Shah Jahan Mosque

The Shah Jahan Mosque, built 1888-1889 in Murghal style to the designs of William Isaac Chambers, commissioned by Dr Gottlieb Wilhelm Leitner.

MATERIALS: dressed Bathgate stone, randomly coursed with ashlar quoins on the east, west and south elevations, with stucco render to the principal, north-facing elevation.

PLAN: square, of thee bays to each side with a wider front range accommodating the wu’du (wash room) to the east, and a storage room to the west.

EXTERIOR: the north elevation (façade) is articulated by four panelled piers crowned by open turrets, each with moulded pillars and cornices on which rest sphere finials in floral sockets. The turrets are linked by triangular, crow-stepped battlements. At the centre is a full height ogee arch with decorative bands to the arch surround, and metal arabesque work with blue inlay to the arch spandrels. Steps lead up to the recessed porch beneath the arch. A door on the left-hand side of the porch leads to the wu’du, the interior of which has been refurbished. A door to the right leads into the storage room. The central main door into the prayer hall has four decorative panels under a trefoil head, above which is a metal panel with circular motifs. To either side of the porch are ogee arches with panel doors leading to the side rooms, with pairs of decorative roundels above. The prayer hall is topped by a large onion dome with a band of stars around the middle and petal decoration to the top forming the base for a crescent finial.

The wu’du and storage room have segmental forms and are lit by three leaded-light windows in ogee-arched openings. The wu’du has a flat-roofed extension of 1964. The east and west elevations have three lancet windows with ogee-arched heads and ashlar dressings; the windows have star and hexagon glazing tracery. The rear wall has a central curved projection capped by a half-dome which corresponds to the Mihrab within.

INTERIOR: the Qibla (prayer wall) lies opposite the entrance, and has at its centre the Mihrab (semi-circular niche) with decorative panels. On either side of the Mihrab are panelled recesses with ogee-arched heads; the three windows to each side are also set in ogee-arched recesses. Above the Mihrab and windows are roundels painted with the names of God and the Prophet Muhammad. The ceiling of the dome is pierced with five stars. The Verse of the Throne is written in the ring at the base of the dome, and in the squinches 76 names of God are written. Elsewhere the Fatiha (opening verses of the Quran) and the Declaration of Faith are written on the walls. The Minbar (pulpit from which the Imam preaches) is believed to have been sold to a German museum by Leitner’s son.