Begum Shahi Mosque

Mosque of Mariam-uz-Zamani Begum
بیگم شاہی مسیت (Punjabi) بیگم شاہی مسجد (Urdu)
Mosque of Mariam-uz-Zamani, commonly known as Begum Shahi Mosque
Religion
Affiliation	Islam
Location
Location	Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Shown within Lahore Show map of Lahore Begum Shahi Mosque (Punjab, Pakistan) Show map of Punjab, Pakistan
Geographic coordinates	31°35′14″N74°19′04″E / 31.587095°N 74.317802°E / 31.587095; 74.317802
Architecture
Type	Mosque
Style	Indo-Islamic, Mughal
Founder	Mariam-uz-Zamani
Funded by	Mariam-uz-Zamani
Groundbreaking	1611
Completed	1614
Specifications
Dome(s)	3
Materials	brick [1]

Begum Shahi Mosque, ^[a] officially the Mosque of Mariyam Zamani Begum, ^[b] is a 17th-century mosque situated in the interior walled city of Lahore in Punjab, Pakistan. Constructed by Mughal empress Mariam-uz-Zamani, ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]} chief consort of Akbar. ^{[9] [10]} The mosque was built between 1611 and 1614 during the reign of Jahangir.

It is Lahore's earliest dated Mughal-era mosque. ^{[11] [12]} It is known for its exquisite fresco decoration of geometric and floral motifs painted on stucco, along with inscriptions of the names of God. ^{[3] [11] [13]}

Islam has taught about the oneness and infinity of God (Ahad), that He is one and He has divine power, and His oneness is self-evident based on His eternity and omnipresence. Masjids project the principle of tawhid by capturing the concepts of God's infinity and oneness, His divine unity (ahadiyya), and the unity of all creation (wahdat al-wujud) in their architectural designs and decorations. This has been achieved using arches and domes and a regular and even division of space, which reflects the harmonious patterns and cosmic unity in the universe. Masjid Maryam Zamani and Wazir Khan Mosques are true examples of such mosques. ^[14]

Background

The mosque was built by Empress Maryam Zamani, an empress of the Mughal Emperor Akbar and the mother of Emperor Jahangir. It was constructed during the early period of Jahangir, in 1023 A.H./1614 A.D., as recorded in a Persian inscription fixed on the facade of the northern gate. ^[2]

Maryam Zamani, a Hindu princess by birth, ^{[15] [16] [17]} married into a Muslim community ^{[18] [19]} and traded on Christian dominated waterways without being constrained by religious impediments. Her status as a sequestered financier provided her with both the adventure of overseas trade and protection from religious restriction. ^[20]

This mosque is known in common memory as 'Begum Shahi Mosque' after one of her titles, 'Shahi Begum' (lit. Empress Consort). ^[21]

Location

The mosque is located close to the old Masti Gate of the Walled City of Lahore, opposite the eastern walls of the Lahore Fort. ^[1]

History

This mosque was built as a Jami mosque for those attending the court. ^[11] Construction began in 1611 and lasted until 1614. ^[12] The mosque remained frequented for prayer by the Mughal nobility and the common man alike for more than two hundred years until it turned into a gunpowder factory. ^[22]

During the Sikh rule in Lahore, this mosque was turned into a gunpowder factory by Ranjit Singh, for which it was then known as Barudkhana Wali Masjid ("Gunpowder Mosque"). ^{[23] [24]} The gunpowder factory established in the mosque had a full-fledged staff working under the supervision of Jawahar Mal Mistri. ^{[22] [1]}

In 1850 A.D., Major McGregor, then Deputy Commissioner of Lahore, restored the mosque to the Muslims, along with shops and houses attached to it, ^{[22] [1]} and it acquired its now official name, "Masjid Mariyam Zamani." ^[25]

Architecture

The dome of the mosque is ornately embellished with Mughal era frescoes.

The Mosque of Wali Nimat Mariam-uz-Zamani Begum represents a transitional phase of architecture and features both Mughal influences and influences from the earlier Pashtun Lodi Dynasty which had previously ruled the region. ^[26] Short domes and wide arches represent the earlier Lodi style, while the mosque's balconies, side rooms, and embellishments are in the Mughal style. ^[1]

The mosque establishes a style that has been seen in subsequent Mughal mosques and buildings: a single-aisled, rectangular space divided into five bays. ^{[7] [27]} The mosque's exterior form belongs to a type long popular in Indo-Islamic architecture. ^[11]

The mosque features Lahore's first five-bay prayer chamber that would later be typical of all later Mughal mosques such as the Wazir Khan Mosque and Badshahi Mosque. The mosque's central bay is in the style of the Persian Char Taq , and is flanked by one smaller dome on either side. ^[28] The mosque originally had 3 gateways, of which 2 survive. ^[11]

Layout

The mosque covers an area of land measuring 135 feet 6 inches by 127 feet 6 inches. It is constructed of brick masonry and rendered with plaster and is a massive structure representing a transitional phase of the architecture between the Lodi and the Mughal periods. It has two entrances through deeply recessed arched gateways on its north and east sides. A flight of four steps in each gateway leads down to the main courtyard, measuring 123 feet by 83 feet. The courtyard was originally enclosed by rows of cells on its north and south, some portion of which still exists. On the east, along the gate, is a 17 feet wide platform on which stands an enclosure consisting of an octagonal domed tomb and some other modern graves.

In the center of the courtyard a tank for ablution measuring 31 feet 5 inches by 26 feet 3 inches, is now much repaired. A modern roof of reinforced Badaun and elsewhere in the subcontinent gives us an idea of their gradual development and the perfection which was achieved during the Mughal period. ^[29]

Design

Interior embellishment

The mosque stands out uniquely for its frescoes, which are significant for their perfect technique and variety of subjects. The mosque featured the earliest dated Iranian motif in Mughal architecture. ^[30]

"These paintings are unrivalled in Pakistan and perhaps in India "for their delicacy and lively variety" and for their harmonious golden tone, which is due only in part to age." ^[3]

— Mortimer Wheeler, Five thousand years of Pakistan

"Never in the history of the architecture of the early Moghul period do we find such an extensive and exclusive use of this type of decoration. The endless variety of geometric floral and inscriptional designs spread over the interior surface in a subtle colour scheme is a characteristic not seen elsewhere." ^[13]

— Ahmad Nabi Khan, Pakistan archaeology no.7

The entire interior surface of the prayer chamber is covered with colourful fresco decoration. At the centre of the main dome is a medallion with radiating stellate and net forms rendered in stucco, completing the exquisite decor of the domes. Similar forms are seen in subsequent Mughal architecture. ^{[11] [7]}

The ceilings of tomb Itimad-ud-Daula, with their richly polychromed net vaulting and stellate forms, are a more refined version of those at Maryam Zamani mosque. ^{[31] [32]} The spectacularly painted prayer chamber of Wazir Khan mosque and its interior, as well as the central pishtaq's recessed arch and stellate vaulting, are richly polychromed using a technique similar to that on Maryam Zamani mosque. ^[33]

This mosque is known for its intricate work and is regarded as the most beautiful of the three great mosques of old Lahore. There is no doubt that the Wazir Khan Mosque is beautiful, as is the huge Badshahi Mosque, but in terms of intricate beauty, none can match the Empress’s Mosque. ^[6]

Inscriptions

The mosque features primarily four inscriptions of Quranic, and non-Quranic origin. ^[12] An inscription over the northern gateway features a Persian inscription which reads: ^{[1] [2]}

God be thanked through whose grace, under the auspices of Her Majesty, this building was completed. The founder of the edifice, the place of salvation, is Queen Mariyam Zamani. For the completion of this edifice, which resembles paradise, I was thinking about when at last I found it in the words "What a fine mosque!"

The courtly mosque architecture of Jahangir's period thus bears the stamp of female patronage. ^[7]

While the inscription over the eastern gateway reads, a prayer of the Empress Mariam-uz-Zamani for her son Jahangir: ^[1]

May the Conqueror of the world, Emperor Nur-ud-Din Muhammad, shine in the world like the sun and moon, oh God!

Over an archway on the northern end of the mosque is a final inscription that reads: ^[1]

So said the Prophet, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, "The faithful in a mosque are as fish in water!"

Conservation

In Pakistan, the mosque has been encroached upon by several shops, and views of the mosque from the Akbari Gate of the Lahore Fort have been obstructed by illegally constructed tire shops. ^[24] In July 2016, the Walled City of Lahore Authority announced that the shops would be removed, and the mosque would also be conserved and restored. ^{[34] [27]}

Gallery

• 
  Entry sign
• 
  Inside Maryam Zamani
• 
  The mosque has richly embellished muqarnas.
• 
  The central fountain and ablution area are covered by a new-build canopy.
• 
• 
• 
  Ablution area

Notes

1. Punjabi: بیگم شاہی مسیت, romanized: Bègam Shā(h)ī Ma'sīt
   Urdu: بیگم شاہی مسجد, romanized: Bèghum Shāhī Masjid)
2. Punjabi: مریم زمانی بیگم دی مسیت, romanized: Marīam Za'māni Bègam dī Ma'sīt
   Urdu: مریم زمانی بیگم کی مسجد, romanized: Maryam Zamāni Bèghum kī Masjid

Bibliography

• Khan, Ahmad Nabi (1970). Pakistan archaeology no.7.
• Asher, Catherine B. (Catherine Blanchard) (1992). Architecture of Mughal India. Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN   978-0-521-26728-1.

References

1. Latif, Syad Muhammad (1892). Lahore: Its History, Architectural Remains and Antiquities. Oxford University: New Imperial Press.
2. Khan 1970, pp. 121, 122, 129.
3. Wheeler, R. E. M. (1950). Five thousand years of Pakistan. p. 83.
4. Schimmel, Annemarie; Waghmar, Burzine K. (2004). The empire of the great Mughals: history, art and culture. London: Reaktion Books. p. 148. ISBN   978-1-86189-185-3.
5. Beveridge, H. (1907). The Akbarnama Of Abul Fazl Vol. 2. p. 506.
6. "Harking back: The Empress and her two doomed pilgrim ships". 11 April 2021.
7. Koch, Ebba (1990). Mughal architecture. p. 83.
8. Mughal gardens : sources, places, representations, and prospects. Washington, D.C.: Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection. 1996. p. 155. ISBN   978-0-88402-235-0.
9. Mehta, J.L. (1981). Advance Study in the history of Medieval India. Vol. II. Sterling Publisher Private Limited. ISBN   8120704320. Bihari Mal gave rich dowry to his daughter and sent his son Bhagwan Das with a contingent of Rajput soldiers to escort his newly married sister to Agra as per Hindu custom. Akbar was deeply impressed by the highly dignified, sincere and princely conduct of his Rajput relations. He took Man Singh, the youthful son of Bhagwant Das into the royal service. Akbar was fascinated by the charm and accomplishments of his Rajput wife; he developed real love for her and raised her to the status of chief queen. She came to exercise profound impact on the socio-cultural environment of the entire royal household and changed the lifestyle of Akbar. Salim (later Jahangir), the heir to the throne, was born of this wedlock on 30th August 1569.
10. Hindu Shah, Muhammad Qasim. Gulshan-I-Ibrahimi. p. 223.
11. Asher 1992, pp. 116–117.
12. "Begum Shahi Masjid". Pakistan Today. 12 March 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
13. Khan 1970, p. 126.
14. Hashmi, Arsala (2018). "Philosophy of Interior Design in Mughal Era Mosques of Lahore: A case study of Maryam Zamani and Wazir Khan Mosques". Journal of Art, Architecture and Built Environment. 01 (2): 57. doi: 10.32350/jaabe.12.04 . ISSN   2617-2690. S2CID   116177297.
15. Chandra, Satish (2007). History of Medieval India: 800-1700. Orient BlackSwan. p. 243. ISBN   978-81-250-3226-7.
16. Eraly, Abraham; Eraly, Abraham Last spring (2000). Emperors of the peacock throne : the saga of the great Mughals. Library Genesis. New Delhi, India; New York : Penguin Books. p. 136. ISBN   978-0-14-100143-2.
17. Mehta, Jl. Advanced Study in the History of Medieval India. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. p. 374. ISBN   978-81-207-1015-3.
18. Collier, Dirk (1 March 2016). The Great Mughals and their India. Hay House, Inc. ISBN   978-93-84544-98-0.
19. Tirmizi, S. A. I. (1979). Edicts from the Mughal Harem. Idarah-i Adabiyat-i Delli. p. 14.
20. Findly, Ellison B. (1988). "The Capture of Maryam-uz-Zamānī's Ship: Mughal Women and European Traders". Journal of the American Oriental Society. 108 (2): 238. doi:10.2307/603650. ISSN   0003-0279. JSTOR   603650. Maryam-uz- Zamani herself, however, remained untouched by the apostasy issue. There is no record of any question being raised about her position as a ship's owner under the Portuguese Pass; neither her religious status as a wife and then mother of a Muslim emperor nor the Hindu tradition of her birth seem to have been jeopardised by her involvement in sea trade in Christian waters. Rather, her position as a sequestered financier allowed her both the adventure of foreign trade and the protection from the religious restrictions such an enterprise might entail.
21. Lowe, W. H. (1884). Muntakhab - Ut - Tawarikh Vol. 2. p. 112.
22. Khan 1970, pp. 132–133.
23. Qureshi, Tania. "Masjid Mariam Zamani — the 'mother of all mosques'". Daily Times. During the Sikh era this splendid mosque was turned into a gunpowder factory and it became popular as Barood Khana Wali Masjid (the mosque with gun powder). In 1850 the British Raj handed over the mosque to the Muslims who restored it to its original glory.
24. "A visual delight – Maryam Zamani and Wazir Khan Mosques". Dawn. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
25. Sheikh, Majid (25 November 2018). "Harking back: 'Baroodkhana' mosque, its bazaar and the 'haveli'". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
26. Khan 1970, p. 124.
27. Ahmed, Shoaib (6 October 2021). "Maryam Zamani Mosque undergoing restoration". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
28. Gibb, H. A. R. (1954). The Encyclopaedia of Islam. Brill Archive. ISBN   9004064710 . Retrieved 30 August 2016.
29. Khan 1970, pp. 124–126.
30. Asher 1992, pp. 116, 132.
31. Asher 1992, p. 131.
32. Koch, Ebba (1983). Jahangir and the Angels: Recently Discovered Wall Paintings Under European Influence in the Fort of Lahore. p. 176.
33. Asher 1992, pp. 225–226.
34. "Mariam Zamani Mosque to be restored". The Nation (Pakistan). 26 July 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.