Free From Strife

By Staff Writer, *Liberhan report ignores Muslim history of Ayodhya* - TwoCircles.net - USA
Tuesday, November 24, 2009

New Delhi: Chapter 2 of the Liberhan Report is titled “Ayodhya And Its Geography.” First two pages of this chapter is devoted to Ayodhya’s history and the next three are devoted to “Modern Ayodhya.” These five pages detail the Hindu history and character of the city while completely ignoring the long association of Muslims to this historic town.

Only Muslim references are the mentioning of the claim of the Hindutva groups that Mir Baqi demolished the temple and constructed a mosque under the orders of Bihar; it also mentions that Ayodhya was part of Awadha and the regime was “known free from communal and inter-religious division and strife so was the Ayodhya town.”

One can only guess if the significant omission of Muslim history in Ayodhya and the fact that 6% of population of Ayodhya is Muslims and have been living here for generations.

Well known scholar and writer Yoginder Sikand traced Muslim history to as early as the twelfth century when a number of Sufis came to Ayodhya for spiritual teaching and instructions. Qazi Qidwatuddin Awadhi is one of the first ones who came from Central Asia.

Shaikh Nasiruddin Chiragh Dilli was born in Ayodhya and learnt the Quran here from Shaikh Shamsuddin Yahya Awadhi. Other famous Sufis of Ayodhya are Shaikh Zainuddin Ali Awadhi, Shaikh Fatehullah Awadhi and Allama Kamaluddin Awadhi. Khulafa or spiritual deputies of Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya from Ayodhya included Shaikh Jamaluddin Awadhi, Qazi Muhiuddin Kashani, Maulana Qawamuddin Awadhi and Shaikh Alauddin Nilli. Badi Bua or Badi Bibi, sister of Chiragh Dilli and a spiritual person in her own right is also buried in Ayodhya.

One page 23rd of the report, Justice Liberhan notes that Ayodhya is known as Vishala, Khosla, or Maha Khosla, Ikshvaku, Rampuri, Ram Janambhoomi but does not mention that Ayodhya is also know as the Khurd Makkah ( Small Mecca) for Muslims believed that it is the final burial place of two prophets- Sheesh, son of Adam and Nuh. There are as many as eighty Sufi dagahs in Ayodhya which attract both Muslims and Hindus devotees.

Liberhan report also failed to recognize that there is an active Muslim community living in Ayodhya.

Earlier this year, Mumtaz Alam Falahi visited Ayodhya to do a seven part series called Ayodhya 2009. Among other things he found a vibrant Muslim community that was at peace with its Hindu neighbors while still seeking justice on the issue of Babri Masjid.

Justice Liberhan lists a number of temples but failed to see that there are about 103 mosques in the city. Some of these mosques are very old suggesting the long association of Muslims to this town. At least 35 of these mosques have 5-time daily prayers and 10-15 mosques offer Juma prayers.

Link: http://www.twocircles.net/special_reports/ayodhya_2009.html

Picture: Tehri Bazar Masjid of Ayodhya

[Wiki on Ayodhya]