Architecture and Memory: Safeguarding the Wali Muhammad Mosque, Multan

Abstract

Historic mosques serve not only as sacred spaces for worship but also as cultural landmarks that embody the artistic, social, and architectural traditions of their The Nawab Ali Wali Mosque, situated in Chowk Bazaar, Multan, is a significant 18th-century monument built in 1758 under the patronage of Nawab Ali Wali Muhammad Khan Khakwani during his governorship under Ahmad Shah Abdali. Constructed on a raised platform surrounded by shops intended to generate income for its upkeep, the mosque illustrates the integration of religious, cultural, and commercial functions in Islamic urbanism. Architecturally, it combines Mughal imperial traditions with regional Multani elements, featuring Shahjahani-style multifold arches, blue tile ornamentation, floral frescoes, and remnants of Gul-e-Nau patterned marble flooring. It has gone through several changes from when Sikh forces took over in 1818 and converted it into a gurdwara to later repairs after communal conflicts of the 19th century. It is facing very severe conservation challenges today because of structural settlement, increasing rising damp, fading ornamentation, and encroachments. The study considers this context, what the building is like architecturally, and what it means culturally while at the same time assessing its condition at present. Critical study with comparative analysis of other mosques belonging to the Mughal era stresses the immediate requirement of sustainable conservation by means of high-quality digital documentation,