Babri Masjid (IAST: Bābarī Masjid; meaning "Mosque of Babur") was a mosque in Ayodhya, India, at a site believed by many Hindus to be the birthplace of Hindu deity Rama. It has been a focus of dispute between the Hindu and Muslim communities since the 18th century. According to the mosque's inscriptions, it was built in 1528–29 (935 AH) by general Mir Baqi, on the orders of the Mughal emperor Babur. The mosque was attacked and demolished by Hindu Kar Sevaks in 1992, which ignited communal violence across the Indian subcontinent. The mosque was located on a hill known as Ramkot ("Rama's fort").
Introduction
Babri Masjid
Babri Masjid | Introduction
Not Particularly. However, it has been a focus of dispute between the Hindu and Muslim communities since the 18th century. R. Nath has stated that, judging from the architecture of the mosque, it should be taken to have been built in the pre-Mughal period The site is believed by many Hindus to be the birthplace of Hindu deity Rama. According to an early 20th-century text by Maulvi Abdul Ghaffar and the surrounding historial sources examined by historian Harsh Narain, the young Babur came from Kabul to Awadh in disguise, dressed as a "Qalandar" - Here he met the Sufi saints "Shah Jalal" and "Sayyid Musa Ashiqan" who said  they would bless him if he promised to build a mosque after demolishing the "Janmasthan" temple. Babur accepted the faqirs' offer and returned to his homeland.
full name of current prime minister of india
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Narendra Damodardas Modi
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when did he become the prime minister?
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In 2014
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what has been his policies towards the environment?
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Cancelled the Requirement of clearance  from NBA for projects close to wildlife, rRelaxed or Abolished regulations related to Industrial Activity & Modi lifted a moratorium on new industrial activity in the most polluted areas in the countries.
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did he win another term after the first?
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Yes. By securing 353 seats in the Lok Sabha with the BJP alone winning 303 seats.
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what political party is he affiliated with?
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Modi is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
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has this party ever been accused of any violence?
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Sorry. I cannot find the answer based on the context.
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when was his party established?
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In 1980
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by whom?
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By the Bharatiya Jana Sangh,
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is mr.modi married?
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Yes. To Jashodaben
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before becoming the pm , what other careers did he have?
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He was the Chief Minister of Gujarat
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did this place face any riot?
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Yes. The Godhra Riots
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why did this take place?
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A Hindu Religious ceremony at the site of the Demolished Babri Masjid and the Demolishing itself was the reason for this.
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how did this masjid get its name?
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The name was derived from Bābarī Masjid meaning Mosque of Babur
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is there any story associated with this?
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The name "Babri Masjid" comes from the name of the Mughal emperor Babur, who is said to have ordered its construction. Before the 1940s, it was called "Masjid-i Janmasthan" ("mosque of the birthplace") including in official documents.
Babri Masjid | Etymology
The Supreme Court judgement of 2019 held that there is nothing to prove that the mosque was constructed after destroying a temple and the remains of the structure was used for its construction.
Babur | Babri Masjid
These incongruities and mismatches made no impression on Buchanan, who maintained that the mosque was built by Babur. In 1838, British surveyor Montgomery Martin wrote that the pillars in the mosque were taken from a Hindu temple. A section of historians, such as R. S. Sharma, deny this, and state that such claims of temple demolition sprang up only after the 18th century. In 1877, Syed Mohammad Asghar the Mutawalli (guardian) of the "Masjid Baburi at Janmasthan" filed a petition with the Commissioner of Faizabad asking him to restrain the Hindus that raised a chabutara on the spot regarded as the birthplace of Rama.
Babri Masjid | Inscriptions
According to an early 20th-century text by Maulvi Abdul Ghaffar and the surrounding historial sources examined by historian Harsh Narain, the young Babur came from Kabul to Awadh (Ayodhya) in disguise, dressed as a "Qalandar" (Sufi ascetic), probably as part of a fact-finding mission. Here he met the Sufi saints "Shah Jalal" and "Sayyid Musa Ashiqan" and took a pledge in return for their blessings for conquering Hindustan. The pledge is not spelled out in the 1981 edition of Ghaffar's book. Lala Sita Ram, who had access to the older edition in 1932 wrote, "The faqirs answered that they would bless him if he promised to build a mosque after demolishing the "Janmasthan" temple.
Babri Masjid | Fable of Musa Ashiqan
Babri Masjid (IAST: Bābarī Masjid; meaning "Mosque of Babur") was a mosque in Ayodhya, India, at a site believed by many Hindus to be the birthplace of Hindu deity Rama. It has been a focus of dispute between the Hindu and Muslim communities since the 18th century. According to the mosque's inscriptions, it was built in 1528–29 (935 AH) by general Mir Baqi, on the orders of the Mughal emperor Babur. The mosque was attacked and demolished by Hindu Kar Sevaks in 1992, which ignited communal violence across the Indian subcontinent. The mosque was located on a hill known as Ramkot ("Rama's fort").
Babri Masjid | Introduction
The courtyard is labelled "janmasthan" and shows a "Ram chabutra". The central bay of the built structure is labelled "chhathi", which also denotes birthplace.
Babri Masjid | Construction
The second inscription narrated the genealogy of Aurangzeb. The translator had a difficulty with the anagram for the date, because one of the words was missing, which would have resulted in a date of 923 AH rather than 935 AH. These incongruities and mismatches made no impression on Buchanan, who maintained that the mosque was built under the orders of Babur. The Babri Masjid stands at a location believed by Hindus to be the birthplace of Rama. There are no records of a mosque at the site till 1672 and no known association with Babur or Mir Baqi prior to Buchanan's discovery of these inscriptions in the 19th century.
Baqi Tashqandi | Babri Masjid inscriptions
The next few layers date back to the Shunga period (second-first century BCE) and the Kushan period. During the early medieval period (11–12th century CE), a huge but short-lived structure of nearly 50 metres north–south orientation was constructed. On the remains of this structure, another massive structure was constructed: this structure had at least three structural phases and three successive floors attached with it. The report concluded that it was over the top of this construction that the disputed structure was constructed during the early 16th century. Archaeologist KK Muhammed, the only Muslim member in the team of people surveying the excavation, also confirmed individually that there existed a temple like structure before the Babri Masjid was constructed over it.
Babur | Babri Masjid
In the petition, he stated that Babur had inscribed one word "Allah" above the door. The District Judge and the Sub-Judge visited the mosque in the presence of all parties and their lawyers and confirmed this fact. No other inscriptions were recorded.
Babri Masjid | Inscriptions
The Babri Masjid ("Babur's Mosque") in Ayodhya is said to have been constructed on the orders of Mir Baqi, one of the commanders of his army. In 2003 the Allahabad High Court ordered the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a more in-depth study and an excavation to ascertain the type of structure beneath the mosque. The excavation was conducted from 12 March 2003 to 7 August 2003, resulting in 1360 discoveries. The summary of the ASI report indicated the presence of a 10th-century temple under the mosque. The ASI team said that, human activity at the site dates back to the 13th century BCE.
Babur | Babri Masjid
In Hinduism the birthplace of the deity Rama, known as "Ram Janmabhoomi", is considered a holy site. This site is often believed to be at the place where the Babri Masjid stood in the city of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh: historical evidence to support this belief is scarce. There is a rough scholarly consensus that in 1528, following the Mughal conquest of the region, a mosque was built at the site by the Mughal general Mir Baqi, and named the "Babri Masjid" after the Mughal emperor Babur. Popular belief holds that Baqi demolished a temple of Rama to build the mosque; historical basis for the belief is debated.
Demolition of the Babri Masjid | Background
Babur accepted the faqirs' offer and returned to his homeland."
Babri Masjid | Fable of Musa Ashiqan
The date of construction of the Babri Masjid is uncertain. The inscriptions on the Babri Masjid premises found in the 20th century state that the mosque was built in 935 AH (1528–29) by Mir Baqi in accordance with the wishes of Babur. However, these inscriptions appear to be of a more recent vintage. There are no records of the mosque from this period. The "Baburnama" (Chronicles of Babur) does not mention either the mosque or the destruction of a temple. The "Ramcharitamanas" of Tulsidas (1574) and "Ain-i Akbari" of Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak (1598) made no mention of a mosque either.
Babri Masjid | Construction
However, some historians have argued that it was built during the Delhi Sultanate period (13th–15th century), and may have been renovated during Babur's period. R. Nath has stated that, judging from the architecture of the mosque, it should be taken to have been built in the pre-Mughal period. Apart from Hindus, Jains and Buddhists have also claimed the site. According to Jain Samata Vahini, the mosque was built over a 6th-century Jain temple. Similarly, Udit Raj's Buddha Education Foundation has claimed the mosque was built over a Buddhist shrine.
Babri Masjid | Other theories
The earliest record of a mosque at the site traditionally believed by Hindus to be the birthplace of Rama comes from Jai Singh II (or "Sawai Jai Singh") – a Rajput noble in the Mughal court who purchased land and established a "Jaisinghpura" in the area surrounding the mosque in 1717 (as he had also done in several other Hindu religious places). The documents of Jai Singh preserved in the Kapad-Dwar collection in the City Palace Museum of Jaipur, include a sketch map of the Babri Masjid site. The map shows an open court yard and a built structure with three temple spires ("sikharas") resembling today's Babri Masjid with three domes.
Babri Masjid | Construction
The Babri Mosque followed the architectural school of Jaunpur Sultanate. When viewed from the west side, it resembled the Atala Masjid in Jaunpur.
Babri Masjid | Background
Neither do his grandson Akbar's court documents, the "Ain-i-Akbari", nor his contemporary Hindu poet-saint Tulsidas' epic poem "Ramcharitmanas", dedicated to the Hindu god Rama. Both the Hindus and Muslims are said to have worshipped at the "mosque-temple", Muslims inside the mosque and Hindus outside the mosque but inside the compound. In 1857 a British administrator had a railing erected between the two areas to prevent disputes. In 1949, after India's independence, an idol of Ram was placed inside the mosque, which triggered the dispute.
Ayodhya dispute | Babri Masjid (Mosque of Babur)
On 6 December 1992, BJP, VHP and RSS leaders gathered at the site to offer prayers and perform a symbolic "kar seva". At noon, a teenage "Kar Sevak" (volunteer) was "vaulted" on to the dome and that signalled the breaking of the outer cordon. Soon after, a large number of "kar sevak"s demolished the mosque.
Babri Masjid | Demolition
The earliest historical record of a mosque comes from Jai Singh II, a Rajput noble in the Mughal court, who purchased the land of the mosque and the surrounding area in 1717. His documents show a three-domed structure resembling the mosque, which is however labelled the "birthplace" ("chhathi"). In the courtyard can be seen a platform ("chabutra") to which Hindu devotees are shown circumambulating and worshipping. All these details were corroborated by the Jesuit priest Joseph Tieffenthaler half a century later. Tieffenthaler also said that "The reason for this is that once upon a time, here was a house where Beschan [Vishnu] was born in the form of Ram." The "Baburnama", Babur's diary in which he meticulously documented his life, bears no mention of either the construction of a mosque in Ayodhya or the destruction of a temple for it.
Ayodhya dispute | Babri Masjid (Mosque of Babur)
He further stated that a mosque was constructed in its place, but the Hindus continued to offer prayers at a mud platform that marked the birthplace of Rama. In 1810, Francis Buchanan visited the site, and stated that the structure destroyed was a temple dedicated to Rama, not a house. Many subsequent sources state that the mosque was constructed after demolishing a temple. Police officer and writer Kishore Kunal states that all the claimed inscriptions on the Babri mosque were fake. They were affixed sometime around 1813 (almost 285 years after the supposed construction of the mosque in 1528 CE), and repeatedly replaced.
Ram Janmabhoomi | Babri Masjid site
Babur was the first Mughal emperor of India and the founder of the Mughal empire. It is believed that one of his generals, Mir Baqi, built the Babri Masjid ("Babur's Mosque") in 1528 on his orders. The belief came into currency since 1813–14, when the East India Company's surveyor Francis Buchanan reported that he found an inscription on the mosque walls which attested to this fact. He also recorded the local tradition, which believed that emperor Aurangzeb () built the mosque after demolishing a temple dedicated to Rama. Between 1528 and 1668, no text mentioned the presence of a mosque at the site.
Ayodhya dispute | Babri Masjid (Mosque of Babur)
The Babri Masjid (Mosque of Babur) was a mosque in Ayodhya on Ramkot Hill. It was destroyed in 1992 when a political rally developed into a riot involving 150,000 people, despite a commitment to the Indian Supreme Court by the rally organisers that the mosque would not be harmed. More than 2000 people were killed in ensuing riots in many major Indian cities including Mumbai, and Delhi. The mosque was constructed in 1527 by order of Babur, the first Mughal emperor of India. Before the 1940s, the mosque was called "Masjid-i Janmasthan" ("mosque of the birthplace"). Babur's commander-in-chief, Mir Baqi, allegedly destroyed an existing temple at the site which commemorated the birthplace of Rama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and ruler of Ayodhya.
Liberhan Commission | Dispute
The architecture of the mosque is completely a replica of the mosques in the Delhi Sultanate. Babri was an important mosque of a distinct style, preserved mainly in architecture, developed after the Delhi Sultanate was established, seen also in the Babari Mosque in the southern suburb of the walled city of Gaur, and the Jamali Kamili Mosque built by Sher Shah Suri. This was the forerunner of the Mughal architecture style adopted by Akbar.
Babri Masjid | Architectural style
Francis Buchanan-Hamilton (Buchanan) did a survey of the Gorakhpur Division in 1813–14 on behalf of the British East India Company. His report was never published but partly reused by Montgomery Martin later. Kishore Kunal examined the original report in the British Library archives. It states that the Hindus generally attributed destruction "to the furious zeal of Aurangzabe". However it said that the mosque at Ayodhya was ascertained to have been built by Babur by "an inscription on its walls". The said inscription in Persian was said to have been copied by a scribe and translated by a Maulvi friend of Buchanan.
Babri Masjid | Inscriptions
The sandstone used in building the Babri Mosque also had resonant qualities which contributed to the unique acoustics.
Babri Masjid | Acoustics
According to "The Economist", "Among its souvenir stalls, those doing the briskest trade are the ones playing videos on a loop of Hindu fundamentalists demolishing the mosque."
Babri Masjid | Aftermath
It was named in memory of Ali, the cousin of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. A mosque and a shrine has been built here in the memory of Ali, who visited this place according to a local tradition. There is also a huge boulder which carries the marks of a hand believed to be that of Ali.
Ali Masjid | Name origin
In 1853, a group of armed Hindu ascetics belonging to the Nirmohi Akhara occupied the site, and claimed ownership of the structure. Periodic violence erupted in the next two years, and the civil administration had to step in, refusing permission to build a temple or to use it as a place of worship. In 1855, after a Hindu-Muslim clash, a boundary wall was constructed to avoid further disputes. It divided the mosque premises into two courtyards; the Muslims offered prayers in the inner courtyard. The Hindus offered their prayers on a raised platform, known as "Ram Chabutara", in the outer courtyard.
Babri Masjid | 1880s temple construction attempts
P. Gupta that the black basalt pillars in the Babri Masjid were once part of a Hindu temple. He also maintained that the carvings on the pillars were similar to those in the Buddhist architecture. The Babri Masjid was demolished on 6 December 1992.
Suraj Bhan (archaeologist) | Ayodhya dispute
The "Baburnama" does not mention either the mosque or the destruction of a temple. The Ramcharit Manas of Tulsidas (AD 1574) and "Ain-i Akbari" of Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak (AD 1598) made no mention of a mosque either. In 1611, an English traveller William Finch visited Ayodhya and recorded the "ruins of the Ranichand [Ramachand] castle and houses". He made no mention of a mosque. In 1634, Thomas Herbert described a "pretty old castle of Ranichand [Ramachand]" which he described as an antique monument that was "especially memorable". However, by 1672, the appearance of a mosque at the site can be inferred because Lal Das's "Awadh-Vilasa" describes the location of birthplace without mentioning a temple.
Baqi Tashqandi | Babri Masjid inscriptions
He made no mention of a mosque. In 1634, Thomas Herbert described a "pretty old castle of Ranichand [Ramachand]" which he described as an antique monument that was "especially memorable". However, by 1672, the appearance of a mosque at the site can be inferred because Lal Das's "Awadh-Vilasa" describes the location of birthplace without mentioning a temple or "castle". In 1717, the Moghul Rajput noble Jai Singh II purchased land surrounding the site and his documents show a mosque. The Jesuit missionary Joseph Tiefenthaler, who visited the site between 1766–1771, wrote that either Aurangazeb (1658–1707) or Babur had demolished the Ramkot fortress, including the house that was considered as the birthplace of Rama by Hindus.
Ram Janmabhoomi | Babri Masjid site
It will contain a relic believed by Muslims to be a hair of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The name of the Masjid comes from the Arabic word "shahre", meaning hair, and "mubarak," meaning blessed.
Shahre Mubarak Grand Masjid | Introduction
According to Hindus, Baqi destroyed a pre-existing temple of Rama at the site. The existence of this temple is a matter of controversy. Starting in the 19th century, there were several conflicts and court disputes between Hindus and Muslims over the mosque. In 1949, Hindu activists associated with the Hindu Mahasabha surreptitiously placed idols of Rama inside the mosque, after which the government locked the building to avoid further disputes. Court cases were filed by both Hindus and Muslims asking for access. The police locked the gates so that the public (Hindus as well as Muslims) could not enter.
Babri Masjid | Introduction
He agreed that the mosque was built on the land considered sacred by the Hindus, but ordered maintenance of status quo, since it was "too late now to remedy the grievance". A subsequent appeal before the Judicial Commissioner W. Young was also dismissed on 1 November 1886. On 27 March 1934, a Hindu–Muslim riot occurred in Ayodhya, triggered by cow slaughter in the nearby Shahjahanpur village. The walls around the Masjid and one of the domes of the Masjid were damaged during the riots. These were reconstructed by the British Indian government.
Babri Masjid | 1880s temple construction attempts
In this 800-page book, Kunal has analysed the historical documents to draw the conclusion that the Babri Masjid was built by Emperor Aurangzeb, not Babur. He blames the British East India Company surveyor Francis Buchanan for erroneously crediting Babur. Kunal also states that a Ram temple existed at the disputed site which was demolished by Aurangzeb's governor Fedai Khan in 1660 AD. Reviewer Kuldeep Kumar has remarked that the book deserves a close reading by professional historians. In May 2017, Kunal indicated that he would submit a petition to the Supreme Court of India in Ayodhya dispute presenting his evidence and analysis and "become a party to the dipuste".
Kishore Kunal | Works
The political, historical and socio-religious debate over the history and location of the Babri Mosque, and whether a previous temple was demolished or modified to create it, is known as the Ayodhya dispute.
Ram Janmabhoomi | Introduction
In 1883, the Hindus launched an effort to construct a temple on the platform. After Muslim protests, the Deputy Commissioner prohibited any temple construction on 19 January 1885. On 27 January 1885, Raghubar Das, the Hindu mahant (priest) of the Ram Chabutara filed a civil suit before the Faizabad Sub-Judge. In response, the "mutawalli" (Muslim trustee) of the mosque argued that the entire land belonged to the mosque. On 24 December 1885, the Sub Judge Pandit Hari Kishan Singh dismissed the suit. On 18 March 1886, the District Judge F.E.A. Chamier also dismissed an appeal against the lower court judgment.
Babri Masjid | 1880s temple construction attempts
After the Partition of India in 1947, the mosque was discovered. Before the area was full of forests and trees. Later on this excavation was discovered and the mosque below the ground was discovered. There was no inscription found during the discovery of the mosque, and there is no correct idea about its construction time. Masjidkur was named as the mosque was dug from the deep ground. Archaeologists believe that this mosque was most likely made during Khan Jahan Ali's regime as the area was under his rule.
Masjidkur | History
Francis Buchanan (also called Buchanan-Hamilton) did a survey of the Gorakhpur Division in 1813–14 on behalf of the British East India Company. Buchanan's report, never published but available in the British Library archives, states that the Hindus generally attributed destruction of temples "to the furious zeal of Aurangzabe [Aurangzeb]", but the large mosque at Ayodhya (now known as Babri Masjid) was ascertained to have been built by Babur by "an inscription on its walls". Buchanan had the said inscription in Persian copied by a scribe and translated by a Maulvi friend. The translation however showed "two" inscriptions. The first inscription said that the mosque was constructed by 'Mir Baqi' in the year 935 AH or 923 AH.
Baqi Tashqandi | Babri Masjid inscriptions
The status quo remained in place until 1949, when idols of Rama were surreptitiously placed inside the mosque, allegedly by volunteers of the Hindu Mahasabha. This led to an uproar, with both parties filing civil suits laying claim to the land. The placement of the idols was seen as a desecration by the users of the Masjid. The site was declared to be in dispute, and the gates to the Masjid were locked.
Demolition of the Babri Masjid | Background
The Archaeological Survey of India states that the mosque was built on land where a non-Islamic structure had previously existed. In the 1980s, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) began a campaign for the construction of a temple dedicated to Rama at the site, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as its political voice. Several rallies and marches were held as a part of this movement, including the "Ram Rath Yatra" led by L. K. Advani. On 6 December 1992 the VHP and the BJP organised a rally at the site involving 150,000 volunteers, known as "kar sevaks". The rally turned violent, and the crowd overwhelmed security forces and tore down the mosque.
Demolition of the Babri Masjid | Introduction
In 1717, the Moghul Rajput noble Jai Singh II purchased the land surrounding the site and his documents show a mosque.
Baqi Tashqandi | Babri Masjid inscriptions
A land title case on the site was lodged in the Allahabad High Court, the verdicts of which was pronounced on 30 September 2010. In their verdict, the three judges of The Allahabad High Court ruled that the of Ayodhya land be divided into three parts, with one-third going to the Ram Lalla or Infant Lord Rama represented by the Hindu Maha Sabha for the construction of the Ram temple, one-third going to the Islamic Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board and the remaining one-third going to Nirmohi Akhara, a Hindu religious denomination. While the three-judge bench was not unanimous that the disputed structure was constructed after demolition of a temple, it did agree that a temple or a temple structure predated the mosque at the same site.
Babri Masjid | Title cases verdict
It was at a height of . The three doors of the mosque were the "Gate of Mercy" ( "Bab ar-Rahmah") to the south, "Gate of Gabriel" ( "Bab Jibril") to the west and "Gate of Women" () to the east. At this time point in the history of the Mosque, the qiblah wall was facing north, and al-Suffah was along the northern wall.
Al-Masjid an-Nabawi | Construction (622 CE or 1 AH)
Archaeological evidence has been found of a structure pre-dating the mosque. This structure has been variously identified as a Hindu temple and a Buddhist structure. For at least four centuries, the site was used for religious purposes by both Hindus and Muslims. The claim that the mosque stood on the site of a temple was first made in 1822, by an official of the Faizabad court. The Nirmohi Akhara sect cited this statement in laying claim to the site later in the 19th century, leading to the first recorded incidents of religious violence at the site in 1855. In 1859 the British colonial administration set up a railing to separate the outer courtyard of the mosque to avoid disputes.
Demolition of the Babri Masjid | Background
In Lal's 2008 book, "Rāma, His Historicity, Mandir and Setu: Evidence of Literature, Archaeology and Other Sciences", he writes (that): "Attached to the piers of the Babri Masjid, there were twelve stone pillars, which carried not only typical Hindu motifs and mouldings, but also figures of Hindu deities. It was self-evident that these pillars were not an integral part of the Masjid, but were foreign to it."
B. B. Lal | Ayodhya dispute
The pledge is not spelled out in the 1981 edition of Abdul Ghaffar's book, but it is made clear that it is in pursuance of this pledge that he got the Babri mosque constructed after conquering Hindustan. The original book was written in Persian by Maulvi Abdul Karim, a spiritual descendant of Musa Ashiqan, and it was translated into Urdu by Abdul Ghaffar, his grandson, with additional commentary. The older editions of Abdul Ghaffar's book contain more detail, which seems to have been excised in the 1981 edition. Lala Sita Ram of Ayodhya, who had access to the older edition in 1932, wrote, "The faqirs answered that they would bless him if he promised to build a mosque after demolishing the "Janmasthan" temple.
Ayodhya dispute | Mughal period
In 1990, in the context of the Ayodhya dispute, the All India Babri Masjid Action Committee (AIBMAC) cited Nath's "History of Mughal Architecture" to argue that the Islamic Mughal rulers did not destroy a Hindu temple to build the Babri mosque in Ayodhya. When Nath learned about this from an "Indian Express" newspaper report, he clarified that he actually believed that the mosque had been built over a temple. He explained his position in a booklet titled "Architecture & Site of the Baburi Masjid of Ayodhya", stating that a Jami Masjid is always sited in the main bazar of a city where the faithful can congregate conveniently and make purchases in the market afterwards.
Ram Nath | Views
This synagogue was demolished after Heraclius retook Jerusalem. Some claim that the place that was eventually called Masjid al-Aqsa was not constructed until AD 690-691 when ʿAbd al-Malik bin Marwan built the Mosque known as the Farthest Mosque (Masjid-ul-Aqsa) with the structure known as Dome of the Rock. But this is inaccurate. The general consensus between Muslim scholars is that the Isra and Mi’raj were specific to a literal building, called Masjid Al-Aqsa, and that Muhammad did indeed go to a physical location at which a masjid structure (building) was already built. It is not known where the concept that the mi'raj (journey) was not specific to a single structure in Jerusalem came from; in one instance, authors Watt/Welch claim that "the word masjid, which is used in the surah above literally translates as a 'place of prostration/worship' and thus indicates any place of worship, not necessarily a building."
Isra and Mi'raj | Historical issues related to this event
The rulers of the Delhi Sultanate and their successors, the Mughals, were great patrons of art and architecture and constructed many fine tombs, mosques and madrasas. These have a distinctive style which bears influences of "later Tughlaq" architecture. Mosques all over India were built in different styles; the most elegant styles developed in areas where indigenous art traditions were strong and local artisans were highly skilled. Thus regional or provincial styles of mosques grew out of local temple or domestic styles, which were conditioned in their turn by climate, terrain, materials, hence the enormous difference between the mosques of Bengal, Kashmir and Gujarat.
Babri Masjid | Background
Malayalam author N. S. Madhavan's story "Thiruthu" is based on the Babri masjid demolition. The Ayodhya dispute and the riots following the demolition of the Babri Masjid form part of the backdrop to Antara Ganguly's 2016 novel, "Tanya Tania". "Lajja" (Shame), a 1993 novel by Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin, was partially inspired by the persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh that intensified after the demolition of the Babri Masjid. The documentary "Ram ke Naam" (In the name of Ram) by Anand Patwardhan examines the events preceding the demolition. The Bollywood film "Mausam" is based on the events surrounding the demolition. The events riots that followed the demolition are an important part of the plot of several films, including "Bombay" (1995) set in the Bombay riots.
Demolition of the Babri Masjid | In popular culture
The demolition of the Babri Masjid was illegally carried out on 6 December 1992 by a large group of activists of the Vishva Hindu Parishad and allied organisations. The 16th-century Babri Mosque in the city of Ayodhya, in Uttar Pradesh, had been the subject of a lengthy socio-political dispute, and was targeted after a political rally organised by Hindu nationalist organisations turned violent. In Hindu tradition, the city of Ayodhya is the birthplace of Rama. In the 16th century a Mughal general, Mir Baqi, had built a mosque, known as the Babri Masjid at a site identified by some Hindus as "Ram Janmabhoomi", or the birthplace of Rama.
Demolition of the Babri Masjid | Introduction
could just as easily have... prevented the demolition."
Demolition of the Babri Masjid | Demolition
Two masjids (mosques), Jama Masjid and Pirzada Masjid, were built during the Mughal era and are currently in ruins. Parts of them have been demolished by the villagers and used for making, drying and storing hand-made dried cow dung cakes (called "Uple" उपले in Hindi and "Gosse" गोस्से in Haryanvi) or as fuel in Chulha (stoves) for cooking.
Maham | Mosques
The "Ramayana", a Hindu epic whose earliest portions date back to 1st millennium BCE, states that the capital of Rama was Ayodhya. According to the local Hindu belief, the site of the now-demolished Babri Mosque in Ayodhya is the exact birthplace of Rama. The Babri mosque is believed to have been constructed during 1528–29 by a certain 'Mir Baqi' (possibly Baqi Tashqandi), who was a commander of the Mughal emperor Babur (1526–1530). However, the historical evidence for these beliefs is scant. In 1611, an English traveller William Finch visited Ayodhya and recorded the "ruins of the Ranichand [Ramachand] castle and houses".
Ram Janmabhoomi | Babri Masjid site
The next few layers date back to the Shunga period (second-first century BC) and the Kushan period. During the early medieval period (11–12th century), a but short-lived huge structure of nearly 50 metres north–south orientation was constructed. On the remains of this structure, another massive structure was constructed: this structure had at least three structural phases and three successive floors attached with it. The report concluded that it was over the top of this construction that the disputed structure was constructed during the early 16th century. Muslim groups immediately disputed the ASI findings. The Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust (Sahmat) criticised the report saying that it said that "presence of animal bones throughout as well as of the use of 'surkhi' and lime mortar" that was found by ASI are all characteristic of Muslim presence "that rule out the possibility of a Hindu temple having been there beneath the mosque." The report claimed otherwise on the basis of 'pillar bases' was contested since no pillars were found, and the alleged existence of 'pillar bases' has been debated by archaeologists.
Babri Masjid | Archaeological excavations
The translation however contained five pieces of text, including "two" inscriptions. The first inscription said that the mosque was constructed by Mir Baqi in the year 935 AH or 923 AH. The second inscription narrated the genealogy of Aurangzeb. In addition to the two inscriptions and their monograms ("turghas"), a fable concerning a dervish called Musha Ashiqan was also included. The translator doubted that the fable was part of the inscription but recorded that the scribe "positively says that the inscription was executed at the erection of this building". The translator also had a difficulty with the anagram for the date, because one of the words was missing, which would have resulted in a date of 923 AH rather than 935 AH.
Babri Masjid | Inscriptions
Suraj Bhan played a significant role during the Ayodhya dispute, supporting the case for the Babri Masjid. He along with historians, Ram Sharan Sharma, Dwijendra Narayan Jha and M. Athar Ali, were a group of four academics who submitted a document titled "Babari Mosque or Rama's Birth Place? Historians Report to the Nation" to the Minister of Home Affairs in May 1991. Bhan contributed towards the archaeological component of the report. The authors claimed to have scrutinised the evidence provided by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Babri Masjid Action Committee (BMAC) and rejected outright the idea of the mosque being the site of Rama's birth or of the possibility of it having been built atop a pre-existing temple.
Suraj Bhan (archaeologist) | Ayodhya dispute
At present, it is occupied as a residential complex by a few families. The Masjid was built by the famous builder of Mosques Khan-i-Jahan Maqbul Tilangani, Prime Minister during Feroz Shah Tughlaq's reign, as one of his seven mosques; built in the same architectural style as the other six built by him. But even now the visible decorations of the mihrab appear to be more intricate than in his other mosques. When built with rubble masonry and plastered, the mosque had seven arched openings as the frontage, three bays depth-wise and crowned by a sequence of low domes in typical Tughlaqi architectural style.
Jahanpanah | Bijay Mandal
The Babri Mosque was one of the largest mosques in Uttar Pradesh, a state in India with some 31 million Muslims. Although there were several older mosques in the city of Ayodhya, an area with a substantial Muslim population, including the Hazrat Bal Mosque constructed by the Shariqi kings, the Babri Mosque became the largest, because of the importance of the disputed site. The political, historical and socio-religious debate over the history and location of the Babri Mosque and whether a previous temple was demolished or modified to create it, is known as the Ayodhya Debate.
Liberhan Commission | Dispute
The police cordon, vastly outnumbered and unprepared for the size of the attack, fled. The mob set upon the building with axes, hammers, and grappling hooks, and within a few hours, the entire structure, made from mud and chalk, was levelled. A 2009 report, authored by Justice Manmohan Singh Liberhan, found 68 people to be responsible for the demolition of the Masjid, mostly leaders from the BJP. Among those named were Vajpayee, Advani, Joshi and Vijay Raje Scindia. Kalyan Singh, who was then the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, also faced severe criticism in the report. Liberhan wrote that he posted bureaucrats and police officers to Ayodhya, whose record indicated that they would stay silent during the mosque's demolition.
Demolition of the Babri Masjid | Demolition
The Babri mosque's Tughluquid style integrated other design components and techniques, such as air cooling systems disguised as Islamic architectural elements like arches, vaults and domes. In the Babri Masjid a passive environmental control system comprised the high ceiling, domes, and six large grille windows. The system helped keep the interior cool by allowing natural ventilation as well as daylight.
Babri Masjid | Ventilation
634–644), and called to prayer at the site, where today the masjid is located. The word "mescit" (masjid) refers in Turkish to a small mosque. The masjid, which was named after Bilal was built in the 16th century.
Bilal-i Habeşi Masjid | Introduction
A veranda has been later added alongside the first floor due the eastern facade of the masjid to accommodate more number of worshipers which has marred the beauty of the masjid. Originally there was an open plaza that adjoined the eastern facade adding to its beauty and measured 50 feet by 20 feet. The masjid even though is rectangular in shape but looked more of a square where the 50 feet width is marginally bigger than its 45 feet breadth.
Bibi Maryam Mosque | Architectural elements and style
Close to the mosque was a "bazaar" (market). The word "katra" means caravanserai while "masjid" means mosque.
Katra Masjid | Etymology
"Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra" literally means "shed of two-and-a-half days". Alternative transliterations and names include "Arhai Din ka Jhompra" or "Dhai Din ki Masjid". A legend states that a part of the mosque was built in two-and-a-half days (see #Conversion into a mosque below). Some Sufis claim that the name signifies a human's temporary life on the earth. According to the ASI, the name probably comes from a two-and-a-half-day-long fair that used to be held at the site. Indian academic Har Bilas Sarda points out that the name "Adhai-Din-ka-Jhonpra" is not mentioned in any historical source. Before the 18th century, the mosque was simply known as a "Masjid" ("mosque"), since it had been the only mosque in Ajmer for centuries.
Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra | Etymology
According to Online Encyclopedia of Mass Violence tension started in 1986 when the black seal of the disputed structure commonly known as Babri Masjid in Ayodhya was opened by the Government which angered Muslims and some hateful speeches are also pourded in mind of Muslims. Disputed structure commonly known as Babri Masjid and RamJanmabhoomi controversy created huge communal tension in Uttar Pradesh Basically the Disputed structure commonly known as Babri masjid is constructed by Babur after demolition of Ram Mandir back in 1528 A.D .
1987 Meerut communal riots | Background
The Court observed that archaeological evidence from the Archaeological Survey of India shows that the Babri Masjid was constructed on a "structure", whose architecture was distinctly indigenous and non-Islamic.
Archaeology of Ayodhya | Court verdict after analysis of ASI report
Masjids include Jumma Masjid, Masjide Raza, Ashrafi Masjid, tanvir masjid,Madina Masjid, Ashrafiya Darool Qir'aat, Chishtiya Darbar and Babe Noorul Ain Gate. Nureilahi masjid (kasba).Nureilahi Madrsa,Kasba.
Meghraj | Masjid
Underneath the platform there is a series of rectangular rooms that are let out to shopkeepers. A kitchen market was built to meet the expenses of the mosque. In 1777, the control of the market was taken over by Begum daughter of the then Naib-e-Nazim Sharfaraz Khan. The name of the locality ‘Begumbazar’ and the masjid originate from her name. The 'Baoli', the only known example of its kind in Bengal, is considered to be of North Indian or Deccan origin, the latter possibility being more likely since its builder had been in Deccen before coming to Dhaka.
Kartalab Khan Mosque | History
Even though the exact date of construction remains a mystery, Nellikunnu and Muslims of the locality owe their history to this great masjid. This masjid is devoted to the saint Muhyddin Abdul Qader Jeelani ().
Nellikunnu Muhyaddin Juma Masjid | History
(PASSIA, 2013)
Al-Buraq Mosque | Historical Background of the Masjid
It came to be known as a "jhonpra" ("shed" or "hut") when fakirs started gathering here to celebrate urs (death anniversary fair) of their leader Panjaba Shah. This happened during the Maratha era, in the second half of the 18th century. The "urs" lasted for two-and-a-half days, resulting in the modern name of the mosque. Alexander Cunningham described the building as the "Great Mosque of Ajmer".
Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra | Etymology
William Finch, the English traveller who visited Ayodhya around 1611, wrote about the "ruins of the Ranichand [Ramachand] castle and houses" where Hindus believed the great God "took flesh upon him to see the "tamasha" of the world." He found "pandas" (Brahmin priests) in the ruins of the fort, recording the names of pilgrims, but there was no mention of a mosque. Thomas Herbert described in 1634 the "pretty old castle of Ranichand built by a Bannyan Pagod of that name" which he described as an antique monument that was "especially memorable". He also recorded the fact of Brahmins recording the names of pilgrims.
Babri Masjid | Construction
In 1853, a group of armed Hindu ascetics belonging to the Nirmohi Akhara occupied the Babri Masjid site, and claimed ownership of the structure. Subsequently, the civil administration stepped in, and in 1855, divided the mosque premises into two parts: one for Hindus, and the other for Muslims. In 1883, the Hindus launched an effort to construct a temple on the platform. When the administration denied them the permission to do this, they took the matter to court. In 1885, the Hindu Sub Judge Pandit Hari Kishan Singh dismissed the lawsuit. Subsequently, the higher courts also dismissed the lawsuit in 1886, in favour of status quo.
Ram Janmabhoomi | Proposed Ram Janmabhoomi temple
The mosque retained its old name until the 1970s when a new mosque management committee was elected, led by the late Mustafa bin Haji Ahmad and assisted by Haji Kamsin Pamer, Haji Fadzuli Haji Bajuri, Ibrahim Majid, Noordin Suhud and Hassan Sultani. It was during their tenure that the name of the mosque was changed to Masjid Al-Huda. They also brought about some changes in the style of management of the mosque, and successfully conducted weekly religious classes with overwhelming response during the 1970s and 1980s.
Masjid Al-Huda | New name
The demolition and the ensuing riots were among the major factors behind the 1993 Mumbai bombings and many successive riots in the coming decade. Jihadi groups including the Indian Mujahideen cited the demolition of the Babri Mosque as a reason for their terrorist attacks.
Demolition of the Babri Masjid | Communal violence
It got its name from the hay () sellers who used to settle around it.
Tabbanine Mosque | Etymology
An adjacent shophouse was converted into a madrasa and a prayer hall for women in 1998.
Masjid Al-Abrar | History
In 2003, by the order of an Indian court, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was asked to conduct a more in-depth study and an excavation to ascertain the type of structure that was beneath the rubble. The excavation was conducted from 12 March 2003 to 7 August 2003, resulting in 1360 discoveries. The ASI submitted its report to the Allahabad high court. The summary of the ASI report indicated what appears to be the presence of a 10th-century shrine under the mosque. According to the ASI team, the human activity at the site dates back to the 13th century BC.
Babri Masjid | Archaeological excavations
It further said that the sabotage was planned several months in advance by Vishva Hindu Parishad and Shiv Sena, but not jointly.
Demolition of the Babri Masjid | Conspiracy allegations
The initial destruction of Babri Masjid was planned on 30 October 1990. The karsevaks started to arrive by 25th and pursuant to instructions of Mulayam Yadav, were subject to mass-incarcerations; by 26th, 637 were already arrested and that local prisons were filled up, a girls' intermediate college was transformed to a temporary prison. Securities at the latter facility were minimal and they wandered out to the town, with ease. Schools and colleges chose to announce indefinite closure, in light of the communally polarized environment. Public assemblies were banned soon afterwards.
1990 Bijnor riot | Build up
A subsequent inquiry into the incident found 68 people responsible, including several leaders of the BJP and the VHP. The demolition resulted in several months of intercommunal rioting between India's Hindu and Muslim communities, causing the death of at least 2,000 people. Retaliatory violence against Hindus also occurred in Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Demolition of the Babri Masjid | Introduction
When Babur's son Humayun defeated Sher Shah Suri's descendants near Panipat, he added a masonry Platform to it and called it "Chabutra" Fateh Mubarak, bearing the inscription 934 Hijri (1557 CE). These buildings and the garden still exist under the name of Kabuli Bagh called so after Babur’s wife – Mussammat Kabuli begum.
Kabuli Bagh Mosque | Addition of Gates and Garden (2)
It was built in 1710 by Cheikh Yahia Esslimani. The minarets were restored in 1907.
Bab Jazira Mosque | History
The correspondent endowment () was founded in 1483. The mosque lay in the quarter named "Eski Odalar" () after the lodging of the Janissaries, and was repeatedly hit by the fires which ravaged the neighborhood in 1660, 1693 and 1718. During the great fire of 1782 the building partially burned and was afterward restored changing its plan. The fire of 1911 severely damaged the edifice, which in 1930 was demolished after a short surveying of the museum department, since it lay in the middle of a planned new road.
Balaban Aga Mosque | History
Several Hindu religious and political organisations have sought to construct a temple on the site of Ram Janmabhoomi, to commemorate Rama. However, the Babri Mosque stood on the site of Ram Janmabhoomi, was constructed by Mughal emperor Babur after he demolished the original Rama temple on the site. The issue was taken up by organisations such as the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a major Hindu nationalist political party. In 1992, a procession led by the VHP near the mosque ended up demolishing the mosque, which caused major communal violence across India between Hindus and Muslims.
Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas | Ayodhya dispute
The "Banglewali Masjid" (Bungalow Mosque) was built in Nizamuddin by Mirza Ilahi Baksh, a relative of the last Mughal emperor, sometime after 1857. Mawlana Muhammad Ismail, the father of Muhammad Ilyas Kandhlawi, established a madrasa in its premises under the name "Kashif al-Ulum". It is said that he used to go out and invite people to come to the mosque and, on one occasion, he happened to bring Meos from Mewat who were in Delhi as labourers. Noticing that they were not schooled in proper practice of prayer, he decided to teach it to them, which was the beginning of the madrasa.
Nizamuddin Markaz Mosque | Early history
"Daivanamathil" (2005) explores the repercussions of the demolition on Muslims in Kerala. Both "Bombay" and "Daivanamathi" won the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration at the respective National Film Awards. The 2007 film "Black Friday" was based upon the 1993 Bombay bombings which were considered to be the after effect of the demolition of the mosque.
Demolition of the Babri Masjid | In popular culture
The excavations by the Archaeological Survey of India were heavily used as evidence by the court that the predating structure was a massive Hindu religious building. The five judges Supreme Court bench heard the title dispute cases from August to October 2019. On 9 November 2019, the Supreme Court ordered the land to be handed over to a trust to build the Hindu temple. It also ordered the government to give an alternative five acre plot to the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board to build a mosque, which the government allotted in Dhannipur, Ayodhya. Dhannipur is a village that already has four mosques.
Babri Masjid | Title cases verdict
In 1936, the United Provinces government enacted U.P. Muslim Waqf Act for the better administration of waqf properties in the state. In accordance with this act, the Babri Masjid and its adjacent graveyard (Ganj-e-Saheedan Qabristan) were registered as "Waqf no. 26 Faizabad" with the UP Sunni Central Board of Waqfs. The Shias disputed the Sunni ownership of the mosque, claiming that the site belonged to them because Mir Baqi was a Shia. The Commissioner of Waqfs initiated an inquiry into the dispute. The inquiry concluded that the mosque belonged to the Sunnis, since it was commissioned by Babur, who was a Sunni.
Babri Masjid | Shia–Sunni dispute
The design of the building is based on Indo-Islamic architecture with two tall minarets at the front. The minarets-like towers that define the narrow frontage are devoid of decorative elements, except for a small onion dome on the top of each tower. The building however also includes Neoclassical elements such as Doric columns in its interior. The building was built along a row of shophouses, and the frontage incorporated a five-foot way (1.524 m) that connects the walkway of the other shophouses. At the entrance of the mosque, the parapet that previously fringed only the central bay now ran across the whole length of the frontage.
Masjid Al-Abrar | Architecture
Subsequently, the Rajiv Gandhi government ordered the locks on the Babri Masjid gates to be removed. Earlier, the only Hindu ceremony permitted at the site was a Hindu priest performing an annual puja. After the ruling, all Hindus were given access to the site, and the mosque gained some function as a Hindu temple. Communal tension in the region worsened when the VHP received permission to perform a "shilanyas" (stone-laying ceremony) at the disputed site before the national election in November 1989. A senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, L K Advani, started a "rath yatra", embarking on a 10,000 km journey starting from the south and heading towards Ayodhya.
Babri Masjid | Demolition
It was built by late Khawaja Muzaffar Din s/o Khawaja Imam Bakhsh in 1955 on purchased land by him from Govt. auction and named it as Masjid Al Muzaffar
Al-Muzaffar Mosque | History
One mosque, Masjid Zeenath Baksh was built in the Bunder area of Mangalore by Malik Deenar, an Arab Da'ee, in 644
Beary | Introduction
Masjid An-Noor, or variations such as Masjid-an-Noor and Masjid-e-Noor, may refer to:
Masjid An-Noor | Introduction
Abd-un-NabI khan, the founder of the masjid was appointed as faujdar of Itawa by Aurungzeb, after some time he was transferred to Mathura. Here he remained from 1660 to 1668 till he met his death at Sahora, a village in Mahaban Pargana on the opposite side of Yamuna while engaged in quelling a popular uprising. The ground which Abd-un-Nabi Khan selected as the site of his mosque was, he purchased from some butchas and the remainder, he obtained from a family of Kazis, whose descendants still occupy what is called Kusk Mahalla, one of the very few quarters of the city that are known by a Persian name.
Jama Mosque, Mathura | History
As they are considered important to the Muslim community, mosques, like other places of worship, can be at the heart of social conflicts. The Babri Mosque was the subject of such a conflict up until the early 1990s when it was demolished. Before a mutual solution could be devised, the mosque was destroyed on December 6, 1992 as the mosque was built by Babur allegedly on the site of a previous Hindu temple marking the birthplace of Rama. The controversy surrounded the mosque was directly linked to rioting in Bombay (present-day Mumbai) as well as bombings in 1993 that killed 257 people.
Mosque | Role in violent conflicts
The mosque got its name from a saint called cheikh Abi Kacem El Bellagh () who lived in the 8th century and who was known for his morals and his wisdom.
Sidi Bellagh Mosque | Etymology
Either way, after the Quba Mosque, Muhammad went on to establish another mosque in Medina, which is now known as "Al-Masjid an-Nabawi" (The Prophet's Mosque). Built on the site of his home, Muhammad participated in the construction of the mosque himself and helped pioneer the concept of the mosque as the focal point of the Islamic city. The Prophet's mosque introduced some of the features still common in today's mosques, including the niche at the front of the prayer space known as the "mihrab" and the tiered pulpit called the "minbar". The mosque was also constructed with a large courtyard, a motif common among mosques built since then.
Mosque | Origins