There are more than 300,000 Masjids in India, a vital institution for the Muslim community and a vibrant symbol of Islamic identity. For centuries, Masjids have played a multifaceted role, fostering social solidarity and unity among diverse communities, extending beyond prayer to community service and social cohesion. Masjids in India have been playing this role for centuries but all its positive perceptions get hidden behind the propaganda machinery of Islamophobia in India.
The concept of Masjids as community centres is deeply rooted in Islamic philosophy and theology. The Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ Masjid in 7th-century Madinah exemplified this, serving as a hub for worship, governance, education, and refuge. To this day, Masjids worldwide continue to function as vibrant centres for social welfare, education, charity, and community cohesion. Their influence extends beyond religious duties, fostering unity and support among diverse communities.Throughout history, Masjids have been sanctuaries of peace, providing protection to vulnerable communities during difficult times, riots, natural disasters or Pandemic.The height of tall Masjids is not only important for prayers but also plays an important role in protecting the society from natural calamities like floods.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Masjids in Madhya Pradesh played a crucial role in community upliftment. Jamaat-e-Islami Hind’s Madhya Pradesh units collaborated with local Masjids to establish community kitchen centres, providing free food to labourers and those in need. Some non-Muslim intellectuals, impressed by the efforts of kitchen operators Shakeel Sahab, Syed Ali Sahab, and Anjum Sahab and contributed 10% of the total donations. With official permission, food was prepared and distributed from Masjid premises, adhering to protocols. In the first phase, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind distributed 8,000 food packets and ration kits daily from various Masjids in Bhopal, including KoheFizaMasjid, Kotra Sultanabad Masjid, NooraniMasjid, Char MinarMasjid, Gandhinagar Naya Basti Masjid, Masjid Chidikhana and Crescent Public School, later expanding to oxygen cylinder and medicine distribution in the second phase.
Multiple organisations, including Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind and Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith, joined forces with Jamaat-e-Islami Hind to support this humanitarian effort. Volunteers in major cities distributed food, utilising vehicle passes, while also covering highways to reach stranded workers. When all doors were closed for the large number of workers/labourers returning to their homes, Masjids provided essential items like food, medicine, and sanitary pads to them and those in need, regardless of their faith or creed. Despite lockdowns, Masjids offered these services in their courtyards, with official permission, demonstrating compassion and unity.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Masjids in Madhya Pradesh played a vital role in community upliftment by converting into quarantine centres, providing a safe haven for patients. This compassionate act showcased the Muslim community’s long-standing tradition of brotherhood, secularism, and unity. By stepping up in times of crisis, they demonstrated their commitment to meeting the immediate needs of people across religious boundaries. Many Muslim institutions have organised Masjid Parichay or Masjid Darshan programmes to dispel common misconceptions about Masjids. These programmes, held in major cities across India, aim to educate non-Muslim brothers and sisters about Masjids, Azan, and Namaz, promoting understanding and unity.
In India, there’s been a disturbing trend of Masjids and dargahs being targeted by miscreants. This has led to a surge in Islamophobia, fuelled by misconceptions that Masjids and Madrasas are hubs of terror, hatred, and COVID-19 transmission. Some non-Muslims also view the Azan call to prayer as a ‘nuisance’ and object to Friday prayers spilling onto the streets due to overcrowding. These biases have contributed to the illegal demolition of Masjids, often under the guise of ‘encroachment’, and the destruction of centuries-old Masjids despite court orders to the contrary. Whereas Masjids are symbols of hope that not only provide spiritual guidance but also help bridge communal divides and have been proving to be a place of refuge and peace for the needy in times of trouble and are still proving to be so.