The Foundation of Muslim Rule in India: A History of the Establishment and Progress of the Turkish Sultanate of Delhi, 1206–1290 A.D. c25.4

c25.4

The Memeluke buildings illustrate the gradual blending of all these elements. The first building erected by the conquerors on Indian soil was, significantly enough, a mosque, whose lighted and wide spaces sharply contrast the dark, narow and mysterious temple. The *Quuatul Islam* mosque was commenced in Delhi by Aibak in 592/1195, and finished in 1199. It was admittedly built out of Hindu materials; most of the columns, shafts and capitals were hurriedly adapted to the requirements of a Muslim prayer hall, the sculptural carvings of animate figures being either defaced or concealed by turning them upside down. In this improvisation was symbolised the whole Memeluke history. The mosque actually was raised on the plinth of a temple and, as Marshall has remarked, save for the mihrabs, the building has little to indicate its Islamic character; not even the constructional methods show any trace of Muslim influence. Probably to modify this Hindu appearance, Aibak added a screen in front, in which a deliberate introduction of characteristically Muslim designs and ornaments is clearly noticeable. The facade of the arched entrance is enlivened by graceful calligraphic reproduction of Quranic texts, which, however, can hardly conceal the native craftsmen's floral designs. The mosque at Ajmer, erected at about the same time and known as the *Arhai-din-ka-jhonpra*, was also built out of Hindu materials and so betray Hindu features, though its planning and construction was more deliberate than that of its counterpart at Delhi. A more deliberately Muslim structure is the *Qutb Minar*, planned by Aibak sometime before 1199 but completed by Iltutmish. It represents a further stage in the evolution of the Indo-Muslim building art. The plan—it was evidently meant to serve as a *maazina* and also a tower of victory,—and the form are essentially Islamic, and the native tradition has less freedom in its constructional details. Its floral designs are clearly dominated by the calligraphy; the vertical flutings on the outer wall and the elaborate corbelling on the balconies are excluslveiy Muslim decorations.