The foundation stone of Mosque Mohammad Bin Abdullah in Ayodhya is likely to be laid next year.
Saints, pirs and maulvis will be invited for the ceremony. People associated with the project gave this information on Friday. The work of construction of this mosque has been entrusted to the Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation (IICF).
Ayodhya Mosque Development Committee chairman Haji Arafat Sheikh said that when the mosque is ready in the next five to six years, top clerics from all countries, including Imam-e-Haram who leads prayers at Mecca Masjid, will be invited.
Sheikh, a BJP leader and former chairman of the Maharashtra Minorities Commission, said the mosque would be more beautiful than the iconic Taj Mahal. We will invite saints and pirs from across the country to lay the foundation stone, which is likely to happen early next year, Shaikh said.
The mosque has been named Mohammed bin Abdullah after the Prophet. It will be constructed at a different location in Dhannipur, 25 km from Ayodhya.
This plot has been given to Muslims by the Uttar Pradesh government as per the Supreme Court order in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute in Ayodhya.
We are hoping to lay the foundation stone of the mosque next year and we will invite clerics from across the country for the ceremony,” said Zufar Ahmed Farooqui, president and chief trustee of the Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation.
Farooqui, chairman of Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board, said, once the mosque is ready, we will invite dignitaries from all over the world.
Apart from the mosque, the Masjid Development Committee has envisaged colleges dedicated to various subjects like dentistry, law, architecture and international relations there.
Sheikh said that apart from this, two hospitals including cancer treatment will be opened. A vegetarian community center will also be built to cater to the needs of people of all religions.