One of the important aspect of most religions that have existed or still exits, is granting auspiciousness and sanctity to certain times and places. In Islam also, there are certain special times, that are auspicious like “Shab e Qadr” and then there are certain places which are blessed with sacredness and therefore, are held by Muslims in high esteem. One such important structure or place is Mosque (Masjid). To understand the importance of Mosque in Islam, it’s enough to mention that, mosques are also called ‘The House Of Allah’ (Bayt ul llah) , a place where the believer meets God through prayers. Besides being a place for prayer, mosques have played a vital role in the history of Islam, in propagating the message of Islam and strengthening its theological basis. It was Masjid e Nabvi (s), which served as a centre from where the message of Islam spread to the whole world. Most of the traditional Islamic madrassas and universities were located near some or the other mosques.
Quran and Islamic texts are full of narrations talking about the importance, respect and rewards for attending prayers in the Mosque. In Quran, chapter 2 verse 114, Allah regards someone who denies access to mosque as the greatest wrong doer.
Despite having such reverence, the very same Quran in chapter 8, verse 108 , asks the believer to not even stand in “a particular mosque”. Prima facie this may look contradictory, as on one hand, Quran is asking believers to offer prayers in Mosques and calling the one who prohibits it as greatest wrongdoer. On the other hand, Allah himself prohibits the believer as well as the Prophet, to not even stand in the particular Mosque.
The Mosque mentioned in this verse is famously known as ‘Masjid Al Dhirar’ ( Mosque of Harm). In the subsequent verses following the verse about the Masjid Al Dhirar, Allah gives reason for calling it ‘Mosque of Harm”. After giving reasons, Allah lays down an important condition for the foundation of all mosques.
In the verse 107 of Chapter 8, Allah says the hypocrites pursued four aims by building this mosque. Firstly, to cause Harm (Dhrar) to Islam and Muslims, secondly, to create disbelief(Kufr), thirdly to cause disunity (Tafreeqa) among people and lastly, to make it a lurking (Sadan) place for one who fights against Allah and his Apostle.
Quran says any mosque that is founded on these principle is not a Mosque, that can attain the status ‘Bayt ul llah’, but is ‘Baytul Dhirar’ for Muslims. In the popular tradition, its narrated that Prophet then asked for the destruction of this particular mosque.
After criticizing and condemning these purposes and asking believers not to stand in it, Allah lays down a fundamental criteria for the establishment of Mosques, and i.e, Taqwa (God wariness or Piety). In the later part of verse 108 in Chapter 8, Allah says, “A mosque founded on Taqwa(Piety) from the very first day is worthier that you stand in it.
“Taqwa”, is usually translated as fear of Allah or self-restraint, but if we go by the way this word is used in the Quran, then its’s meaning is much vast then just fear or self restraint. Taqwa, is a pre-requisite for a person who wants to live his life by certain principles, under the control of reason having a clear direction to move towards a specific goal and that goal being Allah. It’s the quality of those who protect themselves from all that is considered by religion as wrong.
It’s this quality that should form an essence, for laying the foundation of mosques and not the political dominance, sovereignty or power.
Taqwa and the avoiding those four aims as per Quranic teachings becomes an important criteria for foundation of all the mosques and also regarding recent decision of reconverting Hagia Sophia into mosque.
Hagia Sophia was originally built as Christian Basilica, for Greek Orthodox Christian Church. After Sultan Mehmed conquered Constantinople, Hagia Sophia was renovated into a mosque. It was a mosque for almost five centuries, and then was converted into a museum by Kemal Ataturk, as a part of his secular politics. The converting of this structure into a museum by Ataturk was seen as message of secularism, plurality and coexistence. It marked a reconciliation for both the faiths, as people from both the faiths had an access to their historical tradition and culture. It remained a museum for almost 86 years and now as per the recent orders given by the Turkish Court, it will be reconverted into a mosque. Now, as it’s been made into a mosque, this structure will be subjected to all the jurisprudential rules, making it inaccessible for Christians to connect with their past, hurting the religious sentiments of a large number of people and creating disunity(Tafaruqa).
It may be looked upon as a legal victory considering the historical fact that it was a mosque before getting converted into a museum unlike in India where mythologies have been given more consideration than existing structures and historical facts. But as per Quranic teachings of ‘Taqwa’ and the principle of unity this may not seem as a victory . Islam not only consist of few set of prayers and certain practices but a large number of human values involving respect for plurality, unity and peaceful coexistence. Quran in Chapter 5 and 16, clearly mentions, “If Allah would have willed, he would have made you in one nation(united in religion)”, but he didn’t because diversity is an essence of this creation and Islam respects as well as accepts the differences. The very famous verse, “To you your religion and to me my religion”, makes clear that Islam does not believe in exclusivity or parochialism but in tolerance and acknowledging diversity. Obedience to this verses demands respect for the faith and religious sentiments of other people.
This conversion may have added one more mosque in the list of Mosques in Islam but it certainly has given out a message has created disunity in the hearts of large part of population and has raised a lot of questions regarding the Islamic message of universal peace and tolerance.

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