| Building Name: | Muhammad Bin Abdullah Masjid |
| Native Name: | Ayodhya Mosque |
| Religious Affiliation: | Islam |
| Tradition: | Sunni |
| Functional Status: | Under construction |
| Governing Body: | Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation |
| Groundbreaking: | 26 January 2021 |
| Coordinates: | 26.762°N 82.002°W |
| Map Type: | Uttar Pradesh #India |
| Municipality: | Dhannipur, Ayodhya district |
| State: | Uttar Pradesh |
| Country: | India |
| Religious Features Label: | Predecessor |
| Religious Features: | Babri Masjid |
The Muhammad bin Abdullah Masjid or Ayodhya Mosque is a mosque being constructed in Dhannipur, Ayodhya district, Uttar Pradesh, at a site designated by the Supreme Court of India following its verdict on the Ayodhya dispute case.[1] [2]
The construction of the Mosque and associated complex is managed by the Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation (IICF) trust.[3] [4] The Dhannipur Mosque is almost 22 km away from the Ram Mandir, Ayodhya,[5] the former site of its predecessor, the Babri Masjid.
The construction began on 26 January 2021. The mosque was officially named as Ahmadullah Shah Mosque, as an honour to the leader of Indian Independence war of 1857, Maulavi Ahmadullah Shah, but was later renamed as Muhammad bin Abdullah Masjid, after the Islamic prophet Muhammad.[6]
Dhannipur is a hamlet located in Sohawal tehsil in Ayodhya district. The designated plot for the mosque is located at a distance of about 22 kilometres from the Ram Mandir site.
The project was formally launched by the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board by hoisting the national flag and planting saplings on Republic Day of 2021. In addition to the mosque itself, the complex includes a hospital, museum, library, a community kitchen which can feed a maximum of 2,000 people per day, and an Indo-Islamic cultural research centre and publication house.[7]
Around 40% of the donations received by the Trust are given by Hindus, while Muslims have contributed 30%. The remaining 30% are corporate donations. Foundation secretary Athar Hussain confirmed that the Trust has to date received Rs 40 lakhs of donations, 40% of which has been contributed by the Hindu community.[8]
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board has stated that the construction of the mosque is against the Waqf Act and is illegal under Shariyat law.[9] AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi also claimed that donating money for construction and praying at the mosque is haraam (forbidden) according to Islamic principles, to which the Mosque Trust replied that "serving humanity is not haraam".[10]
Two sisters from Delhi filed a petition in the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court, claiming ownership of the land allotted for the mosque along with 28 acres of surrounding land, which they claim was given to their father at the time of partition.[11]