History of the Cemetery of Jannat al-Baqi’ Options

[Ali Mahdi]

History of the Cemetery of Jannat al-Baqi’
Where Imam Hasan ibn ‘Ali (2nd Imam), Imam ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn (4th Imam), Imam Muhammad ibn ‘Ali (5th Imam), & Imam Ja’far ibn Muhammad (6th Imam) (AS) are buried

On 8th Shawwal, Wednesday, in the year 1345 AH (April 21, 1925), mausoleums in Jannat al-al-Baqi’ (Madinah) were demolished by King ibn Sa’ud.

In the same year (1925), he also demolished the tombs of holy personages at Jannat al-Mo’alla (Makkah) where the Holy Prophet (S)’s mother, wife, grandfather and other ancestors are buried.

Destruction of sacred sites in Hejaz by the Saudi Wahhabis continues even today. According to some scholars what is happening in Hejaz is actually a conspiracy plotted by the Jews against Islam, under the guise of Tawhid. The idea is to eradicate the Islamic legacy and heritage and to systematically remove all its vestiges so that in the days to come, Muslims will have no affiliation with their religious history.

The Origins of al-Baqi’

Literally “al-Baqi’” means a tree garden. It is also known as “Jannat al-Baqi’” due to its sanctity, since in it are buried many of our Prophet’s relatives and companions.

The first companion buried in al-Baqi’ was ‘Uthman ibn Madh’oun who died on the 3rd of Sha’ban in the 3rd year of Hejrah. The Prophet (S) ordered certain trees to be felled, and in its midst, he buried his dear companion, placing two stones over the grave.

On the following years, the Prophet’s son Ibrahim, who died in infancy and over whom the Prophet (S) wept bitterly, was also buried there. The people of Madinah then began to use that site for the burial of their own dead, because the Prophet (S) used to greet those who were buried in al-Baqi’ by saying, “Peace be upon you, Oh abode of the faithful! God willing, we should soon join you. O’ Allah, forgive the fellows of al-Baqi’”.

The site of the burial ground at al-Baqi’ was gradually extended. Nearly seven thousand companions of the Holy Prophet (S) were buried there, not to mention those of the Ahlul-Bayt (AS). Imam Hasan ibn ‘Ali (AS), Imam ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn (AS), Imam Muhammad al-Baqer (AS), and Imam Ja’far as-Sadeq (AS) were all buried there.

Among other relatives of the Prophet (S) who were buried at al-Baqi’ are: his aunts Safiyah and ‘Aatekah, and his aunt Fatemah bint al-Asad, the mother of Imam ‘Ali (AS). The third caliph ‘Uthman was buried outside al-Baqi’, but with later extensions, his grave was included in the area. In later years, great Muslim scholars like Malek ibn Anas and many others, were buried there too. Thus, did al-Baqi’ become a well-known place of great historic significance to all Muslims.

al-Baqi’ as viewed by historians

‘Umar ibn Jubayr describes al-Baqi’ as he saw it during his travel to Madinah, saying “al-Baqi’ is situated to the east of Madinah. You enter it through the gate known as the gate of al-Baqi’. As you enter, the first grave you see on your left is that of Safiyah, the Prophet’s aunt, and further still is the grave of Malek ibn Anas, the Imam of Madinah. On his grave is raised a small dome. In front of it is the grave of Ibrahim son of our Prophet (S) with a white dome over it, and next to it on the right is the grave of ‘Abdurrahman son of ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab, popularly known as Abu Shahmah, whose father had kept punishing him until death overtook him. Facing it are the graves of ‘Aqil ibn Abi Taleb and ‘Abdullah ibn Ja’far at-Tayyar. There, facing those graves is a small shrine containing the graves of the Prophet’s wives, following by a shrine of ‘Abbas ibn ‘Abdul-Muttaleb.

The grave of Hasan ibn ‘Ali (AS), situated near the gate to its right hand, has an elevated dome over it. His head lies at the feet of ‘Abbas ibn ‘Abdul-Muttaleb, and both graves are raised high above the ground, their walls are panelled with yellow plates and studded with beautiful star-shaped nails. This is how the grave of Ibrahim, son of the Prophet (S) has also been adorned. Behind the shrine of ‘Abbas there is the house attributed to Fatemah, daughter of our Prophet (S), known as “Bayt al-Ahzan” (the house of grief) because it is the house she used to frequent in order to mourn the death of her father, the chosen one, peace be upon him. At the farthest end of al-Baqi’ is the grave of the caliph ‘Uthman, with a small dome over it, and there, next to it, is the grave of Fatemah bint Asad, mother of ‘Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS).”

After a century and a half, the famous traveller ibn Batoutah came to describe al-Baqi’ in a way which does not in any way differ from the description given by ibn Jubayr. He adds saying, “At al-Baqi’ are the graves of numerous Muhajerin and Ansar and many companions of the Prophet (S), except that most of their names are unknown.”

Thus, over the centuries, al-Baqi’ remained a sacred site with renovations being carried out as and when needed until the Wahhabis rose to power in the early nineteenth century. The latter desecrated the tombs and demonstrated disrespect to the martyrs and the companions of the Prophet (S) buried there. Muslims who disagreed with them were branded as “infidels” and were subsequently killed.

The First Destruction of al-Baqi’

The Wahhabis believed that visiting the graves and the shrines of the Prophets, the Imams, or the saints was a form of idolatry and totally un-Islamic. Those who did not conform with their belief were killed and their property was confiscated. Since their first invasion of Iraq, and until nowadays, in fact, the Wahhabis, as well as other rulers of the Gulf States, having been carrying out massacres from which no Muslim who disagreed with them was spared. Obviously, the rest of the Islamic World viewed those graves with deep reverence. Had it not been so, the two caliphs Abu Bakr and ‘Umar would not have expressed their desire for burial near the grave of the Prophet (S).

From 1205 AH to 1217 AH, the Wahhabis made several attempts to gain a foothold in Hejaz but failed. Finally, in 1217 AH, they somehow emerged victorious in Taef 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 Madinah 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 as-Sa’ud 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 Madinah 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 Pasha attacked Hejaz and, with the support of local tribes, managed to restore law and order in Madinah and Makkah, dislodging the as-Sa’ud 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 Ottoman Caliph ‘Abdul-Majid and his successors, Caliphs ‘Abdul-Hamid and Muhammad, 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.

The second plunder by the Wahhabis

The Ottoman Empire had added to the splendour of Madinah and Makkah by building religious structures of great beauty and architectural value. Richard Burton, who visited the holy shrines in 1853 AD disguised as an Afghan Muslim and adopting the Muslim name ‘Abdullah, speaks of Madinah boasting 55 mosques and holy shrines. Another English adventurer who visited Madinah in 1877-1878 AD describes it as ah small beautiful city resembling Istanbul. He writes about its white walls, golden slender minarets and green fields.

1924 AD Wahhabis entered Hejaz 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 ibn Hashem (Sharif 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 Madinah 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 Hamzah and other martyrs were demolished at Uhud. The Prophet’s mosque was bombarded. On protest by Muslims, assurances were given by ibn Sa’ud that it will be restored but the promise was never fulfilled. A promise was given that Hejaz will have an Islamic multinational government. This was also abandoned.

1925 AD Jannat al-Mo’alla, the sacred cemetery at Makkah was destroyed along with 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?

Protest from Indian Muslims

1926, protest gatherings were held by shocked Muslims all over the world. Resolutions were passed and a statement outlining the crimes perpetrated by Wahhabis was issued and included the following:

1. The destruction and desecration of the holy places i.e. the birth place of the Holy Prophet (S), the graves of Banu Hashem in Makkah and in Jannat al-Baqi’ (Madinah), the refusal of the Wahhabis to allow Muslims to recite Ziyarah or Surah al-Fatehah at those graves.
2. The destruction of the places of worship i.e. Masjed Hamzah, Masjed Abu Rashid, in addition to the tombs of Imams and Sahabah (Prophet’s companions).
3. Interference in the performance of Hajj rituals.
4. Forcing the Muslims to follow the Wahhabis innovations and to abandon their own ways according to the guidance of the Imams they follow.
5. The massacre of sayyeds in Taef, Madinah, Ahsa, and Qatif.
6. The demolition of the grave of the Imams at al-Baqi’ which deeply offended and grieved all Shi’ah.

Protest from other countries

Similar protests were lodged by Muslims in Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Indonesia, and Turkey. All of them condemn the Saudi Wahhabis for their barbaric acts. Some scholars wrote tracts and books to tell the world the fact that what was happening in Hejaz was actually a conspiracy plotted by the Jews against Islam, under the guise of Tawhid. The idea was to eradicate the Islamic legacy and heritage and to systematically remove all its vestiges so that in the days to come, Muslims will have no affiliation with their religious history.

A partial list of the demolished graves and shrines

* al-Mo’alla graveyard in Makkah which includes the grave of Sayyedah Khadijah bint Khuwayled (AS), wife of the Prophet (S), the grave of Amenah bint Wahhab, mother of the Prophet (S), the grave of Abu Taleb, father of Imam ‘Ali (AS), and the grave of ‘Abdul-Muttaleb, grandfather of the Prophet (S)
* The grave of Hawwa (Eve) in Jeddah
* The grave of the father of the Prophet (S) in Madinah
* The house of sorrows (Bayt al-Ahzan) of Sayyedah Fatemah (AS) in Madinah
* The Salman al-Farsi mosque in Madinah
* The Raj’at ash-Shams mosque in Madinah
* The house of the Prophet (S) in Madinah, where he lived after migrating from Makkah
* The house of Imam Ja’far as-Sadeq (AS) in Madinah
* The complex (mahhallah) of Banu Hashem in Madinah
* The house of Imam ‘Ali (AS) where Imam Hasan (AS) and Imam Husayn (AS) were born
* The house of Hamzah and the graves of the martyrs of Uhud (AS)

http://www.al-islam.org/shrines/baqi.htm

[dingdong]

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