Jawab Mosque or Mosque Taj Mahal, Taj Mahal Complex, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Special attention was paid to the construction of mosques by the Mughals. Mughal architecture was unmatched and flourished throughout the subcontinent. The importance of each element in the construction of the buildings is reflected in the grandeur and beauty. Basic engineering characteristics such as midline, axes, levels and isometric were taken care of very carefully. Art of landscaping of gardens, developed continuously which was introduced by the King of Gardens means Mughal dynasty founder Emperor Zaheer Ud Din Muhammad Babur.
Towards River Yamuna, parallel to the Western wall of the Taj Mahal Complex facing to the Main Mausoleum built by red sandstone is a Mosque. This magnificent sensational red sandstone building is known as Mosque Taj Mahal though it’s an Answer or Jawab Mosque to maintain the symmetry with the guest house whose rear wall is parallel to the Eastern Wall and facing to the main Mausoleum. In fact this is a tectonic equilibration.
This is built on a rectangular plan on an elevated platform and a rectangular court in the eastern side is also a component of the elegant mosque. All the four corners are flanked by the octagonal minarets rising from the ground and crowned with octagonal umbrellas beyond the roof top. Facade is facing to the main Mausoleum. Central Iwan is the grand one and there are three archways through the Iwans to access the main prayer hall from the court. Central Iwan is flanked by thin cylindrical decorated with white marble inlay work red sandstone minarets pointing to the sky and two same style minarets which are little lower at the adjacent Iwans edges of the facade. Roof is having bulbous white marble’s domes and central dome is higher than the other two. Central prayer chamber is quite large and high. Western wall is having the white marble’s Mihrab and a Minbar. Main Mihrab which is a vaulted arch having calligraphic inscription of Holy Quran Chapter 91 in Arabic which describes about the purification of the ‘carnal soul’ and sanctification of the heart from vice and impurities’, but at the beginning of the Surah eleven great subjects from the world of creation and Divine essence are mentioned and to prove that salvation depends upon ‘purification of the carnal soul’ some oaths are made. These oaths envelop most of the Qur’anic oaths collectively.
At the end of the Surah, the fatal end of wrongdoers. This short Surah, in fact, repeating the statement to convince about one of the most important instructive points for the destiny of Man’s life, and leads him to true Islamic values. And either side of the arch Holy Quranic Inscriptions of Chapter 112 in small circles. These passages were inscribed by the Renowned Calligrapher Abdul Haq who was titled Amanat Khan. Whole prayer hall is interconnected through the archways which are supporting the roof and domes. Through octagonal minarets set in the corners narrow staircases are leading to access the superstructure. Central nave or prayer chamber’s ceiling is decorated with octagonal eight pointed star filled with Islamic motifs. Walls, bottom of the archways, panels etc are decorated with paintings, engravings, inlay work etc of Islamic motifs. Prayer hall is having about 570 decorated rectangular stone prayer rugs. Exterior of this mosque is covered with red sandstone and panelled with white marble. From North and South also main prayer hall can be accessed.
It’s a magnificent active mosque where all the daily prayers congregations are performed under the appointed Imam. Fridays congregations are attended by local residents as they only are allowed. During visiting hours visitors are allowed and devotees can offer prayers.
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