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{{Short description|Mosque in Delhi, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2019}}
{{Infobox religious building
| building_name = Moth ki Mosque
| native_name = {{langx|ur|موتھ کی مسجد}}
| image = The North side view of the Moth Ki Masjid.JPG
| image_upright = 1.4
| caption = The north side of the mosque, in 2009
| location = [[South Extension]] Part II, South Delhi, Delhi NCT
| country = India
| map_type = India Delhi central
| map_size = 250
| map_alt =
| map_relief = 1
| map_caption = Location of the mosque in [[South Delhi]]
| geo = {{coord|28|33|45|N|77|13|4|E|source:wikimapia_region:IN-DL_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| religious_affiliation = [[Islam]]
| status = [[Mosque]]
| functional_status = Active{{clarify|date=January 2025|reason=Does it function as a prayer hall, or as a heritage site?)}}
| consecration_year=
| leadership=
| founded_by = Miya Bhoiya, [[Lodi dynasty]]
|website=
| architect = Miyan Bhuiya
| architecture_type = {{nowrap|[[Mosque architecture]]}}
| architecture_style = [[Indo-Islamic architecture|Indo-Islamic]]
|facade_direction=
| year_completed = 1505
|construction_cost=
|capacity=
|length= {{convert|38.6|m|ft|abbr=on|1}}
|width=
|width_nave=
|height_max=
|dome_quantity= Three {{small|(semi circular)}}
|dome_height_outer=
|dome_height_inner=
|dome_dia_outer=
|dome_dia_inner=
|minaret_quantity=
|minaret_height=
|spire_quantity=
|spire_height=
|materials= [[Red sandstone]]; white marble; tiles
| module = {{Infobox historic site
| embed = yes
| designation1 = MANI | designation1_offname = Moti-ki-Masjid | designation1_type = | designation1_criteria = | designation1_date = | delisted1_date = | designation1_partof = | designation1_number = N-DL-101 | designation1_free1name = | designation1_free1value = | designation1_free2name = | designation1_free2value = | designation1_free3name = | designation1_free3value = }}
}}

'''Moth ki Mosque''' ({{langx|ur|موتھ کی مسجد|Moth-ki Masjid|Lentil Mosque}}; {{IPA|ur|moʈʰ kiː masdʒɪd|}}) is a 16th-century [[mosque]] located in the [[South Delhi]] district of India. The mosque was built in 1505 by [[Vizier|Wazir]] Miya Bhoiya, [[Prime Minister]] during the reign of [[Sikander Lodi]] of the [[Lodi dynasty]]. It was a new type of mosque developed by the Lodis in the fourth city of the medieval [[Delhi Sultanate]].<ref name="ram">{{Cite book |author=Bakshi, Shiri Ram |title=Delhi Through Ages |chapter=The Moth-ki-Masjid |pages=70–71 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rrdm_XMAiIYC&dq=Masjid+Moth&pg=PA71 |publisher=Anmol Publications Pvt. Ltd. |year=1995 |isbn=9788174881380}}</ref><ref name="khamba">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3ctLNvx68hIC&dq=Chausath+Khamba&pg=PA141 |title=The new Cambridge history of India |access-date=2009-04-10 |page=10 |author=Forbes, Geraldine |author2=Johnson, Gordon |author3=Tomlinson, B. R. |author4=Gordon, Stewart |author5=Asher, Catherine Ella Blanshard |year=1992 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |isbn=9780521267281}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |author=Khan, Ahmad Nabi |title=Islamic architecture in South Asia: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh |page=94 |access-date=2009-04-26 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r2tQAAAAMAAJ&q=Moth-ki-Masjid |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=2003 |isbn=9780195790658 |quote=Among them the most notable is the Moth Ki Masjid which was built by the Prime Minister of Sikanader Lodi in 1505.}}</ref> This mosque was considered a beautiful domed (''gumbad'') structure of the period.<ref name="ram" />

The mosque is in the modern locality of [[South Extension]] Part II, Uday Park, and Masjid Moth, comprising residential and commercial establishments in the urban setting of South Delhi.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.indiantemplesportal.com/delhi/moth-ki-masjid-delhi.html|title=Indian temples|access-date=2009-04-26}}</ref> It is surrounded by various other smaller [[dargah]]s and monuments that may be found peppered within the urban village. The mosque is a [[Monuments of National Importance (India)|Monument of National Importance]],<ref name="ASI MNI">{{Cite web|url=http://asi.nic.in/alphabetical-list-of-monuments-delhi/|title=List of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains of Delhi |work=[[Archaeological Survey of India]] |access-date=2018-10-02}}</ref> administered by the [[Archaeological Survey of India]].

==Legend==
It is narrated that when [[Sultan]] [[Sikandar Lodi]] was on a visit to a mosque in the vicinity of the present location of the Moth Ki Masjid for prayer, he knelt over a grain of moth (a kind of [[lentil]]), which had been dropped by a bird. Wazir Miya Bhoiya, who had accompanied the King, saw the lentil seed and observed that:{{blockquote|A seed so honoured by His majesty must not be thrown away. It must be used in the service of God.}}

So he took the moth seed and planted it in his garden for further growth. Over the years, the process of repeated planting and replanting of the moth seeds was carried out. In this process, the seeds multiplied several times. The Wazir finally sold the rich harvest and earned good money. With the proceeds of the sale he built the mosque after seeking permission from the Sultan to construct the Mosque.<ref name="ram" /> Impressed by the ingenuity of his minister, Sikandar Lodi laid the foundation for building the mosque.<ref name="shaan">{{Cite web |url=https://outstandingindia.blogspot.com/2009/02/dilli-ki-shaan.html |title=Dilli Ki Shaan: Moth Ki Masjid |work=Outstanding India |date=February 2009 |access-date=2009-04-26}}</ref>

Another version of the legend is that Sikandar Lodhi on one of his visits to the area played a prank on his Prime Minister by giving him a gift of a grain of moth (lentil). The Wazir accepted the gift in good grace and instead of throwing it away planted it in his garden. Over the years repeated plantation resulted in a rich harvest that provided a surplus income to the Wazir. Thereafter, the wazir, with the revenue earned from the lentil grains, decided to build a mosque. On completion, he invited the Sultan to visit the mosque and narrated the sequence of events which led to the building of the mosque. Impressed by this unique achievement, the Lodi named the mosque as "Moth Ki Masjid" or the Mosque from the Moth Lentil.<ref name="delhi">{{Cite web |url=http://www.delhilive.com/page/moth-ki-masjid-or-masjid-moth-200801212117 |title=Moth ki Masjid or Masjid Moth |work=Delhi Live.com |date=2008-01-21 |access-date=2009-04-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090522112630/http://www.delhilive.com/page/moth-ki-masjid-or-masjid-moth-200801212117 |archive-date=2009-05-22 }}</ref>

==Structure==
[[File:Outer wall of Moth Ki Masjid with tower.JPG|thumb|left|225px|Outer wall of the mosque]]
Raised on a high plinth, the mosque has a square layout. It is approached from the eastern side street of village Moti Masjid, through an exquisitely designed gate made of red, blue, black and white coloured sandstone arranged in a neat design. In particular, the arch of the gateway has a [[Hindu]] arch within a Muslim arch.<ref name="ram" /><ref name="indify">{{Cite web |url=http://www.indfy.com/places-to-see-in-delhi/south-delhi/moth-ki-masjid.html |title=Moth-ki-Masjid |work=Indify.com |date= |access-date=2009-04-26}}</ref>

Up the gateway steps, the entry is into a large courtyard, {{convert|38.6|m|ft}} wide, surrounded by walls. Within the courtyard, on the western side is the main shrine or the mosque with the rectangular prayer hall porch, which has a façade of five arched openings. The corners of the rectangular prayer hall are adorned with double storied towers. The towers have arched openings at the rear end of the roof with domed octagonal [[chhatris]] ([[cenotaph]]s) on the related walls. The west side wall is provided with tapering [[Turret (architecture)|turrets]] that depict a sophisticated outline.

The cenotaphs were the first of its kind to be built in India{{cn|date=January 2025}} and since then these have been replicated in several other monuments, even in the [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan]]. There are three impressive domes inside the prayer hall with the [[mihrab]] located on the west ''[[qibla]]'' wall of the central dome, which is the largest of the three domes. The mihrab depicts [[Quranic]] inscriptions in flora Nakashi in [[Iran]]ian design. Turrets project out of the qibla. The central dome is supported on [[squinches]]. The domes on both flanks are borne on [[muqarnas]] [[pendentives]]. Carved panels of red sandstone and white marble and plaster, as well as glazed tiles embellish the walls of the mosque. The overall effect of the Mosque has been best described as:<ref name="indify" /><ref name="history">{{Cite book |author=Syed, M. H. |title=History of Delhi Sultanate |access-date=2009-04-26 |page=413 |publisher=Anmol Publications Pvt. Ltd. |year=2004 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x3yUCbgjKawC&dq=Dimensions+of+Moth+Ki+Masjid&pg=PA413 |isbn=9788126118304}}</ref><ref name="arch">{{Cite web |url=http://www.archnet.org/library/sites/one-site.jsp?site_id=2201 |title=Moth-ki Mosque |date= |access-date=2009-04-26 |work=ArchNet Digital library |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503084714/http://archnet.org/library/sites/one-site.jsp?site_id=2201 |archive-date=2012-05-03}}</ref>
{{blockquote|''… epitomizes in itself all that is best in Architecture of the Lodis and displays a freedom of imagination, a bold diversity of design, an appreciation of contrasting light and shade and a sense of harmony in line and colour, which combine to make it one of the most spirited and picturesque buildings of its kind in the whole range of Islamic art.''}}
It is also said that it was the private mosque of the builder.<ref name="shaan" /><ref name="hotel">{{Cite web |url=http://www.hotels-new-delhi.com/tourist-attractions/masjid-moth.html |title=Masjid Moth |work=Hotels New Delhi |date= |access-date=2009-04-25}}</ref>

[[File:Moth Ki Masjid interior view (3548328526).jpg|thumb|right|150px|Five towered passage inside the mosque]]
An unusual feature of this [[Indo-Islamic architecture|Indo–Islamic]] mosque is that it has an austere{{clarify|date=January 2025|reason=Above text uses words such as "embellish", "sophisticated", "impressive", "beautiful", "picturesque", etc. "Austere" is contradictory to these terms.}} design with no [[minaret]]s,{{clarify|date=January 2025|reason=Imagery would indicate that the minarets may have been destroyed.}} calligraphic decorations,{{clarify|date=January 2025|reason=See Urdu image in gallery with inscriptions}} and embellishments,{{clarify|date=January 2025|reason=See text from Boloji.com below that specifically mentions "embellishments … using elegant niches".}} which are otherwise traditional features of mosques. The dome is semicircular and windows have latticework screens.<ref name="lentil">{{Cite web |url=http://www.bharatonline.com/delhi/religious-places/mosques/moth-ki-masjid.html |title=Moth ki Masjid |work=Bharat Online.com |date= |access-date=2009-04-25 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221045913/http://www.bharatonline.com/delhi/religious-places/mosques/moth-ki-masjid.html |archive-date=2009-02-21 }}</ref> An architectural appreciation of the structure vis-à-vis the five arched façade of domes of the period aptly infers:<ref name="boloji">{{Cite web |url=http://www.boloji.com/architecture/00021a.htm |title=The End of the Delhi Sultanate – 2 |work=Boloji.com |date= |access-date=2009-04-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516220330/http://www.boloji.com/architecture/00021a.htm |archive-date=16 May 2008 }}</ref>
{{blockquote|''… the rapid crystallization of the earlier concept. Firstly, it is considerably larger than its predecessor. Secondly, the articulation of the recessed arches is far more adept. Thirdly, embellishment has been done using elegant niches on the columns abutting the arches. Another important feature is the use of better material and color, as if the masons were trying for something more permanent and forceful.''}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Double storyed corner tower of Moth Ki Masjid.JPG|Double storeyed corner tower of the mosque
The Mihrab below the big dome of Moth Ki Masjid.JPG|[[Mihrab]] below the main dome
Urdu written on entrance gate of Inside Moth ki Masjid.jpg|[[Urdu language|Urdu]] inscription on the entrance gate
Tomb at the corner of Moth Ki Masjid.jpg|One of four tombs located in the mosque grounds
</gallery>

== See also ==
{{stack|{{portal|India|Islam}}}}
* [[Islam in India]]
* [[List of mosques in India]]
* [[List of Monuments of National Importance in Delhi]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category-inline}}

{{Delhi}}
{{Mosques in India}}

[[Category:16th-century mosques in India]]
[[Category:Architecture of the Lodi dynasty]]
[[Category:Monuments of National Importance in Delhi]]
[[Category:Mosque buildings with domes in India]]
[[Category:Mosques completed in the 1500s]]
[[Category:Mosques in Delhi]]
[[Category:Religious buildings and structures completed in 1505]]
[[Category:Sandstone buildings in India]]

Moth ki Mosque - Revision history

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