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Jamali was the "Nom de Plume" of Shaikh
Fazlu'llah, also known as Jalal Khan, a saint and poet who lived from
Sikandar Lodi's reign to that of Humayun. The mosque associated with his
name lies about 300m south of Balban's tomb and was commenced around
1528-29 during Babur's reign and completed during that of Humayun.
His tomb, lying adjacent, was built also perhaps around 1528-29, before
his death in 1535-36. Since there are two graves in the tomb, one believed
to be that of Jamali, and the other that of Kamali, an unknown person, the
monuments go under a 'double-barrelled' name.
The original gate to the mosque, still surviving, lies on the south. Its
prayer-hall is pierced by five arches, inclining towards a four-centred
form and ornamented with carved bands and medallions in the spandrels. The
central arch, higher than the others, is more profusely decorated and
flanked by fluted pilasters. The niches in the western wall are also
decorated, the central and northern ones with Quranic inscriptions.
Two staircases at either end of the prayer-hall lead to a narrow gallery
running right round the mosque on the second storey with three oriel
windows at the rear, one on the south and a small window above the central
arch. The rear corners are occupied by octagonal towers. Below the parapet
in front are pendant lotus-buds. A single dome covers the central bay.
Architecturally this elegant mosque marks the transition from the
Moth-Masjid to Sher Shah's mosque, with
both of which it shares certain features.
The tomb of Jamali-Kamali lies immediately to the north of the mosque
within an enclosure. Its small chamber is flat-roofed, and its ceiling and
walls are highly ornamented with coloured tiles and patterns in incised
and painted plaster, including inscribed verses composed by Jamali.
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