite
Cement Plaster
Mimber(Pulpit)
Mihrab(Niche)
No. of Bays in
No. Of Domes
Ablution Area
Load Bearing
Imam’sRoom
Lime Surkhi
Calligraphy
Prayer Hall
No. of Aisle
Courtyard
Trabeated
Minerates
Verandah
Arcuated
Marble
Domes
Arches
S. No
Finial
Toilet
Jaali
NAME OF THEMOSQUE Period
Quwwatul Islam
Late 12th
1 Mosque, Mehrali, New • • • • • • 1 • • • • •
Cent.
Delhi
Tohfewala Gumbad
2 Mosque, ShahpurJat, 13th Cent • • • • • • • 1 • • •
New Delhi
Qila-e-kohna mosque,
10 16th Cent. • • • 5 • • • 1 • • • • •
New Delhi
Khairul Manazil
11 16th Cent. • • • 3 • • • 1 • • • •
mosque, New Delhi
Masjid Kahkashan,
22 • • • 7 5 • • • • • • 1 • • • • •
Okhla Vihar, New Delhi
BilalMasjid,
23 1990s • • 3 8 • • • • • • 1 • • • • •
Seelampur, Delhi
Madina Masjid,
25 1990s • • • • 5 8 • • • • • • 1 • • • • • •
Jafrabad, Delhi
Table-1