KHAIRUL MANAZIL MASJID

The Mughal architecture dominates the North Indian landscape with numerous mausoleums, forts, and gardens. However, there are some that are forgotten by the common masses and one architecture was Khairul Manazil Masjid.

Khairul Manazil Masjid

“Aankh se dur na ho dil se utar jayega, waqt ka kya h guzarta hai guzar jayega.” – Ahmad Faraz

The niches of the broken structure, the carvings of a forgotten wall, the creative spell of ancient architecture, the love portrayed by the commissioned mother- such are the feelings and thoughts that capture the mind of a visitor to one of the oldest mosques in the national capital.

The Mughal architecture dominates the North Indian landscape with numerous forts, mausoleums, gardens, or market complexes. However, various structures are hidden within this landscape, which might be accessible to the common eye but forgotten in front of the demeanour and grandeur of architecture as Purana Quila, Red Fort, Agra Fort, and many more. One such forgotten story is of a Mausoleum constructed right next to the Old Fort by the wet nurse of Akbar- Maham Anga. And, this is the Khairul Manazil Masjid.

Khairul Manazil Masjid, or ‘the most auspicious houses’ was built in 1561 by Shihabuddin Ahmad Khan, the relative of Maham Anga and an influential minister. At the age of 13, Akbar had to fulfill the responsibility of taking over the Empire after his father died unexpectedly. This meant an increase in the position of power and status of those taking care of Akbar and the ones who helped him take decisions as an Emperor. Among those few was Maham Anga, the foster mother and Akbar’s political advisor.

Some of the accounts gathered from the Mughal era suggest Khairul Manazil Masjid to be Delhi’s first Mughal Mosque and the first mosque to be commissioned by a woman. However, one has very little knowledge of how the mosque was utilised. The mosque has five arched openings made up of rubble covered in plaster. A dominating red sandstone gateway and the broken and scared pieces of enameled tiling suggest the grandeur of the mausoleum.

As of now, we know that this particular structure was more than just a mausoleum to some. It turned into a Madrasa later and during the Independence Struggle, it is believed that few revolutionaries hid in this shaded structure and, once the British got to know about them, they bombed the place. One can see the traces of those bombings even today.

Time is a paradoxical stance. Where one thing gets glorified over the years, some parts are forgotten and they face the scars time leaves. Once standing in all its glory, Khairul Manzil Masjid now faces the ravages of time with scribbles all over the place, walls caving in, and the tiles turning black and broken.

The masjid has received attention from the Archaeological Survey of India, where they consider Khairul Manazil Masjid as a Protected Monument. However, it is the touch of human love and attention that the Masjid craves.