Badshahi Masjid-An Asset of Pakistan

The Badshahi Masjid in Lahore is the second largest Masjid in Pakistan and South Asia and the fifth largest Masjid in the world. It is Lahore's most famous landmark and a major tourist attraction epitomizing the beauty, passion and grandeur of the Mughal era. Capable of accommodating 10,000 worshippers in its main prayer hall and 100,000 in its courtyard and porticoes, it remained the largest Masjid in the world from 1673 to 1986 (a period of 313 years), when overtaken in size by the completion of the Faisal Masjid in Islamabad.

Today, it remains the second largest Masjid in Pakistan and South Asia and the fifth largest Masjid in the world after the Masjid al-Haram (Grand Masjid) of Mecca, the Al-Masjid al-Nabawi (Prophet's Masjid) in Medina, the Hassan II Masjid in Casablanca and the Faisal Masjid in Islamabad. To appreciate its large size, the four minarets of the Badshahi Masjid are 13.9 ft (4.2 m) taller than those of the Taj Mahal and the main platform of the Taj Mahal can fit inside the 278,784 sq ft (25,899.9 m2) courtyard of the Badshahi Masjid, which is the largest Masjid courtyard in the world.

Construction of the Badshahi Masjid was ordered in May 1671 by the sixth Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb, who assumed the title 'Alamgir', meaning 'Conqueror of the World.' Construction took about two years and was completed in April 1673[1]. The construction work was carried out under the supervision of Aurangzeb's foster brother Muzaffar Hussain (also known as Fidaie Khan Koka) who was appointed Governor of Lahore in May 1671 and held this post until 1675. He was also Master of Ordnance to the Emperor. The Masjid was built opposite the Lahore Fort, illustrating its stature in the Mughal Empire. In conjunction with the building of the Masjid, a new gate was built at the Fort, named Alamgiri Gate after the Emperor. Badshahi Masjid was damaged and misused first during the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the Sikh Ruler of the Punjab and then by British Monarchy. From 1852 onwards, piecemeal repairs were carried out under the supervision of the Badshahi Masjid Authority. Extensive repairs were carried out from 1939 to 1960 at a cost of about 4.8 million rupees, which brought the Masjid to its original shape and condition. The blueprint for the repairs was prepared by the late architect Nawab Zen Yar Jang Bahadur.

On the occasion of the second Islamic Summit held at Lahore on February 22, 1974, thirty-nine heads of Muslim states offered their Friday prayers in the Badshahi Masjid, led by Mawlānā Abdul Qadir Azad, the Khatib of the Masjid. A small museum is also attached to the Masjid complex. It contains relics of the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H), his cousin Ali (R.A), and his daughter, Fatimah (R.A). In 2000, the marble inlay in the main vault was repaired under the supervision of Saleem Anjum Qureshi. In 2008, replacement work began to be carried out on the red sandstone tiles on the Masjid’s large courtyard, using red sandstone especially imported from the original source in Rajasthan, India. Badshahi Masjid is one of the wondrous sites and assets of Pakistan and World. Promote Peaceful Pakistan. Long Live our beloved land !

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