Jamat Khana was the assembly hall situated on the
eastern side of the tomb of Sheikh Salim Chisti, where his disciples
used to pray and carried out their religious practices. It is built in
red sandstone and is surrounded by charming perforated screens. Sheikh
Haji Hussain arranged the religious functions to be held here until his
death in 1591, after which he was buried in the southwestern corner of
the building. Since then, it became the graveyard of the Sheikh's
followers and houses twenty-four graves. There are Quranic inscriptions
on some of these graves and the pen box or the turban was used to mark
the graves of the men while a flat bard called takhti marks the grave of
the women.
The square building has a I m high platform and is enclosed with an
arcaded verandah. Each façade has seven bays while the
beautifully carved entrance door in the middle of the central façade
leads to a courtyard. The central chamber looks square from outside but
is octagonal from inside and houses the tomb of Islam Khan, who was the
grand son of Sheikh Salim and also the Governor of Bengal. Thus, this
chamber is also known as the tomb of Islam Khan. The unique feature of
the building lies in the 36 small domed kiosks that surrounds the
central dome making its roof look quite elegant. Badshahi Darwaza on its
eastern side is situated on Yaran Chabutra or Friends' Platform, which
houses the graves of other disciples of Shiekh Salim Chishti.
Jamat Khana at Fatehpur sikri was meant to be
the assembly hall.