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The oldest mosque of its kind in India has been described as a gem of architecture, though the credit for this goes to the Hindu craftsmen who were employed by Qutubuddin Aibak to raise the structure proclaiming his ascension to the throne of Hindustan and the glory of Islam. It is believed that a temple of Vishnu existed once which was part of Qila Rai Pithora built by Prithviraj Chauhan, and it could have been older than this, dating back to even earlier times.

The TV serial on the Chauhan king doesn’t depict the building of Qila Rai Pithora though it must have been a stupendous task getting such a huge citadel into shape. It was planned as much as a protection against invaders from abroad as the feuding rajas and chiefs who were a constant threat to Rai Pithora’s sovereignty. Among his opponents was his own kinsman, Jai Chand, ruler of Kannauj, who could not reconcile himself to the fact that his claim to the throne of Delhi had been rejected by Maharaja Vigraharaja IV or Bisaldeva, who preferred his grandson to rule over both Delhi and Ajmer. It was this rivalry that helped Mohammad Ghori to establish his sultanate in India, which was to mark a turning point in the history of the country. The stones of many temples went into the making of the mosque in an age when the conqueror took all in his zeal to propagate his faith. This was not peculiar to India. The same thing happened elsewhere too – in Egypt, Greece, Rome, Iran, Iraq and Britain where old structures became churches or mosques.

In a more enlightened age, like ours is supposed to be, these relics of the past excite both pity and awe. The former because of the uprooting of one culture by another and the latter because of the fabulous creations by people who have outdone their predecessors. At that time it was a normal procedure to aggrandise on these lines without the fear of opposition. Nevertheless the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque is now a proud and much vaunted monument of Delhi which is a fine example of the synthesis of Hindu-Muslim architecture. Not only this, it is a national heritage worth preserving.

Qutbuddin built the mosque between 1195 and 1197 A.D. Later Altamash and Allauddin Khilji made their own additions. Allauddin died before he could carry out his plans of further additions to the mosque. But the gateway he built in 1300 AD still occupies pride of place in the 70-yard long and 50-yard-wide structure. The second gate planned by the emperor could not be completed. But it is the pillars of the mosque that attract one as much as the central arch and the huge screen separating the prayer hall from the rest of the building. The pillars are reminiscent of the remains of Pompeii though they were erected by a slave king of Afghan descent.

The pillars are sculptured with figures of animals and men, surely a Hindu conception. Probably they formed part of some temple at one time or Qutbuddin had to make do with artisans who were Hindus and had no idea of a Muslim prayer chamber. The latter suggestion is less plausible though. However the pillars are just one part of this magnificent mosque.

One stands in the courtyard thinking of the days when stern warriors bowed there in worship, their swords and spears kept on one side in an age when blood flowed like water, and there was plenty of both to be wasted. But now only hoary history bows its head at this shrine of the power of Islam, though one would think it is the glory of the Indian people that it really represents.

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