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Qutb Complex: Quwwat-Ul-Islam Mosque and Iron Pillar

Quwwat-Ul-Islam Mosque

Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque (Strength of Islam), also known as the Qutub Mosque or the Great Mosque of Delhi, to the north-east of minar was built by Qutbu'd-Din Aibak in AD 1198. It is the earliest extant mosque built by the Delhi Sultans.

It consists of a rectangular courtyard enclosed by cloisters, erected with the carved columns and architectural members of 27 Hindu and Jain temples which were demolished by Qutbu'd-Din Aibak as recorded in his inscription on the main eastern entrance.

The mosque is built on a raised and paved courtyard, measuring 141 ft (43 m). X 105 ft (32 m), surrounded by pillared cloisters added by Iltutmish between 1210 and 1220 AD. The stone screen between prayer hall and the courtyard, stood 16 mt at its highest was added in 1196 AD, the corbelled arches had Arabic inscriptions and motifs. Entrances to the courtyard, also uses ornate mandap dome from temples, whose pillars are used extensively throughout the edifice, and in the sanctuary beyond the tall arched screens.

What survives today of the sanctuary on the western side are the arched screens in between, which once led to a series of aisles with low-domed ceilings for worshippers. Expansion of the mosque continued after the death of Qutb.

Qutbuddin's successor Iltutmish, extended the original prayer hall screen by three more arches. By the time of Iltutmish, the Mamluk empire had stabilised enough that the Sultan could replace most of his conscripted Hindu masons with Muslims. This explains why the arches added under Iltutmish are stylistically more Islamic than the ones erected under Qutb's rule, also because the material used wasn't from demolished temples.

According to a Persian inscription still on the inner eastern gateway, the mosque was built by the parts taken by destruction of twenty-seven Hindu and Jain temples built previously during Tomars and Prithvi Raj Chauhan, and leaving certain parts of the temple outside the mosque proper.

Historical records compiled by Muslim historian Maulana Hakim Saiyid Abdul Hai attest to the iconoclasm of Qutb-ud-din Aybak. This pattern of iconoclasm was common during his reign, although an argument goes that such iconoclasm was motivated more by politics than by religion.

Close to the mosque is one of Delhi's most curious antiques, the Iron Pillar.

Iron Pillar

The 7 m-high iron pillar stands in the courtyard of the mosque. It is said that if you can encircle it with your hands while standing with your back to it your wish will be fulfilled.

The pillar carries a number of inscriptions and graffiti of different dates which have not been studied systematically despite the pillar's prominent location and easy access. The oldest inscription on the pillar is in Sanskrit, written in Gupta-period Brahmi script. This states that the pillar was erected as a standard in honour of Vishnu.

A deep socket on the top of the ornate capital indicates that probably an image of Garuda was fixed into it

Other monuments of the Qutb Complex

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Source of information: Wikipedia, QutubMinar.in, Delhi Tourism
Pictures: Copyright (c) HyM Photography

Qutb Complex: Tomb of Iltumish and Imam Zamin

Tomb of Shams-ud-din Iltutmish

Shams-ud-din Iltutmish was the third ruler of the Slave dynasty. He founded the Delhi Sultanate in 1211 and received the Caliph's investure in his rule. He conquered Multan and Bengal from contesting rulers, and Ranathambhore and Siwalik from the Hindis.

The main cenotaph, in white marble, is placed on a raised platform in the centre of the chamber. The facade is known for its ornate carving, both at the entrance and the interior walls.

The central chamber is a 9 mt sq. and has squinches, suggesting the existence of a dome, which has since collapsed.

The interior west wall has a prayer niche (mihrab) decorated with marble, and a rich amalgamation of Hindu motives into Islamic architecture, such as bell-and-chain, tassel, lotus, diamond emblems.

Tomb of Imam Zamin

An octagonal tomb of Turkestani iman who was based in the mosque during the reign of Sikandar Lodi.

Imam Muhammad Ali or Imam Zamin came to Delhi from Turkestan in the reign of Sikandar Lodi (A.D. 1489-1517). He built this mausoleum in his life time and died in A.D. 1539. It is surmounted by a dome of sandstone covered with plaster and rising from an octagonal drum. Its sides are carved with perforated screens, characteristic of the Lodi period.

Other monuments of the Qutb Complex

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Source of information: Wikipedia, QutubMinar.in, Delhi Tourism
Pictures: Copyright (c) HyM Photography

Qutb Complex: Alai Minar and Alai Darwaza

Alai Minar

Alai Minar is an incomplete monument.

Alauddin Khilji started building the Alai Minar, after he had doubled the size of Quwwat ul-Islam mosque. He conceived this tower to be two times higher than Qutb Minar in proportion with the enlarged mosque. The construction was however abandoned, just after the completion of the 24.5-metre-high (80 ft) first-story core; soon after death of Ala-ud-din in 1316, and never taken up by his successors of Khilji dynasty. The first story of the Alai Minar, a giant rubble masonry core, still stands today, which was evidently intended to be covered with dressed stone later on. Noted Sufi poet and saint of his times, Amir Khusro in his work, Tarikh-i-Alai, mentions Ala-ud-din's intentions to extend the mosque and also constructing another minar.

Gate of Alai Minar

The first floor construction of the Alai Minar was completed and measured 24.5 metres high, but unfortunately, the construction was abandoned after the demise of Sultan Ala-ud-din Khalji in 1316 AD. His subsequent successors could never contribute to its completion as they were defeated, post which the Delhi Sultanate was seized by the Tughlaq dynasty.

The actual conception date of the Alai Minar is not known, however, it is noted that during the reign of the Khilji dynasty, Amir Khusro, a renowned Sufi poet did make a mention of its date of construction, in one of his works referred to as the ‘Tareekh-i-Alai’. It states that the Alai Minar took shape in 1253 AD in Patiali, situated in Northern India.

Alai Darwaza

The Alai Darwaza is the main gateway from southern side of the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque. It was built by the second Khilji Sultan of Delhi, Ala-ud-din Khilji in 1311 AD, who also added a court to the pillared to the eastern side.

The Alai Darwaza is the main gate from the southern side of the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque in the Qutub Minar complex .Built by Allaudin Khilji the Sultan of Delhi in 1311 AD, the Alai Darwaza has a domed entrance which is constructed using red sandstone and is adorned with white marble.