The correct answer is Aurangzeb Alamgir.
The historic Badshahi Masjid (Imperial Mosque) in Lahore was commissioned by the sixth Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb Alamgir, in 1671 and completed in 1673.
Architectural and Historical Importance:
- Scale and Design: Built under the supervision of Aurangzeb's foster brother and master of ordnance, Fidai Khan Koka, the mosque was the largest in the world at the time of its completion. It remains one of the most iconic examples of Mughal architecture, heavily featuring red sandstone from Rajasthan and white marble inlay work.
- Structural Features: The design boasts three grand marble domes and four monumental corner minarets that define the Lahore skyline. Its vast courtyard can accommodate over 100,000 worshippers.
- Historical Legacy: Located directly opposite the Lahore Fort, the mosque stands as a symbol of the peak of imperial Mughal grandeur in the region.
Comparison of the Options:
- Zaheer Uddin Babur: Incorrect. Babur was the founder of the Mughal Empire in 1526, ruling more than a century before the construction of the Badshahi Masjid.
- Naseer Uddin Humayun: Incorrect. Humayun was the second Mughal emperor and father of Akbar; his reign concluded mid-16th century, long before this mosque was conceived.
- Aurangzeb Alamgir: The correct answer. He ordered and funded the entire construction during his reign in the late 17th century.
- Shahenshah Akbar: Incorrect. While Akbar heavily fortified and expanded the nearby Lahore Fort during his stay in the city, he did not build the Badshahi Masjid.
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