This artwork portrays Masjid-e-Shabar, a small Punjabi mosque whose origin is rooted in one of the most extraordinary acts of unity and devotion in colonial India. The scene reflects a night in 1917 when the Muslim community of a village, confronted with a dispute over a tiny three marla plot of land, gathered together to build a mosque before dawn. Their action was both strategic and spiritual, transforming a contested space into a sanctuary through resolve, coordination and deep faith.
The historical event is preserved in local memory. After a Muslim man prayed on the vacant plot, local Hindus also claimed the land for worship. The dispute was brought before the British authorities, who announced that a judge would soon visit to determine ownership. A Muslim lawyer advised that if a functioning mosque stood on the site before the judge arrived, colonial policy would prevent its demolition. In response, the community mobilised. After the evening Isha prayer, volunteers assembled under the leadership of Gama Pehalwan, a respected local wrestler. Working through the night, they completed the structure by the time of the Fajr call. When the judge arrived in the morning, he ruled in favour of the Muslim community, recognising the site as an established place of worship.
This remarkable episode is immortalised in a couplet by Allama Iqbal:
Masjid to bana di shab bhar mein imaan ki hararat walon ne
Mann apna purana papi hai, barson mein namazi ban na saka
Translation:
“The mosque was built in a single night by those whose hearts burned with faith,
But my own soul, weighed down by old sins, has not become worthy of true prayer after many years.”
Iqbal’s verse captures both the miraculous unity of the community and the deeper spiritual struggle that resides within every individual. Masjid Shabar stands as a testament to this dual reality. It honours the power of collective faith while reminding us that the journey toward inner transformation is far more demanding than the building of walls and domes.
Displayed in a modern home, this artwork invites reflection on how communities preserve their dignity under external pressure and how small, determined acts can alter the course of local history. Masjid Shabar symbolises the strength that emerges when faith becomes action, even in the most constrained circumstances, and honours those whose devotion illuminated the darkness of a single night.
