Ayodhya dispute - The Muslim narrative

Ayodhya Ram Mandir-Babri Masjid dispute -

The Muslim narrative

After the first part on the Hindu narrative, ahead is put forth the Muslim narrative of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir-Babri Masjid dispute.

Prabhash K Dutta 

New Delhi

October 18, 2019

UPDATED: October 18, 2019 15:19 IST

During hearing of the Ayodhya case in the Supreme Court, the Muslim side claimed title right on disputed land. (File photo: Reuters)

Ayodhya Ram Mandir-Babri Masjid dispute is on the verge of a legal settlement with an impending verdict of the Supreme Court. Both the Hindu and the Muslim sides have said that the judgment of the Supreme Court will be respected and accepted.

The case has reached this stage after decades of litigation that left many confused with parallel narratives of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir-Babri Masjid dispute. IndiaToday.in tried to piece together the two broad narratives in two part-series without complicating it with legal jargons. After the first part on the Hindu narrative, ahead is put forth the Muslim narrative of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir-Babri Masjid dispute.

According to the Muslim side contesting the claim of the Hindu parties and claiming title right of the disputed site in Ayodhya where Babri Masjid stood till December 6, 1992, Mir Baqi constructed to fulfill the wish of Babar, no temple was destroyed.

As a king having suzerainty over the land, Babar had the title right of the spot on which Babri Masjid was constructed. So, the Muslim side is the legitimate holder of title of the disputed site of Ayodhya as no transfer of the same land was recorded thereafter, they argue.

Considering the attachment of the Hindus with the place, the Muslim side maintains, Mughal emperors allowed Hindus to worship inside the Babri Masjid premises even though worship of any other god than Allah is not permitted in Islam.

Worshipping of Lord Ram at Ram Chabutara (a raised square platform) began during the time of Akbar, who is believed to have allowed construction of the chabutara, according to the Muslim side in the Ayodhya dispute.

The word, "Allah" inscribed on the wall and at the entrance of the Babri Masjid premises is proof that the land belonged to the Muslim side.

There is no archaeological or literary proof that Lord Ram was born at the exact place of the disputed site.

The claim on the site, the Muslim side says, began in 1885 when a Nirmohi Akhara member filed a suit in a Faizabad court. They claim that when clashes had earlier erupted between Hindus and Muslims over Hanuman Garhi temple near the disputed site in 1853, there was no mention of the site of Babri Masjid being the Janmasthan.

The British administration constructed a wall separating Hindu devotees from Muslims to maintain peace and not as any recognition of the title right of the Hindus over the land, they argue.

The 1949 Faizabad court and 2010 Allahabad High Court judgments were erroneous in dividing the entire 2.77 acre of land surrounding the disputed site among the Hindus and Muslims and thereby recognising the title rights of the Hindus. Hence, the Muslim side sought overturning of the Allahabad High Court judgment in Ayodhya Ram Mandir-Babri Masjid dispute.