The Wazir Khan Mosque (Punjabi/Urdu: مسجد وزیر خان Masjid Wazīr Khān) in Lahore, Pakistan, is famous for its extensive faience tile work. It has been described as 'a mole on the cheek of Lahore'. It was built in seven years, starting around 1634--1635 AD, during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan. It was built by Hakim Shaikh Ilm-ud-din Ansari, a native of Chiniot, who rose to be the court physician to Shah Jahan and a governor of Lahore. He was commonly known as Wazir Khan, a popular title bestowed upon him (the word Wazir means 'minister' in Urdu and Persian). The mosque is inside the Inner City and is easiest accessed from Delhi Gate. The mosque contains some of the finest examples of Qashani tile work from the Mughal period. Covering an overall area of 279 ° x 159', the mosque is entirely constructed in cut and dressed bricks laid in kankar lime with a scanty sprinkling of red sandstone in the gate and the transept. The courtyard is divided into two parts : the upper part is about 6" higher than the lower with the ablution tank in the middle. The courtyard is flanked on its east, north and south sides by 32 small hujras of different sizes. The prayer chamber on the west side is divided into five compartments by massive piers bearing wide, four centred arches and each compartment is crowned by a dome. At the northern and southern ends of the prayer chamber, a small room has been contrived in the central portion while on the eastern end there is a gallery opening into the spiral staircase lending to the roof. The main structural features of distinction are the four corner minars (minarets), the five domes and transept at the entrance gate on the east. According to two inscriptions, the mosque was built in A.H. Within the inner courtyard of the mosque lies the subterranean tomb of Syed Muhammad Ishaq, known as Miran Badshah, a divine from Iran who settled in Lahore during the time of the Tughluq dynasty. The tomb, therefore, predates the mosque. Wazir Khan Mosque, Vazir Khan Mosque, Jami Masjid, Hakim Alimuddin Khan Mosque, Masjid-i Wazir Khan, Masjid-e Wazir Khan, Masjid-e-Wazir Khan, Masjid-i-Wazir Khan, Masjid-i Jami', Masjid-e Jami', Masjid-e-Jami', Masjid-i-Jami', Masjid-i-Jami, Masjid-e-Jami, Friday Mosque, Congregational Mosque. The mosque was founded by Hakim Ilmud Din Ansari, a distinguished physician from Chiniot who received the Ministerial title of 'Wazir Khan' under the reign of Shah Jahan, and was later promoted to the position of Viceroy of Punjab. He was active in commissioning buildings in Lahore. The mosque stands near the Delhi gate of Lahore, and is accessed through a gate leading into a forecourt which functions as a bazaar. A flight of stairs leads onto the raised platform on which the mosque is built. The mosque stands on the grave of the saint Miran Badshah, whose tomb is located in the elongated main courtyard, which also contains an ablution tank. The mosque is surrounded by shops, a serai, houses, and a large hammam, whose income helped support it. The main mosque is built in the brick and tile construction typical of the area, and is remarked for its fine, colourful ornament in paint and kashi work, or glazed tile mosaic. The designs include calligraphy and floral motifs. The mosque is divided into five compartments, each opening into a large courtyard and covered by a dome. The central of these, the main prayer hall, is larger than the rest, and is marked by a high pishtaq, or framed portal, protruding from the facade. Octagonal minarets mark the four corners of the interior courtyard. The best way to get there is to hire an autorickshaw as it is likely you will get lost in the old city. The charm of the mosque is that it is run-down yet laid back and colorful. It is a working mosque so you will encounter people doing their prayer. The guard can let us up the minaret for 300 rupees where you have a good view of the old city. The chowk or jilau khana is enclosed by other Mughal structures incorporating overlooking balconies. Although much dilapidated today, they were built by Wazir Khan and bequeathed to the mosque for its maintenance. In view of the lack of a jamia masjid in the fort during Shah Jahan's reign—Badshahi Masjid was built later—Wazir Khan's mosque served as imperial Jamia Masjid, utilized by the emperor and his grandees and large retinue to offer Friday prayers. Until the construction of Badshahi Mosque, surely, the emperor and his entire retinue, exiting from Akbari Gateway of the Fort, traversed the route via Masti Gate Bazaar, Chunna Mandi Chowk, Kotwali Walla Bazaar and Chowk Kotwali to arrive at the wonderfully decorated Wazir Khan Mosque.

• published: 18 Jan 2014
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