In Ayodhya, India, a remarkable project is in motion to replace the iconic Babri Masjid with what promises to be India’s Largest Mosque. This future architectural marvel will bear the name Masjid Muhammad Bin Abdullah, honoring the esteemed Prophet Muhammad and his father, Abdullah.
The All India Rabta-e-Masajid and Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation recently made an announcement regarding the naming of the proposed mosque in Ayodhya. According to the announcement, the mosque will be known as Masjid Muhammad Bin Abdullah.
This mosque, slated to become the largest in the country, will have the capacity to accommodate up to 9,000 worshippers. Alongside the mosque, extensive plans are in progress for the development of a cancer hospital, maternity hospital, colleges, library, museum, conference hall, and information center within the mosque complex.
Following the Supreme Court’s decision on the Ayodhya dispute four years ago, the All India Rabta-e-Masajid (a network of mosques) and the Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation disclosed the name of the proposed mosque intended to replace the Babri Masjid.
According to a report by TOI, the mosque will be christened Masjid Muhammad Bin Abdullah, as a tribute to Prophet Muhammad and his father Abdullah. It is anticipated to be the largest mosque in the country, with a capacity to accommodate 9,000 worshippers. The foundation laying ceremony for the mosque is expected to take place soon, with the symbolic presentation of the first brick occurring at an event held in Mumbai.
In November 2019, the Supreme Court adjudicated the disputed 2.77-acre land to the Ram Janmabhoomi Trust and instructed the government to provide an alternative 5-acre land for the construction of a mosque. This led to the unveiling of the design for Masjid Muhammad Bin Abdullah at the event, where the inaugural brick was presented to senior clerics from various Islamic sects.
Dignitaries such as Zufar Ahmed Faruqui, chairman of UP Sunni Central Waqf Board and Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation, Haji Arafat, former chairman of Maharashtra minority commission and BJP leader, architect Imran Shaikh, actors Raza Murad and Shahzad Khan, as well as heads and khadims of several dargahs in the country graced the ceremony at Rangsharda Hall in Bandra with their presence.
This occasion marked the culmination of extensive deliberations among prominent religious figures regarding the nomenclature of the mosque. The five gates of the mosque will be dedicated to Prophet Muhammad and the four Caliphs who succeeded him, namely Hazrat Abu Bakar, Hazrat Umar, Hazrat Usman, and Hazrat Ali.
Additionally, plans are underway to procure an additional six-acre plot of land to construct a cancer hospital managed by Wockhardt, a maternity hospital, engineering, medicine, and law colleges, a library, museum, conference hall, and an information center within the mosque complex. These facilities are envisioned to cater to the needs of underprivileged individuals from all communities.
Architect Imran Shaikh appealed to the community to contribute through donations, labor, and skills to support the construction of these ancillary facilities. The objective is to establish a comprehensive complex that not only fulfills the religious requirements of the community but also provides essential services for societal welfare.