Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque

Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque (built 1192 - 1316) Quwwat-ul-Islam was sponsored by Qutb-ud-din Aibak, founder of the Delhi Sultanate. The Quwwat-ul-Islam is best known for its tower of victory, celebrating the Islamic conquest of India. It consists of a rectangular courtyard enclosed by cloisters. Perhaps it was the first monument of iconoclast in India. It is in contradiction to Hasan Nizami's account of Aibak as peaceful and 'Lakh Baksh' or 'giver of lakhs' in his book Taj-ul-Masir. It is said he was generous and spent huge sums in charity. Aibak had not established himself firmly in India at that time.

Quwwat-ul-Islam, the "Glory of Islam," was hastily erected by the young amir, who conscripted an army of local craftsmen, presumably Hindus, to assemble the structure thought there is no evidence to confirm the religious demography of the craftsmen^[1]

The Qūwat-ul-Islām mosque (completed 1196), consisting of cloisters around a courtyard with the sanctuary to the west, was built in Delhi celebrating the Muslim conquest of India.^[2] It is built of red sandstone, gray quartz, and white marble, but is probably inspired by the “Iron Pillar " that stands on the site. Built in the Gupta dynasty in the 6th century, it is the only piece that stands in its original location. Qutb built around it when he constructed the mosque. Although made of iron, it has resisted rust for over 1,500 years.

Later, a lofty arched screen was erected and the mosque was enlarged by later Delhi sultans Shams-ud-Din Iltutmish (A.D. 1210 - 1235) and Ala-ud-Din Khalji. This was congregational mosque of the first city built by sultans, described in chronicles as Dehli-i-Kuhna (the old city).