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Top 10 Facts about Qutub-ud-Din Aibak’s Tomb

Qutab-ud-Din Aibk, the first Sultan of India and founder of Khandan-e- Ghulaman( Dynasty of Slaves) as well as successor of Shahab-ud-Din Ghori died as a result of a fall from a horse while playing Chaugan (polo) in 1210 A.D.

He was buried in the area outside Lahori/ Lohari gate now known as Anarkali Bazar. At the time of his death, this area was an open ground most likely used as a playing ground for Chaugan. According to British period historical accounts, there was a marble tomb which was pulled down by Ranjit Singh and then in the British period, a specific area was surrounded by a wall for protection.

The Department of Archaeology and Museums, Pakistan built the present tomb over the grave in 1990, by acquiring two houses around the grave.

The tomb is built in Central Asian style and also given some touches of local architectural traditions. The main square building is constructed on a platform, a three-step staircase is provided to enter the tomb. The walls of the tomb around the entrance are decorated with brilliant calligraphic work by Hafiz Muhammad Yousaf Sadeedi, a reputed scriber of present times.

Here are the top 10 facts about Qutub-ud-Din Aibak’s tomb.

1.  The Tomb holds the Remains of Aiback who was Born in Turkey

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Aibak was born in a Turkish family of the Aibak tribe and unfortunately during his childhood, he was arrested and sold as a slave. Historic references say that he was bought by one of the tribal chiefs of Nishapur, who treated him like his own son.

Aibak didn鈥檛 know that this would be a turning point of his life because the tribal chief provided him with excellent education and trained him in the fields of archery and the art of horsemanship. However, Aibak could not long enjoy the patronage of his master but after his death, his sons sold him again.

2.  The man in the Tomb was  a Natural Born Leader

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After being sold by the sons of his dead benefactor, his new master was as the famous Muhammad Ghauri, Sultan of the Ghaurid Empire. After Ghauri bought him, Aibak once again became the 鈥榝avourite鈥� of his new master because of his exceptional character and outstanding qualities.

That was the time when Aibak started his new life by moving ahead from being only a slave as Ghauri made him the 鈥榓mir-i-akhur鈥� (master of slaves).

3. In the Tomb is Interred a Warrior King

From 鈥榓mir-i-akhur,鈥� Aibak rose to the rank of a general. He was responsible for most of the conquests of Northern India and was appointed Ghauri鈥檚 viceroy of Delhi. When Ghauri died in 1206, he had no male heir and so according to his will, Aibak was made the Sultan.

That was the time when a slave rose to the position of Sultan. Aibak, a former slave was now 鈥渢he master of all.鈥� It was Qutbuddin Aibak who shifted the capital from Ghazni to Lahore, and then from Lahore to Delhi, and thus is considered as the first Muslim ruler of South Asia.

4. The tomb holds remains of Qutab-ud-Din Aibk  founder of the Slave dynasty

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Qutab-ud-Din Aibk, the first Sultan of India and founder of Khandan-e- Ghulaman( Dynasty of Slaves) as well as successor of Shahab-ud-Din Ghori 

A unique step Aibak took was that he established the 鈥榮lave dynasty鈥� on the death of Muhammad Ghori in 1206 when he assumed independence of his reign and was followed by nine other 鈥榮lave kings.鈥� His successors, who ruled India until 1290, were also slaves like him and thus dynasty became known as the 鈥榮lave dynasty.鈥�

Six centuries of Muslim rule in India followed Qutbuddin Aibak and the slave dynasty lasted until 1290. The Sultanate itself lasted until 1526 when the Mughals took over.

Aibak was succeeded by another Turkic slave and his son-in-law, Shams ud-Din Iltutmish. Iltutmish was the father of Razia Sultana, Delhi鈥檚 first and only female ruler.

Thereafter, various Turkic (and some Afghan) Sultans ascended the throne during the Delhi Sultanate era, until the arrival of another Turko-Mongol dynasty from Samarqand (present day Uzbekistan) 鈥� the Mughals (with Sultan Zahiruddin Babar laying the foundation for the Mughal Empire in India in 1526 CE).

5.   The Tomb was built for the one who started Construction of Qwat-ul-Islam (might of Islam) mosque

As per historic accounts Aibak had started construction of the impressive Qwat-ul-Islam (might of Islam) mosque in Delhi in 1192.

The mosque was built in a period of four years (1192-97) and acquired its first set of boundaries over the remnants of twenty-seven Hindu-Jain temples that were demolished deliberately as an act of war to establish the power of Ghaurid Turk rule in the newly acquired city of Delhi.

Expansion of the mosque was continued after Aibak鈥檚 death by his able son-in-law and General of the Army, Iltutmish, in the year 1230.

6.  Aibak Tomb was made after he died Playing Chaugan (polo)

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He died in Lahore in 1210 A.D. While playing polo a game he loved, Aibak fell from a horse and was severely injured. He was buried in Lahore. Aibak鈥檚 tomb is located behind the Anarkali bazaar. In the early 1970鈥檚 the then prime minister of Pakistan Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto ordered the renovation of the tomb.

In the Middle East, Chaugan is a game similar to Golf and Polo. It involves a ball, horses, and sticks (gili). The word can also mean “four corners”. In this sense, the word probably refers to the playing ground on which the game is played

7.   The Tomb is surrounded by Residential Buildings

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The tomb was built, in its present form, during the 1970s by the Department of Archaeology and Museums, Pakistan. The government bought two residential compounds and demolished them to pave way for the tomb.

Yellow stone was used for the construction, a marble dome was erected, emulating the Sultanate-era architecture. The walls decorated with carvings and calligraphy gave it a simple yet elegant look.

The walls opposite the gate still have engravings resembling the Qutub Minar. Prior to this, the Sultan鈥檚 grave, in its simple form, was enclosed by residential houses.

8.  Tomb not well Known

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The tomb stands alone and many people don鈥檛 know about its historic importance and the man buried there.

A small garden surrounds the tomb and an open entrance leads you inside the boundary walls. As you enter the tomb building, you will feel the 鈥榓we鈥� at the thought of who lay in front of us!

For the devotees they recite the fateha, sitting next to the grave, recalling the impact Aibak and his succeeding dynasties have had on this region.

9.  Visit the Jalebi Shop Across the road from the Tomb

Upon exiting the tomb, drop in to have jalebis from across the road. 鈥楯alebi鈥�, a popular sweet in India and Pakistan, was brought to this region by its 鈥楶ersianised鈥� Turkic rulers.

A number of other mouth-watering dishes came alongside it, including Kabab, Pulao, Gulab Jaman and Koftay (the origin of Swedish meat balls being the Ottoman Turkish 鈥楰ofte鈥� was a noteworthy discussion in some Western newspapers recently).

10.  The Tomb is proof Turkic-Persian Impact on the Indian Region Culture

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The impact of Turkic-Persian sultans in present-day Pakistan, India and Bangladesh is remarkable. A mixture of Islamic, Persian and Turkic cultures came along with the new rulers. Thus, the religious, cultural, social, intellectual and political atmosphere of mainland India started to evolve in a new direction.

Foreign languages such as Persian (as the official language), Arabic (as the religious language) and Turkic (primarily as the native language of the sultans and their associates) gained traction in mainland India and fostered a strong bond between this region and the rest of the Muslim world (especially Persia, Afghanistan and Central Asia).

These languages also influenced the development of Indian languages, particularly Urdu, which still uses Arabic-Persian letters and scripts