However, in the course of the hearings, Muslim appellants urged the court to first spell out the importance of a mosque in Islam. Further, there is no uniform understanding of the social and religious role of the mosque. So the Shias would have a very different understanding of the role of the mosque from the Sunnis. The dynamic changes that affected the religious order, had its impact felt directly on the role that the mosque played. Yet there are instances when the discontented social elements have used the mosque to rebel against the state,” says Hasan.

Source: Indian Express September 27, 2018 11:04 UTC