Mumbai– Four years after the historic Supreme Court verdict on the Ayodhya dispute, a consortium representing the All India Rabta-e-Masajid (network of mosques) and Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation has unveiled the name of the forthcoming mosque that will stand as a symbol of unity to replace the Babri Masjid. This grand mosque, arguably set to be the largest in the nation with the capacity to accommodate up to 9,000 worshippers, has been christened as “Masjid Muhammad Bin Abdullah.”
The foundation stone-laying ceremony for this significant mosque, situated on a five-acre expanse at Daanipur, 25 kilometers from Ayodhya, has taken a pivotal step forward. The first brick for this magnificent place of worship was graciously gifted during a momentous event held in Mumbai.
In a landmark judgment on November 9, 2019, the Supreme Court awarded the disputed 2.77-acre land to the Ram Janmabhoomi Trust while mandating the provision of an alternative 5 acres of land for the construction of a mosque.
Thursday’s event witnessed the unveiling of the mosque’s architectural design and the presentation of the inaugural brick to esteemed religious leaders from various sects within Islam. Prominent figures, including Zufar Ahmed Faruqui, the chairman of the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board and Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation, Haji Arafat, former chairman of the Maharashtra minority commission and a prominent BJP leader, the accomplished architect Imran Shaikh, and well-known actors Raza Murad and Shahzad Khan, as well as leaders and custodians of various dargahs across the country, were in attendance at the ceremony held at the prestigious Rangsharda Hall in Bandra.
Architect Imran Shaikh revealed that this event marked the culmination of months of deliberation among eminent ulema (religious leaders) concerning the mosque’s nomenclature. The five gates of the mosque are set to be dedicated to Prophet Muhammad and the four Caliphs who succeeded him, namely Hazrat Abu Bakar, Hazrat Umar, Hazrat Usman, and Hazrat Ali.
In an earnest call to the community, Shaikh encouraged individuals to come forward and contribute their financial support, labor, and expertise. A further six-acre plot has been acquired for the development of a cancer hospital, which will be managed by Wockhardt, as well as a maternity hospital, engineering, medical, and law colleges, a library, museum, conference hall, and an information center within the mosque complex. These establishments will serve underprivileged individuals from all communities.
This latest development marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to foster unity and religious harmony, as the new mosque takes shape as a testament to the values it represents.
