History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c24.39

c24.39

After the construction of 'Alāī' Darvāzā, says Amir Khusrau, 'Alāuddīn commenced further extensions of the Quvvat-ul-Islām Mosque, built by Qutbuddīn Aibak. Iltutmish had extended the western wall of the mosque by about 115 feet on either side, thus making the whole length of the wall 380 feet. Of the building extensions of 'Alāuddīn, passing from the Alāī Gate, the pillars which formed the colonnade in front of its inner door have disappeared for about 30 feet. At the eastern end of this gap, the colonnade again begins, and extends for about 120 feet. The walls of the colonnade are pierced by four doors and three lofty windows. The latter are covered with red sand-stone screens of lattice work. 'Alāuddīn's additions to the mosque extended beyond the northern extensions of Iltutmish, and included his unfinished Mīnār. The extension was 700 ft. long and 400 ft. wide, and had nine gates. Thus ‘Alāuddīn nearly doubled the size of the mosque after Iltutmish’s extensions. In 1311 the building was under construction, but it remained unfinished.¹⁷