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| 1915 Bibi Ki Masjid, Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh en.wikipedia.org |
Bibi Ki Masjid, also known as Bibi Saheba Masjid, is an important 16th-century monument in Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh. Built during the rule of the Faruqi dynasty, it dates to the later phase of the kingdom’s power, around the same period as the Jama Masjid, Burhanpur. The mosque is generally attributed to a royal patron—believed to be Begum Rokeya, a queen of Adil Khan Faruqi III and daughter of Muzaffar Shah III of the Gujarat Sultanate. Its association with a royal woman gives the monument both historical and cultural distinction, reflected in its name, which literally means “Mosque of the Lady.”
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Architecturally, Bibi Ki Masjid exhibits a style strongly influenced by the Gujarat Sultanate tradition, particularly resembling the Jama Masjid, Champaner. The façade is of the closed type, dominated by a grand central arched entrance flanked by two slender minarets. These minarets are five storeys high: the lower two levels are constructed in stone, while the upper three are in brick, demonstrating a thoughtful combination of materials. The upper sections are embellished with projecting oriel windows and crowned with elegant cupolas. However, structural deterioration over time has led to the collapse of one minaret.
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| Closed entrance, indiamosques.wordpress.com |
The mosque is rectangular in plan and originally featured three large domes; today, only one survives. The flat roofline is punctuated with several smaller cupolas, adding rhythm and balance to the skyline. The interior contains two Persian inscriptions carved on pillars and an Arabic inscription above the entrance gateway, offering valuable epigraphic evidence about its patronage and period.
Recognized as a Monument of National Importance, the mosque is protected and maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). In 2016, portions of its boundary wall collapsed due to heavy rainfall, prompting conservation attention. The ASI has since undertaken stabilization, masonry repairs, and structural consolidation to preserve the remaining domes and minarets.
Today, Bibi Ki Masjid stands as a significant example of Indo-Islamic architecture in central India, reflecting the artistic exchanges between the Faruqi rulers of Khandesh and the Gujarat Sultanate.
Sources: Archaeological Survey of India records; Gazetteers of Madhya Pradesh; scholarly studies on Faruqi architecture;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibi_Ki_Masjid
https://merwynsrucksack.blogspot.com/2017/02/bibi-ki-masjid.html
K. N. Jayaraman
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