Badshahi Mosque

The Badshahi Mosque is a Mughal imperial mosque in Lahore, Pakistan, commissioned by Emperor Aurangzeb and completed in 1673. Its monumental red sandstone courtyard and marble domes made it one of the largest mosques of its time.

Congregational mosque: A mosque designed to host the Friday communal prayer, typically serving a large urban population. Its vast courtyard accommodated the city’s Friday congregation.
Aurangzeb: The sixth Mughal emperor, who ruled from 1658 to 1707. He commissioned the mosque as an imperial project in Lahore.
Sahn: An open courtyard in a mosque or other building, often used for gathering and circulation. The enormous courtyard accommodates worshippers before the mosque’s prayer hall.
Ranjit Singh: The founder of the Sikh Empire, who ruled much of Punjab in the early 19th century. His forces used the mosque as a military garrison after taking Lahore.
Pakistan Movement: The political movement that led to the creation of Pakistan in 1947. The mosque became a prominent symbol of Muslim heritage in the region that became Pakistan.
Mughal Empire: A South Asian empire founded in 1526 and ruled by a Muslim dynasty until the 19th century. The empire supplied the political power and resources behind its construction.
Lahore: A major city in Punjab, Pakistan, with a long history as a political and cultural center. The mosque was built beside Lahore Fort in a prominent imperial setting.
Mihrab: A niche in a mosque wall that indicates the direction of prayer toward Mecca. The prayer hall’s mihrabs establish the direction in which congregational prayer is performed.
Sikh Empire: A South Asian empire centered in Punjab that existed from the late 18th to mid-19th century. Its rule brought a period when the mosque was repurposed from worship.
Religious architecture: Buildings designed for worship and religious practice, shaped by the beliefs and institutions they serve. Its continued use connects imperial construction to living religious practice.

Linked from 2 pages