World’s largest mosque for 313 years!
On February 20, 1707, died the 88-year old Aurangzeb in Ahmednagar, India, leaving behind a huge empire he had established over 49 years of his rule. Despite the great expansion of the empire, his constant military campaigns and religious intolerance infuriated many of his nobles and courtiers. During his reign the Mughal empire reached its greatest magnitude. This was Abul Muzaffar Muhi-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb, known as Aurangzeb Alamgir, one of the Great Mughals, son of the Emperor Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal, and father of the last Mughal Bahadur Shah Zafar. Unlike his father, Aurangzeb was not much interested in architecture, rather was known to be of a more ascetic nature and being religious he encouraged Islamic calligraphy.
What did Aurangzeb leave behind for us? One of the remains is the jewel we treasure today as one of the largest monuments, the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, which for 313 years was the world’s largest Mosque. Aurangzeb constructed a small marble mosque known as the Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) in the Red Fort in Delhi, a mosque in Banaras and the one in Srinagar is still the largest in Kashmir.
Constructed between 1671 and 1673, under the supervision of Fida’i Khan Koka, Aurangzeb’s brother-in-law and the governor of Lahore, it was originally planned as a site to safeguard a strand of the last Prophet’s (PBUH) hair
Constructed between 1671 and 1673, under the supervision of Fida’i Khan Koka, Aurangzeb’s brother-in-law and the governor of Lahore, it was originally planned as a site to safeguard a strand of the last Prophet’s (PBUH) hair. Its magnificence is influenced by the Jama Masjid of Delhi which was built by Shah Jahan.
The mosque was constructed just a few hundred meters to the west of Lahore Fort. The Alamgiri Gate facing the mosque was added to the fort and the space in between, a garden, was used as a parade ground where Aurangzeb would observe his troops. Later the garden was turned into the splendid Hazuri Bagh. The garden was built on a lower level from the mosque to help prevent flooding from the Ravi flowing near it. At present the majestic mosque is a view that attracts thousands of tourists visiting the Fort Road Food Street and Lahore Fort.
The exterior of the mosque is decorated with stone carving as well as marble inlay on red sandstone, especially of lotus form motifs in bold relief. The embellishment has Indo-Greek, Central Asian and Indian architectural influence both in technique and motifs. The skyline is furnished by beautiful ornamental merlons inlaid with marble lining, adding grace to the perimeter of the mosque. Merlons are the solid upright section of a castle parapet.
The huge three sided steps leading to the magnificent gate of the prayer chamber are made of marble. Entering the gate is the vast courtyard. The interior of the mosque has rich ornamentation in stucco tracery and panelling with fresco motifs and marble inlay. Within the courtyard, the prayer hall features four minarets that duplicate the four minarets at each corner of the mosque’s outskirts. The main prayer hall is divided into seven sections by means of multi-foiled arches supported on heavy pillars, three of which bear the white marble double domes. The remaining four sections are covered with flat domes.
The original floor of the courtyard was laid with small kiln-burnt bricks laid in the Musallah pattern (prayer rugs pattern). The present red sandstone flooring was re-laid during the repairs from 1939-60. The original floor of the prayer chamber was also replaced by marble Musallah during the repairs. There are only two inscriptions in the mosque: one on the gateway and another of Kalmah in the prayer chamber under the main high vault.
Near the steps of the Badshahi Mosque lies the tomb of the Poet of the East Dr Sir Allama Muhammad lqbal. The tomb near the entrance of the mosque was constructed as a mark of respect and reverence to the great man.
Although the mosque was built during the decline of Mughal rule, its exquisiteness, grace, and grandeur reflects the Mughal cultural achievement
As historic accounts state, the grand mosque witnessed seasons; it remained under different usage during the Sikh and British Raj. During the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the Hujras (cells) around the outer boundary were occupied by his soldiers. Ranjit Singh himself used the adjacent Hazuri Bagh as his official Royal Court. Some years later, a moderate earthquake struck Lahore and collapsed the marble towers at the top of each minaret. The open towers served as gun emplacements during the Sikh civil war.
The British continued to use the Badshahi Mosque as a military garrison. In 1852 the British established the Badshahi Mosque Authority for its restoration so it could be returned to Muslims as a place of worship. In 1939 massive repairs began under the supervision of architect Nawab Zen Yar Jang Bahadur. The repairs continued until 1960 and were completed at a cost of Rs4.8 million.
Later, the Samadhi of Maharaja Ranjit Singh was added next to the mosque using its walls and the only remaining Mughal Era Gate, the Roshnai Gate.
Although the mosque was built during the decline of Mughal rule, its exquisiteness, grace, and grandeur reflects the Mughal cultural achievement. Thousands throng here every year to admire these features.
