Written by: Sadaf Shahzad
Posted on: July 12, 2021 | 
| 中文
Moti Masjid interior (Lahore Fort)
The Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) announced on Friday that it had completed restoration work on the Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) of the Lahore Fort. This Rs.10 Million project involved reparations of the main mosque structure like adding lime plaster, filling the cracks in the marble and improvement of the drainage system. As tourists flock to see the conserved site, and the WCLA continues to finish its work conserving heritage sites in Lahore, it is worth looking at the history and the intricate details of this beautiful structure.
Moti Masjid (Lahore Fort)
Moti Masjid was built by Emperor Shah Jehan in 1645 CE, and mosques of the same name were built in the Agra Fort in 1654 CE and the Red Fort in Delhi in 1662 CE. But this mosque is located in the northwest corner of the Dewaan-e-Aam (Hall of Audience) of the Lahore Fort, and can also be accessed via the British-era Postern Gate. It is recognized as one of the most notable and visually pleasing parts of the Fort, next to Sheesh Mahal and Naulakha Pavilion.
It was typical during the time of the building’s construction to name mosques after jewels, and the Pearl Mosque most probably got its name because of its dazzlingly white color. While time and pollution has faded the color, it would not be too difficult to envision this breathtaking structure in its original hue. The guides at the fort also say the top of the mosque gives visitors a picturesque view of the Badshahi Mosque’s minarets, Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s Samadhi, the Old City’s Roshani Gate, and the entrance of the Sheesh Mahal.
White marble architecture
The mosque’s design is typical of the time and Shah Jehan’s architectural aesthetics. The building is primarily made of pure white marble from Makrana in Rajastan, India (where the marble for the Taj Mahal was also mined), and built in a five-chamber structure. The façade is composed of cusped arches and columns with smooth, fine contours. The gorgeous pietra dura work is similar to that found in the Fort’s Diwaan-e-Khaas (Hall of Guests) and other buildings around the fort. The Mosque’s double domes are specifically made for loud acoustics, ensuring that the call to prayer can be heard clearly around the fort.
While the insides are relatively simple, the ceilings are designed and decorated in arches and horizontal beams. On one end of the mosque is a small prayer room for women, and hujras are also located on the side for visitors to rest and wait for prayers.
A view of the archways
When the Sikhs took over Lahore after the downfall of the Mughals, Ranjit Singh converted Moti Mosque into Moti Mandir. Later, the building was also closed off to the public and used as a state treasury. When the British annexed Punjab in 1849, they found small, precious gems wrapped up in velvet purses and rags in different places across the mosque.
While the British continued to use the Mosque as a treasury in the early years of the Raj, it was not until the early 1900s that Lord Curzon ordered the mosque to be returned to Muslims. Prayers resumed once more inside the mosque, and some of the religious artefacts left behind were preserved at the Badshahi Mosque. Recent conservation efforts have also involved preventing the use of candles and lamps which could damage the marble, and scrubbing off the prayers written on the wall by visitors.
Marble pulpit inside Moti Masjid (credits to Mobeen Ansari)
After a year’s conservation efforts, the mosque is ready for tourists to come and experience this peaceful yet dazzling structure. Despite its size and limited use, Moti Mosque is still an important part of the rich and majestic Lahore Fort, with its own history and design. The WCLA has done a wonderful job in the conservation of the Old City of Lahore and brought it back to life as a historical gem, which transports us into our rich heritage. It is hoped that they will continue to do so with the same dedication and consistency.
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