Ayodhya: A mosque more beautiful than the Taj Mahal where ‘prayer and medicine’ will be arranged

Haji Arafat Sheikh, Chairman of the Development Committee of the Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation (IICF) in India and Chairman of the Cabinet of the Minority Affairs Commission, Maharashtra, has said that a grand mosque named after Muhammad bin Abdullah in Ayodhya, educational institutions and The construction of the hospital will begin in May 2024, for which all preparations are complete.

While giving an exclusive interview to Faheem Al Hamid for Independent Urdu in Makkah, he said: ‘We wish that Imam al-Haram Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais should inaugurate the Mosque of Muhammad bin Abdullah or lead the Friday prayer once so that this grand mosque can be opened. should also get this honor.’

In a 2019 Supreme Court ruling that cleared the way for the construction of the Ram temple, Ayodhya Muslims were also allotted land to build another mosque in a village called Dhanipur, about 25 kilometers (about 15 miles) away from the Ram temple. was

The Ram Temple on the site of the historic Babri Masjid in Ayodhya was inaugurated this week on January 22. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the ceremony organized in this regard and prominent personalities of the country participated.

There was celebration in the city of Ayodhya and saffron was everywhere.

Invitations were sent to celebrities from the fields of Bollywood, cricket and politics to attend the event.

After decades of controversy, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Hindus in 2019 and allowed a temple to be built on the site where the mosque stood.

Haji Arafat Sheikh said: ‘The place of the mosque has been given by the Indian Supreme Court, the process of laying the foundation stone of which has been completed. The mosque will be built on an area of ​​five acres while six acres of land adjacent to it has been acquired, after which the total area of ​​the mosque and its adjacent educational and medical institutions will be 11 acres.

“After the proposed construction, it will be bigger, more beautiful and a masterpiece than the Taj Mahal,” he said.

In response to a question, Haji Arafat Sheikh said: ‘Nine thousand people will be able to pray together with the congregation at the same time inside the proposed mosque complex, while 50 thousand people will be able to pray together in the outer courtyards and the gardens adjacent to the mosque for Eid prayers. There will be room for more people.’

According to him: ‘Islam started with ‘Iqra’ i.e. the command to read, keeping in mind that we have decided to establish branches of India’s best medical and dental colleges, law colleges and international schools along with the mosque. where free quality education will be provided to needy students.

He further informed that, apart from the colleges, a hospital equipped with all medical needs will also be established for free treatment. Apart from this, three to five thousand people will be provided with free three-time meals on a daily basis.

Haji Arafat Sheikh, on the question of coordination with Asaduddin Owaisi and other Indian leaders on the controversial issues regarding the construction of the mosque, said: ‘We said in our meeting that one brick should be kept by Haji Arafat and one should be kept by you. Disagreements should be removed and full harmony should be created to achieve this great goal.

“This mosque, which is being named after Muhammad bin Abdullah, because of this blessed name, blessings will come to this country and there will be rain of light.”

According to Haji Arafat Sheikh: ‘I have to say that there should be no politics in the name of mosque and seminary. As for the questions of their scholars and political leaders that a mosque cannot be replaced by a mosque, I would like to say in response that the government did not give us the land but the Supreme Court gave it, after which we got the additional six. Actor has bought land. In this way, the land on which the mosque will be built will be bought with our money, which will end the Shariah problem and controversy.’

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014 with a promise to reform the country’s economy and usher in a new era of growth, but he is widely perceived to have pushed the Hindutva agenda too far, a The idea that India should become a land of Hindus.

Under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), many states enacted legislation that critics say is entrenching Hindutva and discriminating against Muslims. It includes certain discriminatory laws.

One of Narendra Modi’s key promises to his voters was to build a Ram temple on the site of the mosque.

Many opposition parties believe that this is an election campaign plan of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Interview Details:

How did the basic idea of ​​building the mosque come about?

Haji Arafat Sheikh said that ‘A few years ago my very good friends Dr. Abid, Maulana Abdullah Qamar and the Chairman of Kontakt Masjid Board came to my house. He placed all matters before me. Later, Sunni Waqf Board Chairman Zafar Farooqui said that the project of India’s largest and most luxurious mosque was under consideration, but it has been stalled for many years. He requested me to initiate it. After taking all the details from them, I personally met the scholars of all schools of thought in India and convinced them about this.

Later, in a big ceremony in Mumbai, all the participants unanimously started the construction of the mosque and in the same meeting, the name of the mosque (Masjid Muhammad ﷺ bin Abdullah) was proposed, which no one disagreed with. .

Question: To what extent do you have the support of the Ulama of India? Are there some scholars who do not agree with this idea?

Answer: Yes, some religious scholars disagreed about this. He said that a mosque cannot be replaced by a mosque. This was discussed with them and they were told that what they are doing is not right because the mosque should be built on the additional land that we bought and not on the land given by the Supreme Court. When this became clear, many people’s misconceptions were cleared and they joined us.

Question: What is the estimated budget proposed for the construction of the mosque, where will the funds be obtained from, will the support be obtained from government sources or through donation drives?

Answer: No budget has been specified for the construction of the mosque as yet, as the budget cannot be clearly defined until the preliminary information is received from the architect on the project.

As far as fundraising is concerned, here I will briefly say that a website will be created for the mosque through which donations can be received.

Our plan is that no one will go to anyone with a ‘donation book’ from us for the construction of the mosque, but the map and model of the mosque will be uploaded on the website.

There will be a QR code on the website which will be scanned and a receipt will be sent to the donor’s mobile saying ‘Thank you, we have received your trust.’

The latest technology will be used in the construction of the mosque building, a fountain will be constructed in the courtyard which will be raised with the sound of Azan. There will be a green garden around the mosque which will enhance the beauty of this building.

Let me also mention here that our plan is that in the complex that will be built around the mosque, apart from Medical Vidinal Colleges, Law College and International School, a hospital equipped with all medical needs will also be established for free treatment.

The welfare kitchen will also provide free three-time meals for three to five thousand people on a daily basis. No appropriation will be made for treatment and food to whomsoever needy will be served on humanitarian basis.

Question: How many worshipers will there be in the mosque?

Answer: Around 9,000 people will be able to pray together with the congregation inside the building of the mosque at the same time, while for the Eid prayer, there will be a capacity of more than 50,000 people combined in the outer courtyards and the gardens adjacent to the mosque. Briefly about the building of the mosque, we have built five minarets of the mosque which represent the five pillars of Islam.

Question: You said that the hospitals and colleges that will be built around the mosque, tell us why you chose it. ?

Answer: Look at the beginning of Islam with the word ‘Iqra’ which means read. In this regard, I will say that the mosque of Muhammad bin Abdullah will be a precious mosque where the religion and the world will be carried and the best society will be created from there. If I say that there will be provision for both ‘prayer and medicine’, there will not be any kind of appropriation for it, i.e. people belonging to any religion can apply, they will be provided with free treatment and food facility.

Q: Have you coordinated with Mr. Owaisi and others regarding this project?

Answer: See, he is a big politician, he has a big name, I told him to let Haji Arafat Sheikh place one brick in the mosque that was built unanimously and bring one brick too, this mosque is named after Muhammad bin Abdullah. is being established due to which the country will be blessed. This is my opinion that there should not be any kind of politics on the mosque and madrassa. All I want to say is to spread the message of love and unity and end the differences. I invite everyone to come and support us and support this important work.

Question: What is the special thing about the bricks that you brought for the construction of the mosque?

Answer: The model brick for the mosque to be built in the name of Masjid Muhammad bin Abdullah, which you are seeing, can contribute to the construction of this mosque. The brick donation has been fixed at INR 100,000. Bricks can also be obtained for the deceased. The donated brick will have a brass ‘plate’ bearing the name of the donor.

The brick will forever be preserved in the construction of the mosque. Each brick will have a specific number while a certificate will be given to the brick donor. If in the future construction work will be done regarding the construction or expansion of the mosque and other improvements, then the complete data of the donor will be available through the number written on the brick and the same brick will be installed again in the new construction.

Question: What would you say about the relationship between Saudi Arabia and India in relation to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which was introduced by the Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman?

Answer: Prince Muhammad bin Salman has ideal ideas, the vision he presented is to lead the kingdom on the path of development and to promote peace and brotherhood in the world.

He has very good relations with India and with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and likewise his exemplary relations with every country are being promoted.

Question: My last question is whether Indian Muslims are safe in India today?

Answer: Yes, Indians are completely safe, the persecution of Indian Muslims in some media is completely wrong. I will say that Indian Muslims are completely safe and are getting education, are developing and are also developing the country.

Question: How do you see the problems faced by Muslims in certain areas?

Answer: See, everywhere there are some problems, some Hindus also have extremists, similarly there are Muslims too, due to which a small matter becomes a big one.

Leaders are brought forward at the government level to control such disputes so that the issue can be resolved better and all the leaders are working to ensure that the name of the country is not tarnished.

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