Do you know the history of the Sambhal mosque which has created a ruckus regarding its survey? The name is associated with this Mughal ruler

New Delhi: Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh is burning and a mosque is at the center of the controversy. As soon as the order for the survey of 16th century Jama Masjid in Sambhal, Moradabad came, a flame of anger burned within the local people there. What happened after this became the headlines of every newspaper and media channels. In this fire of anger, police officers were injured, many deaths and riots resulted in normal life being disrupted, but what is the history of the mosque over which there has been so much uproar? Let us know.Babar had built this mosque
The Jama Masjid of Sambhal was built between 1526 and 1530 during the reign of the first Mughal emperor Babur. It was one of three major mosques built during his/her brief but influential reign. The other two were in Panipat and Ayodhya, of which the Ayodhya mosque has now been demolished.

How does this mosque of Sambhal look?
According to historical reports, the mosque was constructed in December 1526 under the supervision of Babur’s confidant Sipahsalar Hindu Beg Kuchin. Its architectural style reflects the evolving Mughal design of the period, with a large square hall and a central dome. Persian inscriptions inside the mosque confirm its Mughal origins, although some historians claim that its construction incorporated the remains of pre-existing Hindu temples.

Religious significance for Hindus
Sambhal itself holds religious significance for Hindus, as it is the alleged birthplace of Kalki, the tenth and final incarnation of Vishnu. According to Hindu scriptures, Kalki is scheduled to appear in Sambhal to end Kaliyuga (Age of Darkness). Earlier this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone of the grand Kalki Dham and called for ‘Ram Rashtra’ and claimed that Kalki’s incarnation will determine the future for thousands of years.

What is a legal dispute?
The controversy started when lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain and others filed a petition in Sambhal. Jain, known for his/her involvement in the Gyanvapi Masjid and Krishna Janmabhoomi controversies, claimed that the Jama Masjid was built on the ruins of a temple dedicated to Lord Kalki. The petition alleged that the mosque was built after the temple was destroyed during Babar’s invasion in 1526-27. The petitioners argue that historical texts like Baburnama and Akbarnama document the destruction of the temple by Babur.

The plea claims that the temple was built by Hindu mythological figure Vishwakarma at the beginning of the universe. It is alleged that Babar’s army partially destroyed the temple and converted it into a mosque to establish Islamic supremacy. The petition further criticizes the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for failing to take control of the site as it is a protected monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act of 1958. The petitioners are demanding unrestricted access to the mosque for Hindus, claiming that their right to worship is being illegally denied.

Survey and its result
Responding to the petition, the court had ordered a survey of the mosque on 19 November 2024. Advocate Commissioner Ramesh Raghav along with the district administration and police conducted the survey on the same day. This swift action drew criticism from many quarters, claiming abuse of judicial power and procedural irregularities.

The Muslim community, including the Jama Masjid Management Committee, strongly opposed the survey. he/she cited the Places of Worship Act of 1991. This Act prohibits changing the status of any religious place as on August 15, 1947. Samajwadi Party MP from Sambhal Ziaur Rehman Barak also condemned the move as an attempt to disturb communal harmony.

Tension increased on 24 November
Tension increased on 24 November as a second survey was scheduled. Protests erupted near the mosque as hundreds of locals, fearing a repeat of the demolition of the Babri Masjid, gathered to protest the survey. The demonstration took a violent turn in no time. The protesters threw stones and set vehicles on fire.

Security personnel used tear gas and lathicharge to control the crowd. Four people were killed and more than 30 policemen were injured in the clashes. Several vehicles were set on fire and property around the mosque was damaged. Seeing the situation worsening, internet services were suspended and schools were closed for a day. Moradabad Police said that strict legal action will be taken against those responsible for the violence, including charges under the National Security Act (NSA).

Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain said the ASI should take control of the site to fully investigate its origin. Ziaur Rehman Barak has urged the community to remain calm while challenging the survey legally. Former Chief Minister Mayawati criticized the government’s inaction in preventing communal tension. Critics argue that allowing such cases undermines the Places of Worship Act of 1991, which aims to maintain the religious status quo after independence.