Imam from Mecca to lay new Ayodhya mosque's foundation stone; will outshine Taj Mahal

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• Dec 21, 2023 | Dhupali Das

The foundation stone for the much-anticipated Masjid Mohammad Bin Abdullah in Ayodhya is set to be laid by the distinguished Imam-e-Haram, who leads...

Digital Desk: The foundation stone for the much-anticipated Masjid Mohammad Bin Abdullah in Ayodhya is set to be laid by the distinguished Imam-e-Haram, who leads namaz at the holy mosque in Mecca. The mosque, strategically located in Dhannipur, 25 km from Ayodhya, is a result of the Supreme Court's order in the long-standing Ayodhya dispute, with the Uttar Pradesh government allocating the plot for its construction.

Haji Arafat Shaikh, a prominent BJP leader from Mumbai, has been appointed as the chairman of the Masjid Muhammad Bin Abdullah's Development Committee. He announced that the mosque, touted to become the largest in India, will boast the world's biggest Quran, an impressive 21 feet high and 36 feet wide.

The Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation, established on July 29, 2020, initially took charge of building the Ayodhya mosque. In a ceremony attended by senior clerics and foundation chairman Zufar Ahmed Farooqui in Mumbai, the mosque was officially named Masjid Muhammad Bin Abdullah. Alongside the consecration of the first brick, a striking new design featuring five minarets symbolizing the five pillars of Islam was unveiled.

Shaikh, now heading the mosque's development committee, shared additional plans for the complex, including a cancer hospital, schools, colleges, a museum, a library, and a vegetarian kitchen providing free meals to visitors. Notably, a large aquarium near the ablution space with separate sections for men and women is set to be a unique highlight.

In an ambitious claim, Shaikh asserted that the mosque's beauty would surpass that of the iconic Taj Mahal. He described the spectacle of the fountains coming alive during the evening prayer call, envisioning the monument as a symbol of peace and harmony that would attract people of all faiths. "It will be more beautiful than the Taj Mahal, and people of all faiths will come to see this monument to peace and harmony, even if not all of them will pray here," Shaikh remarked. The groundbreaking ceremony marks a significant milestone in the realization of this monumental project.