The Moti Masjid () is a 17th-century historical mosque, not open for worship, inside the Red Fort complex in Old Delhi, India. It was built by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, damaged during the Siege of Delhi, and subsequently restored by the British. Named for its white marble, the mosque features ornate floral carvings. It is an important example of Mughal architecture during Aurangzeb's reign.
History
The Moti Masjid was commissioned by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, shortly after his accession. The purpose was to provide the emperor a mosque for prayer closer to his private chambers within the Red Fort. At the time, the fort did not contain a mosque; the fort's builder and previous occupant, emperor Shah Jahan, instead offered congregational prayers at the nearby Jama Masjid. Construction of the Moti Masjid took five years, completing in 1663 CE, at Aurangzeb's personal expense; the court chronicle Ma'asir-i-Alamgiri describes the cost to be 1 lakh and 60 thousand rupees. Following its construction, Aurangzeb began to offer the zuhr prayer at the mosque with officials of the state, introducing a new ceremonial practice.
In 1857, British soldiers looted the Red Fort, following its capture in the Siege of Delhi. The Moti Masjid in particular had its gilded copper domes stripped by Prize Agents and sold at auction. The looting exposed the domes to the elements, caused them to deteriorate, and rainwater also damaged the ceiling of the prayer hall. The mosque domes were later replaced by the British in white marble.
Architecture
Structure
The Moti Masjid consists of a prayer hall and courtyard, contained in a walled enclosure. The site is small, internally measuring . The compound is raised slightly above ground level and entered from the east, accessed by a staircase. The enclosure walls are made of red sandstone, and are of notable height, obstructing the view of the structures within. The walls also vary in thickness, compensating for the mosque's orientation - the exterior walls align with the axes of the Red Fort, while the interior walls are aligned towards Mecca. The courtyard of the mosque is rectangular, and contains a recessed pool.