Delhi's first and grandest mosque, now mostly in ruins, but many parts of the complex are still standing and the sandstone decorations are still impressive. Check out the extraordinarily ornate carvings near the tomb of Iltutmish on the west side of the complex.
The word 'Quuwat-ul-Islam' means 'the might of Islam'. It was the first mosque in India built by Qutub-ud-din Aibak, the founder and first Sultan of the Slave dynasty, and thus, was also called as 'Qutub Mosque'. This mosque does not include much of Islamic elements, as it was constructed using the ruins of the building material from 27 Hindu and Jain temples that had been demolished by the first Muslim rulers of India, which were situated in the Rajput citadel they had occupied. It is considered unique because it uses the pillars of Hindu temples with a number of Hindu motifs carved on them. The mosque and its complex were built between 1193 and 1198. Its associated buildings and extensions include much-reputed Qutub Minar, Iron Pillar of Mehrauli that dates back to the 4th century is devoted to Lord Vishnu, a gate and several tombs.
Even the later additions to the mosque continued to make use of the Hindu columns until they were exhausted and only then, new carvings were done to maintain the harmony and stylistic unity of the interiors. However, one can see a visible influence of Timurid style of mosque architecture in the large arched screen placed across the main prayer hall that had been added by Aibek in 1198. is, however, a clear reference to the Timurid style of mosques.