Genuine and Reactive Religiosity

GENUINE AND REACTIVE RELIGIOSITY T he incident dates back to May 1922. Outside Shah Alami Gate in Lahore, Hindus constructed a temple. On seeing this, Muslims felt that a mosque should also be built alongside the temple. In an atmosphere where the temple spires were gleaming, it was considered necessary that the grandeur of a mosque’s minaret should also be visible. Accordingly, funds were immediately collected, and a piece of land near the temple was acquired for a mosque. After the night prayer, construction of the mosque began. Work continued throughout the night. By morning, people saw that a mosque stood fully built opposite the temple. It was this very incident that inspired Dr. Muhammad Iqbal to compose his famous couplet: Masjid to bana di shab bhar mein, imaan ki hararat walon ne Man apna purana paapi hai, barson mein namazi ban na saka