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Khairul Manazil

Coordinates: 28°36′27″N 77°14′22″E / 28.60750°N 77.23944°E / 28.60750; 77.23944
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Khairul Manazil
The mosque in 2017
Religion
AffiliationIslam
Ecclesiastical or organizational statusMosque and madrassa
StatusActive[clarification needed]
Location
LocationMathura Road, Central Delhi, Delhi NCT
CountryIndia
Khairul Manazil is located in Delhi
Khairul Manazil
Location of the mosque in Central Delhi
AdministrationArchaeological Survey of India
Geographic coordinates28°36′27″N 77°14′22″E / 28.60750°N 77.23944°E / 28.60750; 77.23944
Architecture
TypeMosque architecture
StyleMughal
FounderMaham Anga
CompletedAH 969 (1561/1562 CE)
Specifications
Dome(s)One (maybe more)
InscriptionsOne (maybe more)
MaterialsRed sandstone
Official nameKhair-ul-Manzil
Reference no.N-DL-5

The Khairul Manazil or Khair-ul-Manazil (lit.'the most auspicious of houses') is a historical mosque and madrasa built in 1561 in New Delhi, India. The mosque is located opposite Purana Qila on Mathura Road, southeast of Sher Shah Gate. The mosque's gateway is constructed of red sandstone, following the Mughal architectural style, while the interior structure reflects the foibles of the Delhi Sultanate architecture.[1]

The mosque is a Monument of National Importance,[2] administered and maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.[1]

History

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This structure was built by one of the most influential and powerful women in Akbar's court, Maham Anga, who was the Emperor's wet nurse and foster mother.[3] It is said that in 1564, Akbar was attacked near the mosque by an assassin while returning from the Nizamuddin Dargah. Later, the building was used as a madrasa.[4]

Epigraph

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Part of the inscription

The Persian epigraphy carved on the marble plaque above the arch of the central gate is a chronogram written by Emperor Akbar's court historian and poet, Maulana Shihabuddin Ahmad Khan (pen name: Baazil). He is also credited with composing the eulogy on the tombstone of Amir Khusrau at the Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah, some two hundred and ten years after Khusrau's death.[citation needed]

The Arabic letters forming the words Khair ul Manazil are translated into their numerical equivalents using the rule of ٲٻڄݚ, which sums up to the numerals of AH 969 (1561/1562 CE).[5]

Arabic: کتبہ ٕ تاریخ خیرالمنازل مسجد دہلی
بدورانِ جلالالدّین مُحمّد
 کہ او شُد اکبرِ شاہانِ عادِل
چو ماہم بیگمِ عِصمت پناہی
 بِنا کرد این بِنا بہرِ افاضِل
ولے شُد ساعی ٕاین لمعہ ٕخیر
 شِہاب الدّین احمد خان 'باذِل'
زہی خیریّتِ این منزِلِ خیر
 کہ شُد تاریخ او خیر المنازِل
سنہٕ ٩٦٩ ھجری

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ pen name, meaning storyteller.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Driving past Khairul Manzil". Indian Express. 26 April 2009. Archived from the original on 17 March 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  2. ^ "List of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains of Delhi". Archaeological Survey of India. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  3. ^ Kapoor, Cheena (6 August 2018). "Neglected Khair-ul-Manazil speaks of glorious past of the Akbar era". DNA India. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  4. ^ Smith, R. V. "Gateway to medieval era". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 14 February 2017. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  5. ^ Khan, Syed Ahmad. Asaar-us-sanadeed.
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Media related to Khair-ul-Manzil at Wikimedia Commons