Muslim group sets start date for Ayodhya mosque construction, reveals crowdfunding plan

| Updated: 22 January, 2024 2:12 pm IST

The mosque will be named "Masjid Muhammed bin Abdullah".

NEW DELHI: The construction of a significant mosque in Ayodhya by the Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation (IICF) is set to commence in May of this year, as per a senior official’s statement to Reuters. The anticipated timeline for completion is approximately three to four years. This announcement coincides with the day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple.

Haji Arfat Shaikh, who leads the development committee of the IICF responsible for the mosque project, provided this information. He mentioned the possibility of establishing a crowdfunding website to raise funds for the envisioned mosque.

The mosque will be named “Masjid Muhammed bin Abdullah”, after Prophet Muhammad.

“Our effort has been to end and convert enmity, hatred among people into love for each other…irrespective of whether or not you accept the Supreme Court judgement,” said Shaikh.

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“All this fighting will stop if we teach good things to our children and people,” he added.

Haji Arfat Shaikh, who leads the development committee of the Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation (IICF) responsible for the mosque project, provided this information. He mentioned the possibility of establishing a crowdfunding website to raise funds for the envisioned mosque.

In 2019, the Supreme Court declared the 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid as unlawful. Despite this, the court determined the presence of a non-Islamic structure beneath the Babri Mosque. It decided that a temple would be constructed on the disputed land, and a separate parcel of land would be allocated to the Muslim side for the establishment of a mosque.

Zufar Ahmad Faruqi, the president of the IICF, said the body hasn’t approached anyone for funds.

“We hadn’t approached anyone … there was no public movement for it (funds),” he said.

Athar Hussain, the secretary of the IICF, explained that the mosque’s progress had been postponed because they aimed to incorporate additional traditional elements into the design. The complex will also witness the construction of a 500-bed hospital.

Ayodhya is currently hosting hundreds of celebrities, including actors and cricketers, for the Ram lallla consecration ceremony. The temple will be accessible to the general public for darshan starting Tuesday.