Who Built Jama Masjid? The History of Delhi’s Great Mosque

Jama Masjid was built by Shah Jahan

Shah Jahan moved the Mughal capital from Agra to his new city of Shahjahanabad, today's Old Delhi, and built three great monuments there: the Red Fort, the Chandni Chowk market and the Jama Masjid. Wikipedia records that the market and its bazaars were laid out in 1650 by his daughter, Princess Jahanara Begum, and the mosque was raised on the highest point of the city, on a plinth about 10 m above the streets.

The work was overseen by Sadullah Khan, Shah Jahan's wazir (chief minister), and Fazil Khan, the comptroller of the household. Wikipedia says about 5,000 workers took part, including Indians, Arabs, Persians, Turks and Europeans, and that the mosque cost about ten lakh rupees.

When was Jama Masjid built?

Most accounts give 1650 to 1656. Delhi Tourism says construction began in 1644, and Wikipedia's summary also gives 1644 to 1656 in one place while its main text says 1650 to 1656, so you will see both dates. All sources agree it was finished in 1656.

The mosque was inaugurated on 23 July 1656 by Syed Abdul Ghafoor Shah Bukhari, a scholar from Bukhara whom Shah Jahan invited to lead prayers. Wikipedia names him as the first Shahi Imam.

Masjid-i-Jahan-Numa: the original name

Shah Jahan named the mosque Masjid-i-Jahan-Numa, which Wikipedia translates as "the mosque that reflects the whole world". The name Jama Masjid, meaning the congregational mosque used for Friday prayers, came into use among ordinary people and stuck. That is also why so many Indian cities, including Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Sambhal and Aligarh, have their own Jama Masjid; they are separate buildings with their own histories.

Jama Masjid architecture: Mughal design in red and white

The mosque is a fine example of mature Mughal architecture, combining red sandstone with white and black marble. Wikipedia and Delhi Tourism describe these main features:

• Courtyard: at least 99 m on each side, holding about 25,000 worshippers.
• Prayer hall: 61 m long and 27 m wide, on the western side of the courtyard.
• Three domes: marble domes striped with black marble over the prayer hall.
• Two minarets: about 40 to 41 m tall (Wikipedia mentions 130 steps; Lonely Planet counts 121 on the southern minaret climb).
• Three gateways: the three-storey eastern gate was the royal entrance used by the emperor, while the two-storey northern and southern gates were used by the public.

Delhi Tourism notes that the red sandstone and white marble are laid in alternating strips, and the raised plinth with long stairways up to each gate makes the mosque visible across the old city.

Jama Masjid in 1857 and the British period

The British took control of Shahjahanabad in 1803. After the revolt of 1857, Wikipedia records, the mosque was confiscated and closed to worship, and British forces used it as a barracks for soldiers. It was returned to the Muslim community in 1862 under conditions that included police oversight, and the Jama Masjid Managing Committee was formed to represent the mosque.

Since then it has remained the main congregational mosque of Old Delhi, the venue for large Eid and Friday prayers. In April 2006, two explosions went off shortly after Friday prayers; Wikipedia records one person seriously injured and eight with minor injuries.

Jama Masjid today

Wikipedia lists the mosque as a Monument of National Importance under the official name "Ancient Mosque" (reference N-DL-162). It notes that a renovation project has been stalled since the early 2000s. It remains a working mosque, with tourists welcome outside prayer times.

For visiting hours, fees and the dress code, see the Jama Masjid visitor guide. To get there, see the Jama Masjid metro guide. For the lanes Shah Jahan's city left behind, see Dariba Kalan and the Chandni Chowk food guide.

Jama Masjid information for tourists in brief

• Location: Old Delhi, off Netaji Subhash Marg, west of the Red Fort (Delhi Tourism).
• Hours for visitors: 7 AM to noon and 1:30 PM to 6:30 PM, no tourists during prayers (Delhi Tourism).
• Entry: free for Indian visitors (Delhi Tourism); separate charges for foreign visitors and for climbing the minaret, as reported by travel guides.
• Nearest metro: Jama Masjid, Violet Line.

Jama Masjid kisne banaya: Hindi mein itihas

दिल्ली की जामा मस्जिद मुगल बादशाह शाहजहाँ ने बनवाई थी। इसका निर्माण लगभग 1650 से 1656 के बीच हुआ (दिल्ली टूरिज़्म निर्माण की शुरुआत 1644 बताता है)। निर्माण की देखरेख वज़ीर सादुल्लाह ख़ाँ और फ़ाज़िल ख़ाँ ने की, और विकिपीडिया के अनुसार लगभग 5,000 कारीगरों ने इस पर काम किया तथा लागत लगभग दस लाख रुपये आई। इसका मूल नाम मस्जिद-ए-जहाँनुमा था। 23 जुलाई 1656 को इसका उद्घाटन हुआ और बुख़ारा से आए सैयद अब्दुल ग़फ़ूर शाह बुख़ारी इसके पहले शाही इमाम बने। मस्जिद लाल बलुआ पत्थर और सफ़ेद संगमरमर से बनी है, इसमें तीन गुंबद, दो मीनारें और तीन बड़े दरवाज़े हैं, और इसके आँगन में लगभग 25,000 लोग नमाज़ पढ़ सकते हैं।