Masjid-i Jahan-Numa
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Quick Facts
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The Masjid-i Jahan-Numa (Persian: مسجد جھان نما, 'World-reflecting Mosque'), commonly known as the Jama Masjid (Urdu: جامع مسجد) of Delhi, is the principal mosque of Old Delhi in India. Commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, built this mosque in the year 1650 AD and completed in the year 1656 AD, it is the largest and best-known mosque in India.
The later name, Jama Masjid, refers to the weekly Friday noon congregation prayers of Muslims, Jummah, which are usually done in a mosque, the "Congregational mosque" or "Jami' Masjid". The courtyard of the mosque can hold up to twenty-five thousand worshippers. The mosque also houses several relics in a closet in the north gate, including an antique copy of the Qur'an written on deer skin.
The later name, Jama Masjid, refers to the weekly Friday noon congregation prayers of Muslims, Jummah, which are usually done in a mosque, the "Congregational mosque" or "Jami' Masjid". The courtyard of the mosque can hold up to twenty-five thousand worshippers. The mosque also houses several relics in a closet in the north gate, including an antique copy of the Qur'an written on deer skin.
History Of Masjid-i Jahan-Numa
Shahjahan, 5th Mughal Emperor
The foundation of the historic Jama Masjid was laid on a hillock in Shahjahanabad by the fifth Mughal Emperor of India, Shahjahan, on Friday, October 19, 1650 AD (10th Shawwal, 1060 AH). The mosque was the result of the efforts of over 6,000 workers, over a period of six years (1650–1656 AD). The Jama Masjid was completed under the supervision of Saadullah Khan, the Prime Minister of Shah Jahan.
The cost of the construction in those times was 10 lakh (1 million) Rupees. Emperor Shahjahan also built the Taj Mahal, at Agra and the Red Fort in New Delhi, which stands opposite the Jama Masjid. The Jama Masjid was completed in 1656 AD (1066 AH), with three great gates, four towers and two 40 m-high minarets constructed of strips of red sandstone and white marble. About 25,000 people can pray here at a time. The mosque has a vast paved rectangular courtyard, which is nearly 75 m by 66 m. The whole of the western chamber is a big hall standing on 260 pillars all carved from Hindu and Jain traditions. The central courtyard is accessible from the East. The Eastern side entrance leads to another enclosure containing the mausoleum of Sultan Ahmed Shah.
Shah Jahan built several important mosques in Delhi, Agra, Ajmer and Lahore. The Jama Masjid's floorplan is very similar to the Jama Masjid, Fatehpur Sikri near Agra, but the Jama Masjid in Delhi is the bigger and more imposing of the two. Its Badshahi Mosque of Lahore built by Shah Jahan's son Aurangzeb in 1673 is closely related to the Jama Masjid at Raipur.
The cost of the construction in those times was 10 lakh (1 million) Rupees. Emperor Shahjahan also built the Taj Mahal, at Agra and the Red Fort in New Delhi, which stands opposite the Jama Masjid. The Jama Masjid was completed in 1656 AD (1066 AH), with three great gates, four towers and two 40 m-high minarets constructed of strips of red sandstone and white marble. About 25,000 people can pray here at a time. The mosque has a vast paved rectangular courtyard, which is nearly 75 m by 66 m. The whole of the western chamber is a big hall standing on 260 pillars all carved from Hindu and Jain traditions. The central courtyard is accessible from the East. The Eastern side entrance leads to another enclosure containing the mausoleum of Sultan Ahmed Shah.
Shah Jahan built several important mosques in Delhi, Agra, Ajmer and Lahore. The Jama Masjid's floorplan is very similar to the Jama Masjid, Fatehpur Sikri near Agra, but the Jama Masjid in Delhi is the bigger and more imposing of the two. Its Badshahi Mosque of Lahore built by Shah Jahan's son Aurangzeb in 1673 is closely related to the Jama Masjid at Raipur.
Architecture & Design
Designed by Ustad Khali, the mosque is a marvellous facade of eleven arches decorated with marbles. It has three gateways, four towers and two minarets.
The courtyard of the mosque can be reached from the east, north and south by three flights of steps, all built of red sandstone. From the North gate there are 39 steps from South gate there are 33 steps and from the main entrance i.e. Eastern gate there are 35 steps.
The main entrance is on the eastern side facing the Red Fort which was used by the emperor. These steps used to house food stalls, shops and street entertainers. The mosque faces south.
The tower of the mosque has five storeys with a projecting balcony on each floor. The topmost storey is made of marble, the rest with sandstone. Three full domes crown the main prayer hall.
The Jama Masjid is built on a red sandstone porch, about 30 feet (10 m) from the level of the ground and is about 1400 square yards (1200 m²) in extent.
Two lofty minarets, 130 feet (41 m) high, and containing 130 steps, longitudinally striped with white marble and red sandstone, flank the domes on either side. The minarets are divided by three projecting galleries and are surmounted by open twelve-sided domed pavilions. Under the domes of the mosque, is a hall with seven arched entrances facing the west and the walls of the mosque, up to the height of the waist, are covered with marble. Beyond this is a prayer hall, which is about 61 meters X 27.5 meters, with eleven arched entrances, of which the centre arch is wide and lofty, and in the form of a massive gateway, with slim minarets in each corner, with the usual octagonal pavilion surmounting it. Over these arched entrances there are tablets of white marble, four feet (1.2 m) long and 2.5 feet (760 mm) wide, inlaid with inscriptions in black marble. The mosque stands on a platform of about five feet (1.5 m) from the pavement of the terrace, and three flight of steps lead to the interior of the mosque from the east, north, and the south. The floor of the mosque is covered with white and black marble ornamented to imitate the Muslim prayer mat; a thin black marble border is marked for the worshippers, which is three feet long and 1 ½ feet wide. In total there are 899 such spaces marked in the floor of the mosque.
The north gate of the mosque houses a collection of Prophet Mohammad’s relics. One gets to see the copy of the Holy Quran written on deer skin, a strand from the Prophet’s beard, his sandals and foot prints on marble.
The courtyard of the mosque can be reached from the east, north and south by three flights of steps, all built of red sandstone. From the North gate there are 39 steps from South gate there are 33 steps and from the main entrance i.e. Eastern gate there are 35 steps.
The main entrance is on the eastern side facing the Red Fort which was used by the emperor. These steps used to house food stalls, shops and street entertainers. The mosque faces south.
The tower of the mosque has five storeys with a projecting balcony on each floor. The topmost storey is made of marble, the rest with sandstone. Three full domes crown the main prayer hall.
The Jama Masjid is built on a red sandstone porch, about 30 feet (10 m) from the level of the ground and is about 1400 square yards (1200 m²) in extent.
Two lofty minarets, 130 feet (41 m) high, and containing 130 steps, longitudinally striped with white marble and red sandstone, flank the domes on either side. The minarets are divided by three projecting galleries and are surmounted by open twelve-sided domed pavilions. Under the domes of the mosque, is a hall with seven arched entrances facing the west and the walls of the mosque, up to the height of the waist, are covered with marble. Beyond this is a prayer hall, which is about 61 meters X 27.5 meters, with eleven arched entrances, of which the centre arch is wide and lofty, and in the form of a massive gateway, with slim minarets in each corner, with the usual octagonal pavilion surmounting it. Over these arched entrances there are tablets of white marble, four feet (1.2 m) long and 2.5 feet (760 mm) wide, inlaid with inscriptions in black marble. The mosque stands on a platform of about five feet (1.5 m) from the pavement of the terrace, and three flight of steps lead to the interior of the mosque from the east, north, and the south. The floor of the mosque is covered with white and black marble ornamented to imitate the Muslim prayer mat; a thin black marble border is marked for the worshippers, which is three feet long and 1 ½ feet wide. In total there are 899 such spaces marked in the floor of the mosque.
The north gate of the mosque houses a collection of Prophet Mohammad’s relics. One gets to see the copy of the Holy Quran written on deer skin, a strand from the Prophet’s beard, his sandals and foot prints on marble.
