| Muhammad bin Abdullah Masjid (Ayodhya Mosque) | |
|---|---|
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Sunni Islam(not consecrated) |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Mosque(not consecrated) |
| Governing body | Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation |
| Status | Planned; as of September 2024[update], construction not commenced |
| Predecessor | Babri Masjid |
| Location | |
| Location | Dhannipur,Ayodhya district,Uttar Pradesh |
| Country | India |
  Location of the planned mosque inUttar Pradesh | |
| Coordinates | 26°45′43″N82°00′07″E / 26.762°N 82.002°E /26.762; 82.002 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect | Imran Shaikh |
| Type | Mosque architecture |
| Style | Indo-Islamic(when complete) |
| Funded by |
|
| Groundbreaking | 26 January 2021 |
| Construction cost | ₹300crore(estimated) |
| Specifications | |
| Interior area | 4,500 square metres (48,000 sq ft)(complex) |
| Dome | One(when complete) |
| Minaret | Five(when complete) |
| Site area | 2.0 ha (5 acres) |
| Ayodhya dispute |
|---|
| Organizations |
TheMuhammad bin Abdullah Masjid, also known as theAyodhya Mosque, is a plannedSunnimosque, not commenced, that is to be located inDhannipur, in theAyodhya district of the state ofUttar Pradesh, India. The site was designated by theSupreme Court of India following its verdict on theAyodhya dispute case that allocated land previously used for a mosque to be used for aHindu temple.[1][2]
The construction of the mosque and associated complex is managed by theIndo-Islamic Cultural Foundation (IICF) trust.[3][4] The proposed mosque is almost 22 kilometres (14 mi) away from theRam Mandir, a Hindu temple,[5] the former site of its predecessor, theBabri Masjid. Dhannipur is ahamlet located in Sohawal tehsil.
As of September 2024[update], construction of the mosque had not commenced.
The project was formally launched by the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board by hoisting the national flag and planting saplings onRepublic Day of 2021. In addition to the mosque, the complex is planned to include a hospital, museum, library, a community kitchen which can feed a maximum of 2,000 people per day, and an Indo-Islamic cultural research centre and publication house.[6]
A groundbreaking ceremony for the planned mosque was held on 26 January 2021.[3] The planned mosque was officially named asAhmadullah Shah Mosque, as an honour to the leader ofIndian Independence war of 1857,Maulavi Ahmadullah Shah, but was later renamed in honour of theIslamic prophetMuhammad.[7]
An initialfuturistic design by S. M. Akhtar, without domes orminarets,[8] was rejected in 2023,[9] and Imran Shaikh became the project architect. His design blended traditionalIndo-Islamic architecture,[10] including a dome and five minarets,[11] with modern building styles. In September 2024 it was reported that construction had not commenced due to lack of funds and community antipathy towards the proposed mosque.[12] The IICF sought to have restrictions lifted so that it could receive donations from overseas, restricted by theForeign Contribution Regulation Act.[13]
Construction of the mosque, 300-bed hospital, museum, library, and associated facilities is estimated to cost₹300crore.[14] Around 40% of the donations received by the Trust were given byHindus, whileMuslims contributed 30%. The remaining 30% are corporate donations. The Trust secretary, Athar Hussain, confirmed that as of November 2022[update] the Trust had received₹40lakhs in donations.[15]
TheAll India Muslim Personal Law Board has stated that the construction of the mosque is against the Waqf Act and is illegal underShariyat law.[16] AIMIM chiefAsaduddin Owaisi also claimed that donating money for construction and praying at the mosque isharam (forbidden) according to Islamic principles, to which the Mosque Trust replied that "serving humanity is not haram".[17]
Two sisters from Delhi filed a petition in the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court, claiming ownership of the land allotted for the mosque along with 11 hectares (28 acres) of surrounding land, which they claim was given to their father at the time ofpartition.[18]
