New Masjid in Murshidabad: Qur’anic Caution for a Community Still Healing from Babri

A new masjid in Murshidabad has sparked questions about intention, timing, and political messaging. Qur’an 9:108 and the lesson of Masjid Dhirar loom large over the conversation. For a community healing from Babri, sincerity remains the real foundation

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December 6 is a day that lives deep in the hearts of every Muslim, particularly in India.
The demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992 was not only the fall of a structure, but a wound that generations continue to carry. Even today, the pain has not faded, and perhaps it never will. Some wounds remain because they remind us of who we are, what we lost, and what we must protect.

Against this emotional backdrop, news of a new masjid brings both hope and reflection. A masjid, after all, is one of the greatest symbols of our deen. Allah says:

“The mosques of Allah are only to be maintained by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day…”(Qur’an 9:18)

And the Prophet ﷺ said:

“Whoever builds a mosque for Allah, Allah will build for him a house in Jannah.”(Bukhari& Muslim)

This is a blessing few deeds can match.

However, one thing that our scholars have always emphasized about this great blessing is that the reward is not for the building alone, it is for the sincerity behind it.

A mosque built with taqwa, halal means, and pure intention becomes a light on the earth.

A mosque built for display, politics, or division becomes something else entirely.

A New Masjid in Murshidabad

On December 6, 2025, a foundation was laid for a new masjid project in Murshidabad. People brought bricks and funds, expressing emotion and excitement. The echoes of Babri Masjid have naturally heightened these feelings.

It is important to be just and fair: only Allah knows anyone’s intention.

We cannot claim to know what lies in the heart of any person, even a politician. It may very well be that the MLA’s niyyah is sincere and free from personal or political motives.

However, while intentions are hidden, circumstances are visible, and circumstances matter.

And the circumstances of Bengal today are delicate.

There is political tension, communal anxiety, and elections approaching. In such an environment, even a well-intended step can produce reactions far bigger than expected, sometimes even harmful.

The name proposed for the masjid, the timing, and the public mobilisation all deserve thoughtful reflection. Emotion is one thing, but wisdom is essential.

When the MLA was suspended from the party for his announcement of constructing the Babri Masjid, he immediately announced that he would form a new political party. What does this point to?

Our History Teaches Us

Whenever Muslims acted with wisdom, unity, and sincerity, Allah granted them dignity and strength. Whenever emotion overtook reflection, or when the intentions were not pure, the consequences were painful. These lessons are not for blaming the past, but for guiding our future.

The Qur’an warns us through the story of Masjid Dhirar (Zarar), where a structure outwardly called a “masjid” was condemned by Allah because it was built with the intention to harm and create discord amongst the believers. Allah condemned it and said:

“Never stand (to pray) there.”(Qur’an 9:108)

This does not mean that every new masjid resembles that story.Rather, it teaches a universal principle:

A masjid’s value lies not in its structure, but in the sincerity and purity of its purpose.
This principle applies everywhere and at all times.

A Sincere Appeal

If this new masjid is to be built, and if the people desire it, let it be built with taqwa, with halal funds, with clear intention, and with wise leadership, so that it becomes a place of mercy. A masjid’s greatness does not lie in the emotions at its foundation but in the piety that sustains it.

As Muslims, our hearts are tender and easily stirred, especially on a day like December 6. But this is exactly when we must hold tightly to wisdom.

No masjid should be a reaction, a political symbol, a tool for mobilisation, or a statement of vengeance.A masjid is only for Allah, and for Allah alone.Let us proceed with care, with du’a, with consultation, and with a deep sense of responsibility. Because the wounds of the past must not push us into mistakes in the future.

May Allah guide our community, purify our intentions, and protect every masjid built in His name.

Aameen.

Faiz Anwar
Faiz Anwar
A Chartered Accountant by profession, he is passionate about social work and writes on issues that strengthen the social fabric

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