The Jinns Of Jamali Kamali

by Vargis.Khan

Before I write anything here, the whole situation of Jamali Kamali kind of reminds of some couplets that I read a long time ago. I will start the article with a couplet,

Na Mandir mein sanam, Na Masjid mein Khuda hota,
Hamse hi ye tamasha hai, Na ham hote toh kya hota…

Right next to Qutub Minar is another Archaeological site that very few people know about. People who do know about it just know that it is another one of several Mughal Era monuments standing in ruins all over Delhi. This is the Jamali Kamali mosque which if one is to consider has more glory to it than Qutub Minar itself but the only attention it now gets is because of the haunting stories related to  Jinns that are believed to reside there.

Jamali Kamali Mosque
This mosque, built in 1528-29, is located within Mehrauli Archaeological Park, which actually shares boundary with Qutub Minar premises. Entrance to this park is however about 500 meters away from Qutub Minar’s entrance gate. Within the mosque, built in a separate area, are the tombs of Jamali and Kamali. There is no entry fee here and the park is always full with kids playing and elderly people taking a walk. Within the lush green of the park, at an almost isolated corner, stands this magnificent monument which just by one look you can tell needs some serious attention of authorities but unfortunately isn’t getting any. There is a single security guard posted in the premises which I am sure must get bored a lot because there is rarely anyone around here ever. He looks like a ghost himself sitting in a corner. Right outside the gate of the mosque and as a matter of fact all over this park are several other tombs that are now just stones and walls crumbling down, exposing the graves that were once inside the tombs. In fact we wouldn’t know about the other tombs if we didn’t bother to read the signs put up by ASI. In short, it is a perfect setting for a ghost story.

Jamali Kamali Mosque at night by vargis khan

So who were Jamali and Kamali?

Jamali was pseudonym of Sheikh Hamid bin Fazlu’llah who was also known as Sheikh Jamal-ud-din Kamboh Dehlawi aka Jalal Khan. He was a Sufi saint known for his poetry and came to India during the reign of Sultan Sikendar Lodi [ruled 1489-1517 AD] and settled in Delhi. He was already known by 3 different names but people, impressed by his poetry and seeing the beauty in the words, gave him his fourth name Jamali. Jamali comes from Urdu word Jamal which means beauty and positive aura. He was a disciple of another Sufi poet Sheikh Sama-ud-din and the mosque that now hosts his tomb was his place of chilla-nashini. It is said that such was the beauty of Jamali’s poems that even Sikendar Lodi who himself was a renowned poet used to get his works corrected by Jamali. After Mughals conquered India, Jamali was offered a place in their court and remained there during the reign of Babar and Humayun, until his death. It is also said that it was Humayun himself who had the tomb built after Jamali’s death.




“Kamal” in Urdu means miracle. Who Kamali was, however, remains a complete mystery. Whether he was a disciple of Jamali, or another Sufi poet or maybe just a servant, no one knows. We don’t even know if that was his real name or if he just took that name because it rhymed with Jamali. There are several stories around his identity one of which is that it was actually his works, his poems that Jamali took credit for. Another story is that they were brothers who travelled together to India. Jamali got famous because he was an excellent poet while Kamali had no such talent but he too was a Sufi saint. An even more interesting story is actually described by an American author Karen Chase in her book “Jamali- Kamali, A Tale of Passion in Mughal India” where she mentions that they were both homosexual partners.
A more believable story however, that even I am inclined to believe, is that Kamali was actually Jamali’s wife, a woman who is now, after centuries, believed to be a man because of the name Kamali which sounds a little masculine. Kamali died first and Jamali, who had an important place in the royal court at that time, built a tomb for his beloved life. After Jamali’s own death, Emperor Humayun had him buried right next to his wife in the tomb that Jamali had himself built during his life.

This mosque has a glorious history attached to it. It has been believed by many scholars that the poetry found in the Guru Granth Sahib, under tha name of Baba Farid, a disciple of Qutubudin Bakhtiyar Kaki, were actually works of Jamali. It is also this very mosque that is supposed to have laid foundation to the great Mughal architecture style and also introduced the Jharokha system which was missing from earlier monuments. Sadly enough, all this glory now seems to have been forgotten. People are scared to visit here because of tales of unexplainable phenomenon like eerie sounds, sudden white visions and presence of ghosts.

There are numerous stories about the Jinns that are now believed to reside within Jamali Kamali. Some of the interesting ones that either make people to stay away from here or to be here at night are instances of sightings of lights, apparitions, animals growling and a feeling that there is someone else standing right next to you. People have mentioned that they sometimes felt a person peeking from behind a pillar but when they walked over to it, there was no one there. A wisp of air as if someone just breathed on your neck and a laughing sound are a few other stories. The best one however is of people getting slapped by an invisible force.

Jamali Kamali mosque at night by vargis khan

According to Muslim mythology, Jinns live in what can be called a parallel world to that of humans. God created humans out of sand and Jinns out of fire. Just like our world, they have a world of their own where they go through their routine lives. Some of them are good and some are criminal-minded. While humans cannot see them, Jinns on the other hand have the power to cross over worlds. Sometimes a Jinn steps into human world and decides to stay here, primarily in abandoned places. This same phenomenon is applied to Jamali Kamali mosque. It was left abandoned for a long time until ASI took over the restoration work. The Jinn or Jinns however refused to leave and still live here. When annoyed by human presence, they slap or hurt people who visit the mosque.

I asked the only security guard sitting on duty at the mosque and his response was, “Is there a greater ghost or Jinn than humans?”

And so true it is. He spoke about how he had been at the mosque several times on duty, both during day and night but had never felt any paranormal or abnormal activity. Its just the humans, he says, who cook up stories for their own entertainment. One took at the dome of this mosque and you can see the destruction caused by no ghosts or jinns but men. People have written their names all over it due to which the staircase had to be locked down. Unfortunately I could not gain entry to the area where the tombs are located but have been told that they are a beauty in themselves. People destroying these historical monuments are the very reason that even the gate to the tombs had to be locked.

Whatever the story is or whatever the belief, one thing is for certain. This mosque doesn’t get the attention that it deserves. The stories were created either by people looking to have a good gossip or by people who wanted to make a little money by offering a night-tour of the monument which is forbidden by law. There are no ghosts here and no Jinns. Just a cool breeze of air, sounds of bird, a few graves and a very old mosque which was left abandoned, even by the Muslim community, to rot in time.

Masjid toh bana di shab bhar mein, Iman ki hararat walo ne,
Mann apna purana papi hai, barson se namazi ho na saka …..

Go to Jamali Kamali, visit the place but do not go expecting anything supernatural because there isn’t. Adore the architecture, admire the beauty, pay respect at a mosque.

77 comments

Amit January 12, 2022 - 11:25 am

Been atop of the monument and the graves when I was a young kid… Nothing on top except bats … Stories most intriguing include there is a lamp on top of the fort lit at night and no one can reach the source.

Reply
Rajat Kumar December 7, 2020 - 7:06 am

I have been there twice. Yeah during day time only.

I really second the statement that no ghost is greater than human. It is sad to see the damage caused to these heritage monuments by humans only.

Reply
SpeedTechnolabs February 23, 2019 - 12:14 pm

Hey Vargis
Can u tell me that some one ever observed such type of haunted activities over there

Reply
Vargis.Khan February 23, 2019 - 7:27 pm

I haven’t, can’t really say for others

Reply
Divya February 15, 2019 - 11:36 am

I have been went to this place. U have given a best and a proper details. This is true that there’s nothing like paranormal things in the Mehrauli archeological park. I even talked to the security guard he even told me the same. The place really beautiful. When i visited there i literally felt something really different. It was really so so beautiful but unfortunately a ignored place. Some better Maintenance is obviously required. I feel sometimes its better to be a ignorant place because people actually ruin beautiful things. Anyways thanks for the article it is really great.

Reply
Vargis.Khan February 15, 2019 - 2:55 pm

Thanks Divya

Reply
Arjun July 1, 2020 - 5:29 pm

Bhai m jara hu explore krne to mere channel ko aap dekhna

Reply
Hiya October 29, 2018 - 4:17 pm

By reading a few comments I can easily make out how beautiful that place must be but somewhere I am scared too but I’ll surely go there. Look I don’t know wether there are Jinnah or not but everyone is scared from such stories but it’s really annoying that some people make such types of stories about such a beautiful place

Reply
Vargis.Khan October 30, 2018 - 12:34 pm

You should visit. It is a a very peaceful place indeed.

Reply
S.W Arpi July 15, 2018 - 6:53 am

It was a wonderful piece. Am late to read this but it’s wonderful. Have been trying to find some information about this place. Have visited it and really loved the calmness there.

Reply
Vargis.Khan July 15, 2018 - 8:21 am

Thank you Arpi

Reply
Vani November 7, 2017 - 3:01 pm

Hi! I’m a high school student and history student as well. This article is one of the most informative ones. However, if you can share a few sources or something like that, it would be absolutely fantastic. I and a few of my other friends were supposed to make a documentary on the not so popular monuments of Delhi and we chose this. So if you could recommend us books/articles/ sources, it would be of great help.
Thanks!

Reply
Vargis.Khan November 7, 2017 - 6:02 pm

I do not know of any books on the matter. Most of my findings were from either reading over the web or talking to some other people who were interested in either history or paranormal phenomenon.

Reply
Arun May 30, 2017 - 6:52 pm

I went there on 29/05/2017, 6 am. The gates of the Jamali Kamali mosque were open with 2 guards inside. Went up a small staircase on the right side which led to a kind of balcony. I suddenly felt a gust of air hit me and sent chills throughout my body, it felt like electricity going through me. The hair on body was standing up. I immediately asked my friend to take random snaps, two of the photos had a transparent face, you could make out the features if you look carefully, so now have documented evidence that this place is haunted, it’s not everday that you’ll find ghosts but I did that day, with proof.

Reply
sarthak singh October 7, 2018 - 5:37 pm

CAN YOU SEND US THE PHOTOS OR POST THEM ANYWHERE WHERE WE CAN SEE.

Reply
Ravi Raj Atrey May 14, 2017 - 4:30 am

I visited the jamali kamali about 5am today. I saw a person from my car while entering at the slop, and he suddenly disappeared before my eyes.

Reply
Dr Sadiqua Mohammadi March 7, 2017 - 4:49 pm

Salaam Vargis bhai,
I recently happened to visit this place with my mom. I had read up stories up it being haunted but hadn’t told her. I asked the guard there and he gave a similar response as what you have stated. I personally don’t believe a mosque can be haunted.
The guard was sweet enough to let us in through the locked gate and we saw the Tombs. There are not one or two but many Tombs behind the locked door. We entered with the usual words of “as Salaamo ya ahle quboor.” had a short look around and left after a few minutes to see the rajaon ki baoli again in the same mehrauli premises.
Trust me when I say this we could hear the footsteps of a third person walking with us.
It was my mom who first pointed out and to avoid panic I kept denying it though I could clearly hear it. And there was no one behind us in ear shot. But the good part is there was nothing eerie. It was just a presence we felt till quite a distance and then it was no more.
Jinn or spirit I don’t know but who ever it is means no harm to anyone. A stroll in the garden is always good perhaps even after death 😉
Dr S. Mohammadi

Reply
Vargis.Khan March 8, 2017 - 3:15 am

Walaikum-as-salam Dr. Mohammadi,

You are definitely lucky that the guard allowed you inside the tomb premises. I wish I could see them upclose too. I have been to Jamali a few times after the time I mentioned in the article above but never really felt anything. And yes, I agree, a stroll in a beautiful garden will never do any harm.

Thank you for taking the time to drop a beautiful note.

Reply
Nits... December 11, 2016 - 4:20 pm

This is really a very beautiful place where one can find peace of mind.
I often visit there and never witnessed any negativity there.
But this doesn’t mean that I disrespect the fact that there is another world of Jinns exist.
Trust Jinns never interfere in human lives as we humans are of no use to them, contrary we keep on trying to poke them by all the possible options in the world.

I believe we are not doing justice to our own history by spreading such irrelevant stories about these beautiful places.

We should not scare people by spreading such non-sense and illogical stories about such beautiful monuments. Infect I believe that “Jamali Kamali Masjid” should be operational like any other mosque in the city and should not left abandon any more.

We should also take ownership and ensure no one destroys the beauty of such places by carving names and spitting around.

I am a die hard fan of such beautiful monuments built by great rulers and their followers.

Nits…

Reply
Vargis.Khan December 11, 2016 - 4:24 pm

Very well said Nits. I completely endorse your views.

Reply
Tariq khan December 6, 2016 - 3:14 pm

Nice and detailed article…will have definitly a visit ti this place.

Reply
Vargis.Khan December 7, 2016 - 1:41 am

Thanks Tariq

Reply
Gouri C Sethi October 1, 2016 - 5:23 am

Hi vargis I visited jamali kamali I got an eerie feeling and few uncomfortable nights bt maybe that’s psychological maybe my mind playing tricks with me I saw the tomb from outside two tombs it was amazing anyhow great experience and nothing seriously bad happened so I am happy I visited this place

Reply
Vargis.Khan October 1, 2016 - 8:59 am

That’s both interesting and strange Gouri and yeah, maybe it is all psychological.

Reply
Vargis.Khan October 1, 2016 - 9:00 am

And yes, I agree that it is indeed a beautiful place.

Reply
divyanshu August 8, 2016 - 4:13 pm

Yesterday… I spent a night in jamali kamali but… No ghost.. Meet me

Reply
Vargis.Khan October 1, 2016 - 8:58 am

Because there are none

Reply
Suparna Deb May 29, 2016 - 7:37 am

Today only read this article .Very well written.

Reply
Vargis.Khan May 29, 2016 - 6:36 pm

Thank you

Reply
Parvez Ahmed May 18, 2017 - 10:25 am

These are only rumours that some people made,Go there this is a very beautiful place so,don’t think about any paranormal because these paranormal is in people’s mind and there is nothing. Thank you from sajjad ahmed

Reply
asif ahsan February 7, 2016 - 7:30 pm

i visited that mosque around 20 year back.there r so many structure inside and outside the campus.i found so many drugs seller and drugs addict there.other than mosque i found used condoms,match sticks,alumunium sheets used by drug addict.they r more than ghost.

Reply
Vargis.Khan February 9, 2016 - 5:44 am

True indeed and very sad

Reply
Zahid December 11, 2015 - 10:40 am

As salam, Vargis. Quite intresting article, only one thing about “an American author Karen Chase in her book “Jamali- Kamali, A Tale of Passion in Mughal India” where she mentions that they were both homosexual partners.” I really dont get it…can you please explain me…Zahid

Reply
Vargis.Khan December 17, 2015 - 1:46 am

Walaikum As-Salam Zahid Bhai ….. She meant to say that they were both gay lovers.

Reply
Soumik December 10, 2015 - 9:04 am

Hello Vargis,
Been reading through your article for some research work. I am a Delhi based journo. First of all wanted to say:
Kya khoob lavz hai apke. Bilkul dil ko chu gayi. I too share similar feelings for the world.
A ghost hunter told me about djinns there. Wondering if you have some other references on these so called other worldly beings. Just pursuing for a case in rationality. Thank you so much for a well written article and beautiful photos. It was pleasure reading you till the last comment.
Best,
Soumik

Reply
Vargis.Khan December 17, 2015 - 1:48 am

Thanks so much Soumik bhai. I am glad you liked the article. But can you please elaborate your question a little more, I kind of did not understand what you meant to ask.

Reply
Vikram October 23, 2015 - 5:15 pm

Hii…I viated the place yesterday,,,it was a nice visit,,,,as usual, no ghost was there,,as per me,,,,,,,,,but,my angel friend found one and got one,,who is haunting him, ,,,,,ppl who know they will know,,,,that it is for real,,,

Reply
Vargis.Khan October 25, 2015 - 3:17 pm

Interesting …

Reply
Shahid October 19, 2015 - 8:17 am

i have visited in jamali kamali fort but i did’t feel any abnormal activity

Regards
shahid

Reply
harshit September 24, 2015 - 3:28 pm

cheers for hindu muslim unity

Reply
Vargis.Khan September 26, 2015 - 3:56 pm

Cheers brother ….

Reply
Ahad jamali August 18, 2015 - 9:36 am

Hello vargis khan

My name is Ahad Jamali and my caste is Jamali. I live in karachi city of province sindh, Pakistan.

I always in search of my caste from where this jamali tribe created and came from when i found this article about jamali kamali mosque and tomb, i got ghoosebumps….

I dont know wether we are generation of this jamali or from someone else.

Jamali tribe mainly now situated in province sindh and balochistan of pakistan an also in Iran country.

If you have some other information regarding this so plz tell me i am really want to know this

Thanks 🙂

Reply
Vargis.Khan August 24, 2015 - 10:53 am

Hello Ahad,

I am sorry but I do not have any further information about the tribe.

Reply
iman July 8, 2015 - 7:27 am

good research on the topic but vargis you better become a poet – masjid toh bana li shab bhar mein .iman ki hararat walon ne,man apna purana papi hain,barson se namazi ho na sake…………………..

Reply
Vargis.Khan July 8, 2015 - 11:40 pm

Thank you so much Iman

Reply
Pat Casserly July 23, 2015 - 7:52 am

Vardis, please share a translation as I am ashamed I cannot understand! Loved your article. I have been visiting there with small groups regularly over the past 5 years and am so disappointed that even a tip cannot get the guards to open up the tombs any more. Such a shame when vandals spoil it for those who are genuinely interested.

Reply
Vargis.Khan August 24, 2015 - 10:51 am

Hi Pat,

Thank you for liking the article. Did you mean translation for the couplets? And I agree, it is a shame that the tomb had to be closed because of vandals.

Reply
Pat Casserly August 24, 2015 - 11:20 am

Yes, a translations of the couplets would be great.

Reply
Vargis.Khan August 25, 2015 - 10:09 am

Na Mandir mein sanam, Na Masjid mein Khuda hota,
Hamse hi ye tamasha hai, Na ham hote toh kya hota…

This would translate into something like,

There wouldn’t be an idol in the temple nor a God in the mosque,
All this is because of us, what would the case if there weren’t any humans at all …

Masjid toh bana di shab bhar mein, Iman ki hararat walo ne,
Mann apna purana papi hai, barson se namazi ho na saka …..

This would be something like ….

They managed to built a mosque overnight, the ones who believed in god,
My heart but is an old sinner, did not become a worshiper in years …

saima June 27, 2015 - 6:30 am

Very nice article vargis. Loved the two couplets you shared. Most apt

Reply
Vargis.Khan June 28, 2015 - 3:33 am

Thank you Saima

Reply
Hamza Ayaz June 3, 2015 - 9:06 am

Excellent article brother Vargis. I too visit places that are run down and are supposedly “haunted”. All I see, like you yourself did in this case, is an abandoned place neglected by humans for reasons that are primarily selfish (like not allowing people to trespass and scare them off, etc).
There’s a guest house in Ireland called The Ramm’s Inn (correct me if I’m wrong please), it has been owned by and RESIDED in by a man for quite a long time. He doesn’t leave because he earns truckloads of money from tourists who want to see why it has been labelled haunted.
Same case for most places I guess. Still searching for a place which actually is resided by entities of the parallel world.

Reply
Vargis.Khan June 3, 2015 - 10:08 pm

Thank you Brother Hamza for liking the article and commenting… I definitely agree with your views. Most of these so called haunted places have been labelled such for selfish reasons ….

Reply
Amar May 23, 2015 - 5:44 am

Heyy Nice Photographs

Reply
Vargis.Khan May 23, 2015 - 6:02 pm

Thanks Amar

Reply
kapil May 4, 2015 - 11:19 am

Hi Vargis,

its a beautiful place me and my friends always been there for some entertainment.
I want to know what is your thought about Firoz shah kotla fort and Agrasen ki baoli.??
they are also undergoing the 10 most haunted place in delhi.

Reply
Vargis.Khan May 4, 2015 - 5:18 pm

Hi Kapil, Jamali Kamali is beautiful place indeed. I have written an article on Agrasen ki Baoli … take a look

Reply
Jahnvi April 20, 2015 - 8:24 am

I have visited jamali kamali twice with my friends. It’s a beautiful and peaceful place. Just because it is abandoned doesn’t means that it’s haunted. Well it’s human psychology. But this place is very pretty and relaxing. 🙂
Btw nice article..!!

Reply
Vargis.Khan April 20, 2015 - 12:04 pm

Agreed … and thank you 🙂

Reply
Sanchayee February 12, 2015 - 5:58 am

gonna visit ths plc..very soon.. 🙂

nyc article ..<3

Reply
Vargis.Khan February 13, 2015 - 4:43 am

Thanks Bro

Reply
suhas katti November 19, 2014 - 10:32 am

Hey Vargis..

Nice article.. That is the beauty of Delhi.. Lots of Mughal era monuments .. each with its own story to tell !! suhas katti

Reply
Vargis.Khan November 19, 2014 - 1:15 pm

Thanks a lot Suhas … And I agree, each monument has a story of its own.

Reply
suhas katti November 19, 2014 - 10:28 am

Hey Vargis..

Nice article.. Definitely makes me want to visit on my next delhi trip. suhas katti

Reply
Vargis.Khan November 19, 2014 - 1:16 pm

You must visit it brother

Reply
findME October 29, 2014 - 10:03 am

Well, when we read the first few paragraphs, we also feel its an eerie place. Lollz. But, we feel kind of a relief when we go through the conversation between the author and the security guard. Its like, so far, we have been wandering in complete fearful darkness and a zigzag never ending corridor, but now we are out and can see the world with full of sun light.

All I realised now that, this place was know to few, but with this article, now there would be more visitors. Great job Vargis.

Reply
Vargis.Khan October 29, 2014 - 11:50 am

Thank you …. Even I hope the same.

Reply
Pradeep October 28, 2014 - 11:01 am

Hi Vargis,

Really great article and thanks for updating us. It deserves more attention and care.

Reply
Vargis.Khan October 28, 2014 - 11:30 am

Thanks Pradeep

Reply
Sweety Potdar October 28, 2014 - 9:30 am

Hi Vargis, Very Nice Article. Will visit the place in my next visit to Delhi.
Thanks for putting Light on the beautiful Monument

Reply
Vargis.Khan October 28, 2014 - 11:31 am

Thanks Sweety

Reply
Shireen Khan October 18, 2014 - 2:22 pm

nice article Vargis .

Reply
Vargis.Khan October 18, 2014 - 5:02 pm

Thank you Shireen

Reply
Hemant September 14, 2014 - 5:07 pm

Great article…
Visited the Jamali Kamali mosque today.
A very serene and interesting place however lacks the attention of the tourists.

Reply
Vargis.Khan September 14, 2014 - 5:22 pm

Thanks Hemant. It is a beautiful monument indeed

Reply
Guarv October 21, 2014 - 9:18 pm

Hi Vargis sir i just want know one thing from u that Jamali – Kamali ghost story are real or not if me and my friend spend one night over their is can we get the permission for that i know this stupid question from my side but still want ans from u if give the answer to me
I will be very thank full to u

Reply
Vargis.Khan October 22, 2014 - 1:28 am

Hi Gaurav, Its not real, just a myth. There are no ghosts there, nothing at all. You will just be wasting your time like I did. A guard remains posted there in the mosque all night.

Reply

Leave a Comment