Jama Masjid historical timeline

The mosque has remained both a religious centre and a political symbol as authority in Delhi changed around it.

Chronology

1. 1644 Shah Jahan begins the congregational mosque for his new capital, Shahjahanabad.
2. 1656 The completed mosque is inaugurated and serves as the Mughal imperial mosque.
3. 1857 British forces confiscate the building after the uprising and use it as military quarters, ending its worship temporarily.
4. 1862 The mosque is returned to Delhi’s Muslim community under conditions imposed by the colonial government.
5. 1947 Abul Kalam Azad addresses Delhi’s Muslims here during Partition, showing that the courtyard remains a national political as well as religious space.

Continuity

Repairs have renewed surfaces, but the essential relationship between gates, courtyard, prayer hall and minarets survives. Its continued congregational use is part of the site’s significance and determines how visitors enter and behave.

• Official website
• Wikipedia