Over reports that a section of the Muslim community wants Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lay the foundation of the mosque that is being constructed in Dhannipur village of Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya district, the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board (UPSCWB) made it clear that there is no concept of groundbreaking or foundation stone-laying ceremony for a mosque and they don’t have any such programme. Besides, the board, replacing the old architectural designs, also revealed the new one of the grand mosque that would come up on the five-acre land allocated following the Supreme Court verdict in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit.
The board’s reaction came a day after there were reports that a section of Muslims from Dhannipur village had made an appeal to PM Narendra Modi to lay the foundation stone of the proposed mosque. On January 22, 2024, the Prime Minister will visit Ayodhya to attend the Pran Patishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla at the newly built Ram temple.
“We don’t have any such plans. These reports are baseless as there is no such concept of groundbreaking or foundation stone-laying ceremony for a mosque,” said Athar Hussain, spokesperson of the Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation (IICF), the trust formed by the UPSCWB to look after the construction of the mosque and other structures that would come up on the allotted five-acre land.
This is not the first time the board has cleared its stand over the queries related to the mosque’s speculated foundation stone-laying or groundbreaking ceremony. In 2020, while launching the blueprint of the mosque complex, the board in response to queries on plans to invite UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath for the mosque’s groundbreaking or foundation stone-laying ceremony made it clear that there won’t be any such event.
The board, however, had also stated that it may hold a groundbreaking or inauguration ceremony for the other structures of public utility that would come up along with the mosque, for which, it may invite any VVIP in the future. Other than the mosque, the board has plans to construct a grand community kitchen, super-speciality hospital, and a museum.
On January 26, 2021, the board members formally launched the mosque complex project by planting saplings and hoisting the national flag on the site in order to give a symbolic start to the project.
Besides, the board also revealed the fresh design of the mosque, replacing the old “futuristic design” that it had formally launched in December 2020. The new mosque which would come up in around 4,500 square metres would be built in pure Islamic style of architecture.
Mosque to be in Islamic style of architecture
According to the board members, the new design of the mosque, though it may resemble others, would be one of the most beautiful mosques of modern times. Unlike the previous design, the towering minarets with interior staircases and small windows would be an essential part of the new design of the mosque. Domes, another essential feature of Islamic architecture, would now be a part of the proposed mosque as per the new design. There will also be ‘muqarnas’ (ornamented vaulting) on the ceiling of the dome, resembling a honeycomb. It will add a monochromatic touch to the ceiling. The mosque would have multiple arches that would make the structure all the more beautiful.
Also, as per the new design, the exterior of the mosque would be well decorated, using multicoloured mosaic tiles, featuring repeated patterns and geometric or vegetal motifs and patterns, such as Arabesque. The walls may also bear Arabic calligraphy scripts or verses from the Quran.
The main structure of the mosque would also bear massive windows that would be made up of glass and teak wood that would make the whole structure airy. There will be intrinsic stucco work on the interiors and exteriors of the wall along with decorative woodwork that would make the structure all the more beautiful. Some outdoor elements will include gardens, grand courtyards, fountains, and water reservoirs to help Namazis carry out ablution practices prior to offering prayers at the mosque.
However, the latest design is far different than what the board had revealed in 2020. As per the old design, the mosque was supposed to be a zero-energy structure with a modern design. Besides, the board had also appointed Professor SM Akhtar, a Lucknow-based architect and a town planner who is also a founding dean of the faculty of architecture, Jamia Milia University, Delhi, as consultant architect of the mosque complex.
Hussain said, “People from the community have some objections to the previous design as they said that it doesn’t resemble a mosque. Hence, we have made some changes, adding minarets, domes, and other features to make it look like a traditional mosque. However, the design of the rest of the complex is the same.”
Mosque gets a new name, again
He also said that there were some objections to the name, which has now been changed to Mohammed Bin Abdullah mosque.
Initially, the board had sought suggestions, from which it shortlisted a few names, including Masjid-e-Aman. Then it decided to call it Dhannipur Masjid based on the place where it is located. However, later the board renamed it after noted freedom fighter and revolutionary Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah Faizabadi.
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