Muslim community faces setback in realising vision for Dhannipur mosque and hospital
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – The much-anticipated construction of a mosque in Dhannipur near Ayodhya has been delayed due to financial constraints, leaving the community disheartened. Despite receiving five acres of land under the Supreme Court’s verdict in 2019 regarding the Babri Masjid dispute, the Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation (IICF) has yet to lay the first brick of the mosque.
The verdict, which allowed for the construction of a Ram temple on the 2.77-acre plot at the Babri Masjid site in Ayodhya, directed the government to allocate five acres of land for a mosque to the Muslim community. The IICF was tasked with overseeing the mosque’s construction, alongside plans for a hospital, a community kitchen, and a museum celebrating the country’s composite culture. However, no construction has started as of yet even after five years.
Athar Hussain, the secretary of the IICF, explained the delay. “We have not received sufficient funds yet to begin the process of getting the maps passed for construction. We have applied for FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) approval, and once granted, we will seek funds from Gulf countries,” he said.
Hussain clarified that the goal for Dhannipur extends beyond the mosque, focusing primarily on the construction of a 300-bed super-specialty hospital, which he believes is the most pressing need for the local community. “If we only had to build a mosque, it would have been completed by now. But the people of Dhannipur need a hospital more than another mosque. There are already 13-14 mosques for a population of 10-15 thousand, so adding another would not address the real needs,” Hussain added.
The total estimated budget for the project, which includes the hospital, community kitchen, and mosque, is around Rs 400 crore. Of this, approximately Rs 300 crore is intended for the hospital, while the remaining Rs 100 crore will be allocated for the mosque and other facilities. However, Hussain confirmed that only Rs 1.25 crore has been raised so far.
The delay has raised concerns among the local Muslim community, with many expressing their frustration over the lack of progress. Despite this, Hussain remains optimistic. “We started an ambulance service five years ago, and the trust has been running at a loss. But we are committed to fulfilling the vision of a mosque and hospital in Dhannipur,” he said.
However, some members of the Muslim community have voiced concerns over the project, suggesting that the mosque in Dhanipur may be linked to historical events of division. These critics have referred to it as “Masjid al-Dhārār” – the “Mosque of Harm” – a term derived from a similar incident during the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The original Masjid al-Dhārār was constructed by a group of individuals with the intent to cause division among Muslims in Madinah, ultimately undermining the unity of the community and the authority of the Prophet (pbuh).
The Noble Quran (9:107–110) condemns the actions of those who built the Masjid al-Dhārār, warning that such acts, motivated by harm and disunity, go against the very principles of Islam. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of sincerity in religious practices and the dangers of actions that lead to disunity within the Muslim Ummah.
The comparison of the mosque in Dhannipur to Masjid al-Dhārār has sparked debate, with some fearing that the project could be used to sow discord among the Muslim community. While the project’s original intention was to promote peace and cultural harmony, the concerns surrounding it reflect a deep mistrust, particularly regarding the mosque’s connection to other social and political contexts.
