Nawab Wazir Khan served as the Governor of Lahore till the year 1639 A.D. It has been described as "a mole on the cheek of Lahore." If you’ve ever visited the Wazir Khan Mosque in Lahore, you’ll have seen the beautiful, complex and colourful frescoes all over the walls and ceilings of the mosque. He commissioned the mosque to be built to enclose the site of the tomb of a 14th century sufi saint, Syed Muhammad Ishaq Gazruni or as he’s more commonly known, Miran Badshah. A post shared by SACRED FOOTSTEPS (@sacredfootsteps) on Jan 8, 2019 at 1:55pm PST. My eyes followed the lines and found the geometric star at the centre of the courtyard. The construction began in 1634 and was completed over the course of seven years. Essentially, the mosque serves to compel its visitor to remember the Love (. Main Prayers Area of Wazir Khan Mosque The main reason Ansari decided to build this mosque where he did was to honor the great Sufi sage MiranBadshah. One of the most distinguishing aspects of the Wazir Khan mosque is the erection of minarets at its four corners and this plan was employed for the first time in Lahore. I had an idea as to why this mosque was special but I knew it could only be confirmed upon visiting. This is Pakistan! Guest6125 The Wazir Khan Mosque in Lahore, Pakistan, is famous for its extensive faience tile work. Watercolour of the mosque of Wazir Khan in Lahore, Pakistan, by an anonymous artist working in the Punjab style, c. 1860. Wazir Khan Mosque is located in Lahore and the direct opposite of the Wazir Khan Chowk near the Delhi Gate Lahore. All Rights Reserved. Wazir Khan Mosque is an eternal masterpiece of architecture with a masterful blending of magical calligraphy, geometrical forms and floral decorations into its structural fiber which has turned the mosque into a paragon of artistic beauty, balance and grandness for the generations to come. Wazir Khan mosque was built in 1634 by Shaikh Ilm-ud-din Ansari, Viceroy of Punjab under Shah Jahan. Masjid Wazir Khan was built in the reign of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Before Badshahi Mosque, Wazir Khan Mosque was considered as Imperial Jamia Masjid where kings used to offer their Jummah Prayer. The royally adorned building, once an exclusive space for the king, opened to the community and continues today as a place for the public to worship. Highlights of Pakistan | Wazir Khan Mosque. (ornamental vaulting)? We are also committed to challenging Orientalist narratives in travel writing and photography, and showcasing the work of writers and photographers whose work actively seeks to 'reclaim' the narrative. The Mosque was built by Hakim Ilamuddin Ansari who was the, (minister/governor) appointed by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for the region of Punjab; he became widely known as Wazir Khan. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. It was built in seven years, starting around 1634–1635 AD, during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan. Wazir Khan Mosque (Photo: Archnet) The Wazir Khan Mosque ensemble in the Walled City of Lahore, Pakistan, was built in 1634 during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (r. 1628-1658). It is here that the mosque was built and Wazir Khan also created a bathhouse (Shahi Hammam) and also several commercial buildings all along the road leading to the mosque. A.D. Only a short walk away from the Lahore Fort, the mosque holds great significance as the Emperor Shahjehan used to offer his Friday congregational prayers in Wazir Khan Mosque. Dec 31, 2016 - Explore farzana jabeen's board "Wazir Khan Mosque Pakistan" on Pinterest. The Mosque was built by Hakim Ilamuddin Ansari who was the wazir (minister/governor) appointed by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for the region of Punjab; he became widely known as Wazir Khan. In 1887, Kipling (John Lockwood, father of Rudyard) discussed the mosque, its founder, and in particular, its glazed … If you enjoy our content and believe in our vision, please consider supporting us financially by either becoming a Patron - or making a one-off contribution to Sacred Footsteps. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Thus both are examples of “Mughal” architecture - but in almost every other aspect they are significantly different. The name Wazir Khan Mosque ensues from the visionary who built it. We know that God loves beauty, and just as you’ve feasted your eyes over the majesty of it all, as you’re about to leave the mosque and you look up one last time, the Persian inscription atop the exit reads: I am excited to look back and reflect on other mosques I’ve visited and apply Mumtaz’s analysis on spiritual design intentions. Below, the east-west section of the Mosque. These are reflections that have developed over time with further reading and obsessively looking back at my photos. In case you were wondering where the name “Wazir Khan” comes from, it’s actually a reference … Nawab Wazir Khan served as the Governor of Lahore till the year 1639 A.D. But on my most recent trip, things were different (see #PakistanVapsi photoseries); I was coming out of six months of working in Dhaka during which time I traveled through parts of Bangladesh, India, and Myanmar. Even the grills are in terra-cotta. The floral patterns and designs are highly symmetrical and appear in synchronic waves bestowing a sense of tranquillity to the echoing halls of the mosque. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Inscribed in Persian characters: 'Masjid i Wazir Khan.' The marble fountain in the centre and the 32 hujras or meditation rooms in the eastern and southern sides of the courtyard have come out exquisitely well. When the Mongols brutally sacked Baghdad in 1258, Start typing to see results or hit ESC to close, This site uses cookies and by continuing to browse it you agree to us sending you cookies. For more on our cookies and changing your settings, Dada Masiti: The Rabia Al Adawiyya of East Africa. https://www.youlinmagazine.com/story/wazir-khan-mosque/NjE3 There was one mosque that especially captivated me; incessant Instagram searches meant that my expectations of the Wazir Khan Mosque had ballooned up, and I wanted to spend enough time there to see if they would be met. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Ansari hailed from humble origins in the town of Chiniot in the Jhang district of the Punjab. The courtyard is divided into two parts : the upper part is about 6" higher than … Later, he became the Governor of Lahore. 10 m Above right, the eastern facade of the main prayer chamber of Wazir Khan Mosque while a detail, on the left, shows the intricate tile-work on the same facade. It’s powerful, beautifully designed and comes with everything you need to engage your visitors and increase conversions. It poses questions: return to what and where? If you’ve ever visited the Wazir Khan Mosque in Lahore, you’ll have seen the beautiful, complex and colourful frescoes all over the walls and ceilings of the mosque. The Mosque was built by Hakim Ilamuddin Ansari who was the wazir (minister/governor) appointed by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for the region of Punjab; he became widely known as Wazir Khan. Watercolour of the mosque of Wazir Khan in Lahore, Pakistan, by an anonymous artist working in the Punjab style, c. 1860. All rights reserved. Wazir Khan Mosque has some illustrative examples of the Mughal period’s mosaic tile work. © 2020 Times Internet Limited. It is one of the most notable attractions on The Royal Trail. In rewarding his competence and loyalty, Shajahan awarded him the title Wazir Khan in 1620, with the word ‘Wazir’ meaning ‘Minister’ in Urdu. (Remembrance) in pursuit of the Presence of God: Kamil Mumtaz applies this to the design of the Wazir Khan Mosque. Zeen is a next generation WordPress theme. The mosque was commissioned by the chief physician to the Mughal Court, Hakeem Ilam-ud-din Ansari, who was widely known as Wazir Khan. I only had a few days so I had to be very selective with the places I could visit, but the Walled City and in particular, the Mughal monuments, ranked high since I had been following the. Podcast Ep 025 Which Rumi are you Reading? The mosque was founded by Hakim Ilmud Din Ansari, a physician from Chiniot who was bestowed the Ministerial title of ‘Wazir Khan’ by Shah Jahan, and was later promoted to the position of Viceroy of … The walls in the interior are decorated with the verses of the Holy Koran and Persian poetry etched in calligraphy. Hakim Shaikh Ilm-ud-din Ansari, a native of Chiniot, was the court physician to emperor Shah Jehan and was elevated as Governor (Wazir) of Lahore. Wazir khan Chowk is the courtyard outside the Wazir Khan Mosque, which includes a shrine and mosque of Sufi Saint Said Soaf and the well of Raja Dina Nath. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Wazir Khan Mosque built in 1642 in Lahore, Pakistan. The construction of the mosque commenced in 1634. According to historic references, we get to know that once Wazir Khan was done with the construction of the magnificent Wazir Khan Mosque and the splendid Shahi Hammam, he started planning to develop a garden in 1634. Though grand majesty of the Badhshahi envelopes you -as intended by Aurangzeb (dude was obsessed with one-upping his father’s Jama Masjid in Delhi) – it dwarfs in comparison to the humble and unceremonious invite extended by Wazir Khan. Copyright Omar Rais. But in spite of their beauty, they failed to match the tune hummed by the Wazir Khan, whose colours were imprinted in my vision. The spectacular monumental ensemble of the Wazir Khan Mosque in the Walled City of Lahore was built in 1634 during the reign of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. Learn how your comment data is processed. Wazir Khan Mosque is located directly opposite the Wazir Khan Chowk (roundabout) near the Delhi Gate. The same garden became popular as Wazir Khan’s Nakhlia Garden because of the large number of date palm trees. He built the Shahi Hammam or the Wazir Khan Mosque inside Delhi Gate, the grand Wazir Khan Mosque, another Mosque near Taxali. Kashmiri Muslim devotees wait for the imam to disp, As we approach the end of the year and certain pub, In the year 629, eight years after the Prophet Muh, Half of the places for our Soul Rebel tour of Jama. When I began this piece I mentioned deliberate spiritual design intentions; as architect, Kamil Mumtaz has provided a base- the rest is up to us. Your email address will not be published. He commissioned the mosque to be built to enclose the site of the tomb of a 14. century sufi saint, Syed Muhammad Ishaq Gazruni or as he’s more commonly known, Miran Badshah. He was a man of humble origin who studied medicine under Hakim Dawi and entered the Mughul court as the personal physician of prince Kurum, who became Shahjahan later. If, through the. The mosque's distinguishing architectural feature is the use of minarets at each of its four corners--the first time such a design was employed in Lahore. The Salawat on the dome reminds you of the Mercy (SAW) of this world sent by God, reciting the Salawat for the Prophet (SAW) serving to bring you into his embrace. The mosque was built under the patronage of the governor of Lahore Wazir Khan. All in all, the mosque is a construction of grandeur and elegance. In 1671, when the larger Badshahi Mosque was built closer to the royal palace, the Wazir Khan Mosque lost its imperial status. (colour) is the first word that entered my mind as I walked through the entrance into the courtyard and gazed upon the main archway. I want to be clear that the reflections I share now were not real time observations; I wasn’t walking around the mosque instantly connecting the dots between the design and architecture with the spiritual purpose they were meant to serve. The structure badly need repairs. Another architectural masterpiece of Shah Jahan’s era, the Wazir Khan Mosque, is located deep within the old quarter of the ancient Walled City of Lahore. Poetry etched in calligraphy of Punjab under Shah Jahan palm trees use this website uses to! Constructed in the reign of Shahjahan title of “ Mughal ” architecture - but in every! This trivial statement is becoming more and more believable by the Governor of Lahore ' design.. To engage your visitors and increase conversions his grave as you walk through the Mosque is one the... 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