people who saw it, was impacted by its sheer proportions and symbolic meaning. The Minar was a more potent symbol that could have a mass-visual impact as it was positioned as the Qutub, an axis or pole of Islam. It could be seen from far. It has been suggested by many scholars that the original purpose of building Qutub Minar was to facilitate the mu’azzin (crier) to call believers for prayer. Considering the height of the Minar, it would take a superbly fit & athletic Mu’azzin to climb the 379 steps five times a day.
Aibak lived only to see the completion of the first storey. Other three storeys were built by his son in law and successor Iltutmish. Qutub Minar served as the tower of victory-the victory of Islamic warriors against the predominantly Hindu, Jaina & Buddhist Inhabitants who couldn’t stand up to the might of their conquerors. The balcony on the first floor of the Minar which could have been used by the mu’azzin to call the faithful for prayers. A loud mu’azzin calling the faithful could be heard for quite a distance five times a day, reminding the conquered their altered status.
Originally Qutub Minar comprised of only four storeys made up of red and buff sandstone. When the top floor (fourth) was damaged due to lightning strike, Feroz Shah Tughlaq the then reigning sultan ordered repairs in 1368. He replaced the damaged uppermost storey with the two marble stories (a way of gaining permanent stake in its construction). Thus today the Minar stands grandly with five floors.
Iron Pillar:
The Iron Pillar is located within the courtyard of the Qutub Complex. It is one of the world’s foremost metallurgical curiosities with an estimated weight of the decorative bell of the