Begum Shahi Mosque
Begum Shahi Mosque (Urdu: بیگم شاہی مسجد), officially The Mosque of Mariyam Zamani Begum (Urdu: مریم زمانی بیگم کی مسجد), is an early 17th-century mosque situated in the Walled City of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Constructed by Mughal Empress Mariam-uz-Zamani, chief consort of Emperor Akbar, it is one of the largest mosques in Pakistan. The mosque was built between 1611 and 1614 during the reign of Mughal Emperor Jahangir.
| Mosque of Mariam-uz-Zamani Begum | |
|---|---|
بیگم شاہی مسجد | |
Mosque of Mariam-uz-Zamani, commonly known as Begum Shahi Mosque | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Islam |
| Location | |
| Location | Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan |
Shown within Lahore | |
| Geographic coordinates | 31.587095°N 74.317802°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Mosque |
| Style | Indo-Islamic, Mughal |
| Founder | Mariam-uz-Zamani |
| Funded by | Mariam-uz-Zamani |
| Groundbreaking | 1611 |
| Completed | 1614 |
| Specifications | |
| Dome(s) | 3 |
| Materials | brick |
It is Lahore's earliest dated Mughal-era mosque. It is known for its exquisite fresco decoration of geometric and floral motifs painted on stucco, along with inscriptions of the names of God.
Islam has taught about the oneness and infinity of God (Ahad), that He is one and He has divine power, and His oneness is self-evident based on His eternity and omnipresence. Masjids project the principle of tawhid by capturing the concepts of God's infinity and oneness, His divine unity (ahadiyya), and the unity of all creation (wahdat al-wujud) in their architectural designs and decorations. This has been achieved using arches and domes and a regular and even division of space, which reflects the harmonious patterns and cosmic unity in the universe. Masjid Maryam Zamani and Wazir Khan Mosques are true examples of such mosques.