| Jamali Kamali Mosque and Tomb | |
|---|---|
 Entrance to the mosque, in 2009 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Sunni Islam |
| Sect | Sufism |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Mosque andmausoleum |
| Status | Active |
| Dedication | Saint Shaikh Fazlullah (also known asShaikh Jamali Kamboh) |
| Location | |
| Location | MehrauliArchaeological Park,South Delhi,Delhi NCT |
| Country | India |
  Location of the mosque and tomb inDelhi | |
| Administration | Archaeological Survey of India |
| Coordinates | 28°33′45″N77°13′4″E / 28.56250°N 77.21778°E /28.56250; 77.21778 |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Mosque architecture |
| Style | Mughal |
| Founder | |
| Completed | 1536 |
| Specifications | |
| Dome | One(mosque only) |
| Materials | Red sandstone;marble |
| Official name | Jamali Kamali Mosque and Tomb of Maulana Jamali Kamali |
| Reference no. | N-DL-95 |
TheJamali Kamali Mosque and Tomb is aSufimosque andmausoleum complex that contains the tombs of Jamali and Kamali, co-located in thearchaeological village ofMehrauli, inSouth Delhi,India. The mosque and the tomb were constructed inc. 1529, and Jamali was buried in the tomb after his death in 1535.[1]
The mosque and tomb structures are aMonument of National Importance,[2] administered by theArchaeological Survey of India.
Mehrauli urban village where the monument is located, is approachable from all parts of Delhi by a well-laid-out roads and transport system. TheIndira Gandhi International Airport is 18 km (11 mi) away, and theNew Delhi Railway Station andNizamuddin Railway Station are respectively 17 km (11 mi), and 16 km (9.9 mi) away. The nearestmetro station is Qutub Minar.
The practice of Friday prayers is barred in such monuments, classified by the body under the category of "non-living heritage structures".[3]
"Jamali" was thealias given to Shaikh Fazlu'llah, also known asShaikh Jamali Kamboh or Jalal Khan, a renownedSufisaint who lived duringLodi Dynasty and theMughal Dynasty, a period from the rule ofSikander Lodi to that ofBabur andHumayun.[1]
The name "Jamali" isUrdu, though originates from "Jamal" which means "beauty". Jamali was a popular poet who traveled widely aroundAsia and theMiddle East. He became court poet duringLodi Dynasty rule and continued to enjoy the patronage of the Mughal rulers, Babur and his son Humayun. His poetry mirroredPersian mysticism of the times. His two popular works areThe Sun and Moon andThe Spiritual Journey of the Mystics. It is said that his tomb was completed during Humayun's rule.[citation needed]
Kamali, according to oral traditions, is believed to be the male lover of Jamali, though this claim is widely disputed among historians.[4]
The Jamali Kamali Mosque, positioned in an enclosed garden area, built first during the years 1528-29, has a southern entry. It is built inred sandstone with marble embellishments. It is claimed to be a forerunner in the design ofMughal mosque architecture in India. The prayer hall, fronted by a large courtyard, has five arches with the central arch only having a dome. The size of arches increases towards the central arch, which is the largest of the five arches embellished with beautiful ornamentation. Thespandrels of the arch are decorated withmedallions and ornamentation. Flutedpilasters exquisitely decorate the central arch. The prayer wall on the west has niches withmihrab. The niches and walls are decorated with a fewKoranic inscriptions. A porch around the mosque provides access to the two storied mosque and the four corners are adorned by octagonal towers. The rear end of the mosque has been provided with oriel windows, apart from a small window on the central arch.[1]
The tomb of Jamali-Kamali is a decorated 7.6-metre (25 ft) square structure with a flat roof, located adjacent to the mosque on its northern side. Inside the chamber, the flat ceiling is plastered and ornately decorated. It is painted in red and blue with some Koranic inscriptions, and the walls are adorned with inlaid coloured tiles inscribed with Jamali's poems. The decorations in the tomb have been described as giving the impression of "stepping into a jewel box". In the Jamali Kamali Mosque and Tomb the tomb chamber has two marble graves: one of Jamali, the saint poet and the other of Kamali. The reason for the Kamali name could probably be that it rhymes well with Jamali.[1][5]
The monument is well maintained and provides a very serene atmosphere.[5] In 2012, theArchaeological Survey of India (ASI) completed conservation of the monument, at a cost of ₹1.5 million (US$30,000).[1]
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