Destruction of Jannatul Baqi Cemetery, A Saudi crime against Prophet\'s companions and his family Options

[Prince Ali]

On 8th Shawwal, Wednesday, in the year 1345 AH (April 21, 1925), mausoleums in Jannatul al-Baqi (Madina) were demolished by King Ibn Saud.
In the same year (1925), he also demolished the tombs of holy personages at Jannat al-Mualla (Makkah) where the Holy Prophet (s)'s mother, wife, grandfather and other ancestors are buried.
Destruction of sacred sites in Hijaz by the Saudi Wahhabis continues even today.

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A list of personalities buried in Jannatul Baqi:

.The third caliph Uthman
.Prophet's son, Ibrahim
.great Muslim scholars like Malik bin Anas
.Prophet's companion Usman bin Mazoon
.Prophet's beloved grandson Hazrat Imam Hasan
.Prophet’s aunt Safiya
.Prophet’s aunt Aatika
.Prophet’s aunt Fatima bint al-Asad
.Nearly seven thousand other companions of the Holy Prophet (s).

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Other demolished graves and shrines:

.The grave of Hazrat Abdullah, the father of the Prophet (s) in Madina
.The house of sorrows (Bayt al-Ahzan) of Sayyida Fatima Zehra in Madina.
.The Salman al-Farsi mosque in Madina
.The Raj'at ash-Shams mosque in Madina
.The house of the Prophet (s) in Madina, where he lived after migrating from Makkah
.The complex (mahhalla) of Banu Hashim in Madina
.The house of Ali where Imam Hasan and Imam Husayn were born
.The house of Hazrat Hamza, (the prince of martyrs) and the graves of the martyrs of Uhud.

[Prince Ali]

The First Destruction of Al-Baqi

From 1205 AH to 1217 AH, the Wahhabis made several attempts to gain a foothold in Hijaz but failed. Finally, in 1217 AH, they somehow emerged victorious in Taif where they spilled the innocent blood of Muslims. In 1218 AH, they entered Makkah and destroyed all sacred places and domes there, including the one which served as a canopy over the well of Zamzam.

In 1221, the Wahhabis entered Madina to desecrate al-Baqi as well as every mosque they came across. An attempt was even made to demolish the Prophet's tomb, but for one reason or another, the idea was abandoned. In subsequent years, Muslims from Iraq, Syria, and Egypt were refused entry into Makkah for Hajj. King Al-Saud set a pre-condition that those who wished to perform the pilgrimage would have to accept Wahhabism or else be branded as non-Muslims, becoming ineligible for entry into the Haram.

Al-Baqi was razed to the ground, with no sign of any grave or tomb whatsoever. But the Saudis were still not quite satisfied with doing all of that. Their king ordered three black attendants at the Prophet's shrine to show him where the treasure of valuable gifts were stored. The Wahhabis plundered the treasure for their own use.
Thousands of Muslims fled Makkah and Madina in a bid to save their lives and escape from the mounting pressure and persecution at the hands of the Wahhabis. Muslims from all over the world denounced this Saudi savagery and exhorted the Caliphate of the Ottoman Empire to save the sacred shrines from total destruction.

Then, as it is known, Muhammad Ali Basha attacked Hijaz and, with the support of local tribes, managed to restore law and order in Madina and Makkah, dislodging the Al-Saud clansmen. The entire Muslim world celebrated this victory with great fanfare and rejoicing. In Cairo, the celebrations continued for five days. No doubt, the joy was due to the fact that pilgrims were once more allowed freely to go for Hajj, and the sacred shrines were once again restored.

In 1818 AD, the Ottaman Caliph Abdul Majid and his successors, Caliphs Abdul Hamid and Mohammed, carried out the reconstruction of all sacred places, restoring the Islamic heritage at all important sites. In 1848 and 1860 AD, further renovations were made at the expense of nearly seven hundred thousand pounds, most of which came from the donations collected at the Prophet's tomb.

[Prince Ali]

The second plunder by the Wahhabis

1924 AD Wahhabis entered Hijaz for a second time and carried out another merciless plunder and massacre. People in streets were killed. Houses were razed to the ground. Women and children too were not spared.

Awn bin Hashim (Shairf of Makkah) writes: "Before me, a valley appeared to have been paved with corpses, dried blood staining everywhere all around. There was hardly a tree which didn't have one or two dead bodies near its roots."

1925 Madina surrendered to the Wahhabi onslaught. All Islamic heritage were destroyed. The only shrine that remained intact was that of the Holy Prophet (s).

Ibn Jabhan says: "We know that the tomb standing on the Prophet's grave is against our principles, and to have his grave in a mosque is an abominable sin."

Tombs of Hamza and other martyrs were demolished at Uhud. The Prophet's mosque was bombarded. On protest by Muslims, assurances were given by Ibn Saud that it will be restored but the promise was never fulfilled. A promise was given that Hijaz will have an Islamic multinational government. This was also abandoned.
1925 AD Jannat al-Mu'alla, the sacred cemetery at Makkah was destroyed alongwith the house where the Holy Prophet (s) was born. Since then, this day is a day of mourning for all Muslims.
Is it not strange that the Wahhabis find it offensive to have the tombs, shrines and other places of importance preserved, while the remains of their Saudi kings are being guarded at the expense of millions of dollars?

[RitzCracker]

That's something unbearable, can you plz. provide source?

[Prince Ali]

It is a well-known fact. But if you do not know, then you can visit these sites:

http://follower.4t.com/jannatul.html

http://www.abc.se/~m9783/n/absn_e12.html

The above site addresses Saudis and say:
"You destroyed all the sign-posts by which we knew the graves of the Companions, the Mothers of the Believers, and the noble members of the Family of the Prophet . You left them a vacant lot, the grave-posts scattered stones so that we can no longer know whose grave is where. Gasoline was even poured on one of them.1 Truly there is no change nor power except with Allah Most High, Most Great!"

http://dunamai.com/articles/Islam/saudi_fr..._saudi_foes.htm

The above article says:
"In 1925, Ibn Saud, founder of the present Saudi Arabian dynasty, ordered the wholesale destruction of the sacred tombs, graveyards, and mosques in Mecca and Medina."

"Saud's armed supporters, in a frenzy of iconoclasm, first levelled Jannat al-Baqi, the "heavenly orchard" in Medina, where one of the original associates of Muhammad was buried under the prophet's supervision. other relatives and thousands of early companions of the prophet were also interred at the site, as were the imams Hassan and Hussein, venerated by Sunni and Shia Muslims. All these graves were wrecked by Saud's minions, who then looted the treasure at the prophet's shrine.

The Saud party went on to demolish the cemetery in Mecca where the prophet's mother, grandfather, and first wife, Khadijah, were buried; then to smash many more honored sites, devastating the architectural achievements of Arabia, including mosques and even Muhammad's house. Only the tomb of the prophet was spared, after an outcry from traditional Muslims."


http://www.sid-ss.net/911/wahabi-1.htm

[Prince Ali]

Any body who visits Madina needs to see Jannatul Baqi with his own eyes.

[Prince Ali]

So what reason do Wahhabis give for razing to ground this sacred graveyard of the companions?

The Saudi response is that the Prophet ordered Muslims to destroy all graves to ground, no matter to whom does it belong.

Here are two Wahhabi links:

1. http://www.ummah.com/islam/taqwapalace/images.htm

Excerpt:
"Abu’l-Hiyaaj al-Asadi said: ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib said to me: Shall I not send you on the same basis as the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) sent me? Do not leave any statue without destroying it, and do not leave any built-up grave without razing it to the ground. (According to one report: and do not leave any picture without erasing it)."

2. http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/t...T1-chap-58.html

Excerpt:
"On the authority of Abul Hayaaj Al-Asadi, it is reported that `Ali (ra ) said to him: "Shall I not send you on a mission on which I was sent by Allah's Messenger (saas )?

"Do not leave any image without erasing it, nor any elevated grave without leveling it to the ground." (Narrated by Muslim)."

You guys might have noticed that it actually a single hadeeth, quoted by both these websites. I tried my best to find-out some other ahadeeth regarding razing of the graves, but I could not.

Please note the phrases which I have put in bold.

(We are not going to discuss the part of this hadeeth regarding pictures, as it has already been discussed in detail in previous threads.)

[Prince Ali]

Frankly, I don't believe any hadeeth which Wahhabis quote unless I see it with my own eyes. The reason is that Wahhabis always try to deceive Muslims by sometimes quoting from weak sources, and sometimes giving other meanings to Prophet's words.

So I checked it out. I DID found this hadeeth, along with another one, in Sahih Muslim. It states:

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http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/h...t.html#004.2114

"Chapter 199: COMMANDMENT IN REGARD TO THE LEVELLING OF THE GRAVE

Book 004, Number 2114:
Thumama b. Shafayy reported: When we were with Fadala b. 'Ubaid in the country of the Romans at a place (known as) Rudis, a friend of ours died. Fadala b. 'Ubaid ordered to prepare a grave for him and then it was levelled; and then he said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) commanding (us) to level the grave.

Book 004, Number 2115:
Abu'l-Hayyaj al-Asadi told that 'Ali (b. Abu Talib) said to him: Should I not send you on the same mission as Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) sent me? Do not leave an image without obliterating it, or a high grave without levelling it. This hadith has been reported by Habib with the same chain of transmitters and he said: (Do not leave) a picture without obliterating it."
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I have again quoted some phrases in bold. Now compare it with the phrases quoted by Wahhabi websites. You will notice following difference:

Wahhabi quotation -- without razing it to the ground, or without leveling it to the ground.
Original quotation -- without levelling it.

SO THE WAHHABI WEBSITES INSERTED THEIR OWN WORDS IN PROPHET'S HADEETH, SO AS TO PROVE THEIR POINT.

The Prophet had ordered to LEVEL the grave, but he did not order to LEVEL IT TO THE GROUND.

So what does true Ahle Sunnat say regarding these ahadeeth?
Answer, in the next postings.

Till then,

Salaam.

[manna]

u said:
SO THE WAHHABI WEBSITES INSERTED THEIR OWN WORDS IN PROPHET'S HADEETH, SO AS TO PROVE THEIR POINT.

mate, u look really worried about this insertion (which i wud rather call interpretation), and u ignore some sects that have added (and not interpretated) to the fundamental declaration of faith!.
it wud be more appropriate if you look at things after coming out off some conservative background.

[Prince Ali]

I really can not see how we can call it 'interpretation'.

The Prophet did not order to level the graves to ground. The word 'ground' is not present in Sahih Muslim, but Wahhabis 'used' this word while translating. Interpretation is done only after correct translation.

Anyway, whatever we call it. interpretation or insertion. It did result in a BIG TRAGEDY. And there is no question about it.

Those were the graves of people who first converted to Islam. Most of them were Prophet's true companions, including the third caliph. To destroy their graves to ground on one's own interpretation of a few ahadeeth is NOTHING BUT OUTRAGEOUS.

Even if Saudis interpreted these ahadeeth as requiring graves to be razed, still they should have asked the Muslim ulema all over the world in order to have a consensus. Instead, they only listened to their own Wahhabi ulema, and COMMITTED A SIN BY DISRESPECTING THE GRAVES OF THOSE HOLY PEOPLE.

[manna]

QUOTE

Originally posted by Prince Ali             I really can not see how we can call it 'interpretation'. The Prophet did not order to level the graves to ground. The word 'ground' is not present in Sahih Muslim, but Wahhabis 'used' this word while translating. Interpretation is done only after correct translation. Anyway, whatever we call it. interpretation or insertion. It did result in a BIG TRAGEDY. And there is no question about it. Those were the graves of people who first converted to Islam. Most of them were Prophet's true companions, including the third caliph. To destroy their graves to ground on one's own interpretation of a few ahadeeth is NOTHING BUT OUTRAGEOUS. Even if Saudis interpreted these ahadeeth as requiring graves to be razed, still they should have asked the Muslim ulema all over the world in order to have a consensus.  Instead, they only listened to their own Wahhabi ulema, and COMMITTED A SIN BY DISRESPECTING THE GRAVES OF THOSE HOLY PEOPLE.

u r worried abt the gravesof ppl who are having finest positions in heaven already.
instead i wud suggest u worry on something very basic which has plagued millions of innocent ppl who believes themselves as born in so called muslim families, but are infact going infact astray!

QUOTE

Instead, they only listened to their own Wahhabi ulema, and COMMITTED A SIN BY DISRESPECTING THE GRAVES OF THOSE HOLY PEOPLE.

a 'disrespect'. a sin. stop ppl of a sect who ignore khilafat. that is disrespect.


i m astonished u r calling this outrageous as compared with what i have pointed out above.
no arguement mate.i m sorry one has to enter doors of faith in order to discuss things about faith.

[Prince Ali]

Here I would have to cite my favorite proverb and it goes as "Two wrongs don't make a right."

We have some guys who don't respect khalifahs. OK. But on the other hand we have people who are destroying the graves of khalifahs based solely on their interpretation. How are these two points related?

These two points should be judged on their own merits.

Even if we are concerned about wrong practices of some people, we can not give others a free hand to do whatever they like.

What is well-established until now is that Saudis/Wahhabis do try to use the ahadeeth according to their own likings. And they are even ready to do wrong translations to misguide Muslims. It is also established that they disrespected the sacred graves. Now, whether anybody else disrespected is another matter. Disrespect of one sect does not give others the license to disrespect the Prophet and his companions. Both of them are wrong, and should be condemned.

Nobody is perfect. And we should be brave enough to accept our mistakes, especially if this relates to Allah and Rasool.

[manna]

QUOTE

Originally posted by Prince Ali We have some guys who don't respect khalifahs. OK.

ah! u forgot one thing mate! there is a basic thing b4 disrespect of khalifahs here....and that is not OK.
infact renders those invalid who even try to discuss things in faith, if ever we accept the premise that there is something debatable in the account of interpretation of ahadith.

even the word of Allah is interpretated in various ways by learned ppl of all sects and schools of thought and opinion. but no one dares to encroach upon and mess up with kalima-e- shahadat.

QUOTE

Originally posted by Prince Ali Nobody is perfect. And we should be brave enough to accept our mistakes, especially if this relates to Allah and Rasool.

i agree. but still ask u to focus on last part of what u said here as quoted.

[Prince Ali]

I said, "We have some guys who don't respect khalifahs. OK."

Here, by 'OK', I meant 'understood'. I did not say that it is 'OK to be disrespectful about khalifahs'.

I hope it clarifies.

[manna]

QUOTE

Originally posted by Prince Ali             I said, \\"We have some guys who don't respect khalifahs. OK.\\" Here, by 'OK', I meant 'understood'. I did not say that it is 'OK to be disrespectful about khalifahs'. I hope it clarifies.

i never said anything regarding respecting or disrespecting khalifahs above, but the disrespect of kalimah-e-shahadat.

u keep on taking nodes of thought and speech here and there. futile.won't hide the facts

[Prince Ali]

Saudis don't disrespect kalima, but they do disrespect the Prophet himself and his companions.

[vitalsignsguy]

Wahabism indeed is working as a plague for muslim ummah, the distruction of Jannat-ul-Baqi is indeed a dark incident in Islamic history, but if you study more about Saudia (the rulers) u would see that what they are doing now is no different.

[Prince Ali]

Let me finish this up!

Upto this point, it is firmly established that Prophet did not ask to level the grave to the ground.

I promised to give the Ahle Sunnat view about above ahadeeth on leveling the graves. Here it is:

1. http://www.muslimaccess.com/sunnah/fiqh/4c.htm

QUOTE: It is permissible to place a mark, such as a stone or a piece of wood, over a grave so that it can be recognized. This is based on a hadith reported by Ibn Majah from Anas that the Prophet, peace be upon him, "placed a rock over 'Uthman ibn Maz'eun's grave so that it could be recognized." In az-Zawa'id it is stated that its chain of narrators is sound. Abu Daw'ud reported it in the hadith of al-Muttalib ibn Abi Wada'ah which has the following words: "He carried a rock and placed it by the headside of the grave and said, 'I want to mark my brother's grave and then bury beside it whoever else of my family dies."' This hadith indicates that it is preferable for relatives of the deceased to be buried in adjacent spots because it makes it easier for those who visit their graves to pray for them. UNQUOTE

QUOTE: Tirmizhi said: "Some scholars act upon this opinion. They disapprove of raising the grave more than necessary to indicate that it is a grave, and so people will not step or sit on it." UNQUOTE.

QUOTE: Ash-Shafi'i said: I like to see a grave raised above the ground the length of a hand or so. UNQUOTE

QUOTE: Ash-Shawkani said: "It is apparent that raising graves more than what is legally permitted is forbidden. UNQUOTE

QUOTE: Al-Qadi 'Iyad has reported from the major scholars that it is best to make a hump over the grave because Sufyan an-Nammar told him that he had seen the grave of the Prophet, peace be upon him, with a hump over it." (Bukhari) UNQUOTE


2. http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/hadeeth.../17/chap305.htm
(Commentary on hadeeth asking for graves not to be raised)

QUOTE: "Leave not a high grave unlevelled'' does not mean levelling them to the ground. What it really means is that these should be reduced to the permissible height. UNQUOTE

3. http://www.abc.se/~m9783/n/absn_e12.html

QUOTE: Kharija ibn Zayd said: "I can see myself when we were young men in the time of `Uthman [ibn `Affan] - Allah be well-pleased with him. The strongest one of us in high jump was he who could jump over the grave of `Uthman ibn Maz`un and clear it."

Ref: Cited by al-Bukhari without chain in his Sahih chapter-title, "[Placing] a Stalk on Top of the Grave." Ibn Hajar said in Fath al-Bari (3:256=1959 ed. 3:223): "Al-Bukhari narrated it with its [sound] chain in al-Tarikh al-Saghir (1:42)... It contains a proof for the licitness of raising high the grave and elevating it above the surface of the earth." UNQUOTE

QUOTE: It is established that the Prophet placed a rock on top of `Uthman ibn Maz`un's grave - Allah be well-pleased with him - saying: "With it I shall designate the grave of my [milk-]brother and later bury in it whoever dies among my relatives."

Ref: Narrated from an unnamed Companion by Abu Dawud and al-Bayhaqi in al-Kubra (3:412) with fair chains cf. Ibn Hajar, Talkhis al-Habir (2:134); Ibn al-Mulaqqin, Tuhfat al-Muhtaj (2:29). UNQUOTE

[Prince Ali]

It is indeed an irony that although Saudis destroyed the graves of prominent Sahabas, they did not touch the graves of people belonging to their own sect.


http://www.abc.se/~m9783/n/absn_e12.html
QUOTE: Ironically, when the Sufi cemetary was razed to make way for the university of Damascus and its campus in that city, King `Abd al-`Aziz ibn Sa`ud intervened personally to preserve intact the tombs of Ibn Taymiyya and his student Ibn Kathir. UNQUOTE

[Paki4Life]

Another reason for the destruction is the increase of Bid'aat... I've been to Madinah and Makkah more than 5 times in the past year and a half and i've noticed that during Sala'at time People prefer to make dua by the Janaat-ul-baqi over joining Salaa't in Jamaa't. That's a clear example of Bidaa't and some may even call it Shirk... The practice of praying to Maqbarahs instead of Allah...

[Prince Ali]

[quote]Originally posted by Paki4Life




Another reason for the destruction is the increase of Bid'aat... I've been to Madinah and Makkah more than 5 times in the past year and a half and i've noticed that during Sala'at time People prefer to make dua by the Janaat-ul-baqi over joining Salaa't in Jamaa't. That's a clear example of Bidaa't and some may even call it Shirk... The practice of praying to Maqbarahs instead of Allah... [/quote]

I knew the reasons given by Saudis all along.

1. Destroying the graves of the Best of Prophet's Companions and his daughter just because some people "miss their jamaat prayer" is not enough reason.

2. If their so-called "shirk" is the reason for destruction of Jannatul Baqi then why have Saudis left the Prophet's grave? What is different in that case?

Ask Saudis if they could dare to destroy Prophet's grave too.

By destroying the holy places of Islam, Saudis are doing the work of Israel.

These are just the excuses to strip Muslims of their holy sites.

[Terminator]

asalamu alaikum,
yes..its really sad what the gov't of KSA has done to the graves :no I went there-and-all one'd see was flat gorund. Its impossible to tell exact location of graves of Suhabas and the family members of the Holy Prophet(pbuh):no Women're not allowed to enter the graveyard to read faiha. It really broke our heart. Many muslims're in tears:(
Its really hear breaking to see those who've power adding stuff in Deen-e-Islam:no One day-they'll answer to Allah swt for their actions!!

[Ya Ali Maula]

[img]http://www.ziaraat.com/images/baqi04.jpg[/img]

Jannat-ul-Baqi with the graves of Imam Hasan(a.s.), Imam Zain-ul-Abideen(a.s.), Imam Mohammad Baqir(a.s.) and Imam Jaffer Sadiq(a.s.) identified.

[Prince Ali]

YAM, Jannatul Baqi also contain the grave of the Third Caliph, Hazrat Usman bin Affan (RA). Do you have a picture of his grave too?

[Prince Ali]

The topmost grave is that of Hazrat Abbas bin AbdulMuttalib (RA), Prophet's uncle. Right?

[FC BAYERN]

prophetz uncle hazrat abbaz :huh

[Prince Ali]

[quote]Originally posted by FC BAYERN


prophetz uncle hazrat abbaz :huh [/quote]

Yes. Abbas (RA) was one of Prophet's uncles. And that topmost grave has "Abbas Umv e Payambar" written on it.

[FC BAYERN]

yeah been 2 janatul baqi perzonally and da security didnt even allow uz 2 say our prayerz dere :angry

[aadam]

salam o alaikum
I think that removing the names from the graves is a good thing especially bcos people go and pray to them instead of Allah SAW. In syria I have seen many shia muslims who were kissing the grave of hazrat Zenab crying and and shouting over it. They were hugging it etc. I thought this was wrong.
:huh

[R@Z@]

[quote]Originally posted by aadam


salam o alaikum
I think that removing the names from the graves is a good thing especially bcos people go and pray to them instead of Allah SAW. In syria I have seen many shia muslims who were kissing the grave of hazrat Zenab crying and and shouting over it. They were hugging it etc. I thought this was wrong.
:huh [/quote]



WAHABI THINKING!:angry