Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Sadiq on Sunday said that the Muslim community will peacefully accept the Supreme Court's decision in the Ayodhya dispute case.

Speaking at the World Peace and Harmony conclave at NSCI in Mumbai, Sadiq said, "If the Babri Masjid verdict is not in favour of Muslims, then they should peacefully accept it. And if the verdict is in favour of Muslims, then they should happily give the land to Hindus. The issue should be dealt with respect by both the communities"

If Babri Masjid verdict is not in favor of Muslims, then they should peacefully accept it: Maulana Kalbe Sadiq, Shia cleric pic.twitter.com/mLbBoc23Ch August 13, 2017

Hamein zameen jeetne ke bajaye dil jeetne chahiye: Maulana Kalbe Sadiq, Shia cleric #Ayodhya pic.twitter.com/rTTBcrphGz — ANI (@ANI) August 13, 2017

The cleric added that one receives thousands in return of giving away just one thing close to them.

Other leaders like Baba Ramdev, Union Ministers Dr Harsh Vardhan and Parshottam Rupala at the event welcomed the statement. "Maulana Kalbe Sadiq has won our hearts. Lord Ram is neither of Hindus nor of Muslims. He is the soul of India," said Dr. Harsh Vardhan.

Baba Ramdev without naming the former vice president Hamid Ansari criticised him on his comment of Muslims feeling insecure saying, "Bade aadmi ko aag lagane ka nahi bujhane ka kaam karna chahiye. (People in high positions should not fan the flames, but do the work of putting the fire out.)

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court will commence the final hearing in the long-standing Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute from December 5, a day before the 25th anniversary of the demolition of the medieval-era structure.

On August 8, the Uttar Pradesh's Shia Central Waqf Board told the Supreme Court that a mosque can be built near Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The Shia Waqf Board had filed an affidavit before the apex court in which it stated that a mosque can be constructed at a place near birth place of Lord Ram.

"Since, the Babri Masjid was a Shia Waqf, we are alone entitled to negotiate and arrive at peaceful settlement with other stakeholders," Shia Waqf Board said in its statement.

However, in the year 1961 the Sunni Central Waqf Board also filed a lawsuit, demanding possession of the site and removal of idols from the mosque premises. Reportedly, the board had earlier decided to become a party in ongoing litigations in relation to the Ramjanmabhoomi - Babri Masjid dispute.

The mosque was demolished by Hindu Karsevaks on December 6, 1992 in Ayodhya. The country witnessed massive riots in which over 2000 people were killed.

The Hindus claim that it is the birthplace of Lord Rama where a mosque was built in 1528-29 CE (935 AH) by Mir Baqi. Since the mosque was built on orders of the Mughal emperor Babur, it was named Babri Masjid.

Before it was demolished in 1992, the Nirmohi Akhara had forcefully occupied the Babri Masjid in 1853 saying it was Ram Janmabhoomi (birth place of Lord Rama).

(With Inputs from Ashutosh Shukla and Agencies)