Twilight of the Sultanate c7.s4.45

c7.s4.45

Now Tīmūr released most of the prisoners he had made in Delhi, not necessarily because of the intercession of Shaikh Ahmad Khattu as is claimed by certain historians,¹⁷⁴ but probably to lighten his burden. However, all the artisans, skilled mechanics, craftsmen and builders and even consignments of some stores were ordered to be taken home for building a Jāma' Masjid in his mud-walled Samarqand, which he wanted to beautify.¹⁷⁵ Tīmūr had been highly impressed by the Jāma' Masjid of Delhi constructed of polished marble by Fīrōz Shāh, and took a model of it home.¹⁷⁶ He also admired the Qutb Mīnār and carried off workmen to construct a similar one in Samarqand, which intention, however, was never carried out.¹⁷⁷