Fatehpuri Masjid

Fatehpuri Masjid belongs to the 17th Century and occupies the Western end of one of the hottest and oldest shopping spots of Delhi named Chandni Chowk and also lies opposite to the Red Fort. Being well connected it can be easily approached. This antique Masjid (Mosque) was built in 1650 out of interest of one of the Emperor’s wife who was the Fatehpuri Begum and also belonged to the town of Fatehpuri Sikri. Moreover, she was the one after whom the Taj Mahal was named.

The mosque has a long tale of ownership as after the 1857 war Rai Chunnamal bagged the auction at a cost of Rs 19000 and received the possession of the mosque. Later in 1877 the government won it in return for four villages and also retained it for the Muslims. It was done at the time when the British permitted the Muslims to settle back in Old Delhi. The British did their every bit to harm the legendary monuments of the Indian History, and were quite successful as the Akbarabadi Masjid, which was constructed due to the consent of the Akbarabadi Begum was destroyed by the British.

With the construction of the Mosque, the Khari Baoli which is today India’s pride, was also developed. Khari Baoli was developed to be the Asia’s largest spice market so the tourists visiting the mosque can have their hands on some exclusive spices. The Mosque also witnesses every year celebrations of two of the most pious festival of Muslim religion that is Id-ul-Fitr and Id-ul-Zuha. These are celebrated with great pomp and show.

Similar to a priest in a Church, there is a mufti and imam in a mosque. In Fatehpuri Mosque Mufti Mukarram Ahmed, the successor of Maulana Mufti Mohammad Ahmad (d. 21 October 1971/1391 AH), has been the chief here for more than four decades.

Architecture
The mosque has been carved using the then popular red sandstone in an extremely alluring way. It exhibits a grooved dome and the mahapadma and kalash are decorated on the top. Being in accordance with the traditional designs, this mosque has a wide prayer hall and is fringed with minarets. On its sides, it has single as well as double-storied apartments. The iwan has been centralized and it is bounded by three arches on each side.

Delhi being the heart of India, boasts of Fatehpuri to be its heartbeat as this one of the antique piece of Mughal architecture has quietly witnessed the uncoiling of the tragedies of the history form the era of the Mughal as well as British rule.