Mumbai, Dec 19 – A BJP leader from the city and former chairperson of Maharashtra State Commission for Minorities, Haji Arafat Sheikh, would steer development of the new mosque, which is to be built on the site given in lieu of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, as given by the Supreme Court order.
In October this year, the All India Rabta-e-Masjid has taken a decision to name the proposed mosque coming at Dhannipur in Ayodhya as ‘Muhammad Bin Abdullah Masjid’ — after the Prophet.
Uttar Pradesh Sunni Board president Zafar Farooqui has decided to make Haji Arafat the chief of development committee that would oversee the construction of the mosque.
The appointment was made in presence of Abdullah Ibn Qamar, Dr Abid Syed, Maulana Muhammad Madani Abdul Rab.
“I will give my best for the job which has been entrusted to me. It is a matter of pride for me that I have been chosen to lead the project, which would be an example in the world,” an elated Haji Arafat said on Monday.
Farooqui said that the appointment of Haji Arafat as chairperson of the development committee of Muhammad Bin Abdullah Masjid and Trustee of Indo-Islamic Culture Centre would go a long way.
“We have chosen a youth to undertake the task,” he said, adding that only he would oversee construction of the mosque but also take up issues of the Muslim community from time to time.
While talking to media in this matter, Haji Arafat Sheikh said, “It is a matter of pride for me that the long
pending problem has not only been resolved but a mosque will be built at this place.”
“God willing, I will definitely complete this mosque. In this noble work, I will take help of all the religious
scholars, religious leaders, Islamic scholars from every religion and every region of the country. The mosque will be constructed only after considering all Shariat aspects,” he said.
“The special thing about this mosque is that it will be the first mosque in India which will be built on the basis of five duties of Islam, in which five minarets will be built, which will be visible from a distance of 11 kilometres. The world’s largest Holy Quran will be present in this mosque, which will be 21-feet-long and when the Holy Quran is opened, it will be 18.18 feet,” he said.
“There would be lights and fountains. The lights will automatically switch on at the time of Azaan and will switch off after Fajr Namaz,” he informed.
Apart from this, there will be an aquarium, a hospital for cancer patients and a vegetarian community kitchen in premises of this mosque, he said.
Moreover, construction of Engineering, Law, Dental, Architecture, MBA Colleges and International School will also be undertaken, Haji Arafat added.
