| Mubarak Begum Mosque | |
|---|---|
 The mosque in 2024 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Islam |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Mosque |
| Ownership | Delhi Wakf Board |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Hauz Qazi,Old Delhi,Delhi NCT |
| Country | India |
  Location of the mosque inCentral Delhi | |
| Coordinates | 28°39′00″N77°13′34″E / 28.650°N 77.226°E /28.650; 77.226 |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Mosque architecture |
| Style | |
| Founder | Sir David Ochterlony |
| Completed | 1823 |
| Specifications | |
| Dome | Three |
| Materials | Red sandstone;lakhori bricks |
TheMubarak Begum Mosque, also known asRandi ki Masjid (lit. 'Prostitute's Mosque'), is a 19th-centuryred sandstonemosque, located in Hauz Qazi,Old Delhi,Delhi,India. TheMughal-style mosque is also referred to as courtesan's (tawaif's) mosque, and is located near theChawri Bazaar metro station.
On 19 July 2020, at approximately 6:45 am,[1] part of the mosque's central dome collapsed due to heavy rainfall.[2][3] The mosque is under the custody ofDelhi Wakf Board. Closed for a period of time, as of 2024[update], the mosque was open for worship.
The mosque was built in the early decades of the 19th century in 1823 by anautch dancer calledMubarak Begum who also served as atawaif in the Mughal court.[4] The mosque was built during theMughal era.
Mubarak Begum was born into a poor Muslim family initially pursued her career as a dancing girl inPune.[5]
WhenEast India Company was established in India,Britishers made it compulsory for army men to either come along with their wives, or marry native women temporarily. "No Indian families would've agreed, so these ladies were their only recourse." Delhi's firstBritish resident,Sir David Ochterlony, a two-time British resident to Mughal emperor's court in Delhi in 1802 and in 1822, married Mubarak Begum. He built the mosque in her honour. "For the first time, a nautch girl, not royalty, had commissioned a mosque and so Randi ki Masjid became the informal name."[6]
After the death of Mubarak Begum in 1878, control of the mosque was assumed by theBritish government.[7] It is one of the three mosques to be constructed by women[clarification needed] in India.[8]
The mosque is built of red sandstone andlakhori bricks as a two-storey structure. The upper floor consists of prayer chamber containing three domed compartments. It also comprises three red and white striped domes and three arched entrances under each dome.[9] It was reported that the mosque was repaired and maintained in 2016 and was in active use in 2024.
Media related toMubarak Begum Mosque at Wikimedia Commons
