Letter received by the Shiapac blog: 

As-Salamo A’laykum Brothers & Sisters in Islam,

It is with great sadness that we, a group of concerned Muslims, share worrying news circulating in the media about a proposal in Saudi Arabia to demolish our dear Rasool-e Akram Muhammad’s (sa) tomb (Rauza) and move his sacred body under the pretext of the expansion of Masjid an-Nabavi. We thank Andrew Johnson for reporting this news in The Independent on Sept. 1, 2014. In it he says the “controversial proposals are part of a consultation document by a leading Saudi academic which has been circulated among the supervisors of al-Masjid al-Nabawi mosque in Medina. The 61-page document calls for the removal of Mohamed’s remains to the nearby al-Baqi cemetery, where they would be interred anonymously.”

Also, Professor Robert Gleave, the director of the Islamic Reformulations Project at the University of Exeter also in his article “Attack on Mohamed’s tomb could stir up sectarian hatred” analyzed the impact of demolition of Prophet Muhammad’s Tomb. 

​ It is imperative that we not only take notice of the aforementioned document, but also understand the significance of any such actions due to the following reasons.

1)The respect of sha’aerullah (physical symbols of Allah) is mandated in the Qur’an. The Qur’an says: “O you who believe, do not violate the symbols of Allah…” [5:2]. Allah (SWT) knowing the physical limitation of human beings has enshrined these symbols – which, for example, include Ka’ba,  Maqam-ul-Ibrahim and Safa and Marwah (associated with Prophet Ibrahim (as) and his family) – to help strengthen believers’ God consciousness (taqwa). Their special status depends upon their association with Allah (swt) and His selected personalities.  Quran also says in {22:32}  “And whoever honors the symbols of Allah – indeed, it is from the piety of hearts.”. For all Muslims, the Holy Prophet (sa) was the greatest symbol of Allah (SWT). His respect is obligatory upon every Muslim, and a pre-requisite to seeking proximity with Allah (SWT). Indeed Allah (SWT) in Quran {33:56} has indicated that He Himself participates in Sending Blessings (Salawaat) upon the Prophet (sa) by saying “Verily Allah (SWT) and His Angels Bless the Prophet (Muhammad)! O you who believe, send blessings unto him and salute him with a salutation (salaam) worthy of respect.”. It follows, then, that the sacred body of the Holy Prophet (sa) is the greatest symbol of Allah (SWT), and, hence, an inspiration and means (waseelah) for Muslims to seek proximity to Allah (SWT). No doubt, it is the presence of sacred body of the Holy Prophet (sa) that makes Masjid al-Nabawi a “haram”, and makes the current rulers of Arabia the self-arrogated “khadim al-haramain al-sharifain” or “servants of the two holy places (harams)”, i.e. Masjid-ul-Haraam in Mecca and Masjid-un-Naabawi in Madina. If it were not for the presence of the sacred body of the Holy Prophet (sa), there is no reason for the latter to be considered a haram (i.e. holy place) – it would be just a mosque, like hundreds of other mosques in Madina. Thus, it is obligatory for Muslims around the world to stand up against the oppressive Saudi regime that is planning to violate the sanctity of the Holy Prophet’s (sa)’s sacred body. Grave consequences (in this world and the Hereafter) await us, if we just passively stand-by and watch.  

2) Saudi rulers influenced by the teachings of Ibn Taymiyya, Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahhaab and the like have a well-documented track record of mercilessly demolishing and desecrating many and most Islamic heritage sites belonging to the era of our Prophet Muhammad (sa), including the graves of Prophet Muhammad’s (sa) progeny, his wives (ra) and sahaba (ra). As mentioned, the Quran declares these sites as symbols of Allah that are to be respected and  venerated. However, the extremist and mis-directed Saudi Wahhaabi/Salafi  ideology – which even The New York Times claims has inspired ISIS/ISIL/”Islamic State” – only sees the graves of Prophets and leading Islamic personalities as a potential source of shirk (polytheism). To prove their point of view they either present out-of-context verses of the Qur’an or misinterpret the verses of Qur’an. One of the examples is the verse 9:84 which orders the Muslims not to visit and pray near the graves of wicked persons who do not believe in the existence of God and the Prophet-hood of Prophet Muhammad (sa). It is really a matter of concern because it seems that Wahhaabi teachers and preachers  do not even understand the difference between “anA’mta Alayhim” (On whom God Bestowed His Choicest Blessings) and “Maghdhoob” (on whom is God’s Wrath). Moreover, they should have a clear understanding of the fact that only Allah (SWT) knows the intentions of the people and they must not take the place of Allah (SWT) in reading the minds of the people who pray and worship Allah (SWT) in Masaajid, near sha’aerullah and other places, especially near the graves of Prophet Muhammad (sa), but do not worship their graves. Saudi Wahhaabi insistence to judge what is in the hearts of people has squarely put them in the category of those who commit shirk (polytheism), as Allah alone is aalim-ul-ghayb (Knower of the unseen) and Malik-e-yawm-id-deen (Master of the Day of Judgment). Separately, the recent incident in which ISIS demolished the tomb of Prophet Younas (Jonah) in Iraq makes it ​clear that they are ideologically aligned with the Saudi​ rulers who have been desecrating sacred places in Mecca and Madina over the past several decades.

​ For instance, according to The Islamic Heritage Research Foundation’s estimates, writes Carla power in the Times, “over 98 % percent of the Kingdom’s historical and religious sites have been destroyed since 1985.” Recently, the house of Prophet’s uncle Hamza ibne Abdul Muttalib has been demolished “to make way for  the Meccan Hotel,” while the Prophet’s birth place is planned to be replaced with the Imam’s residence and presidential Palace.

3) The Wahhaabi version of Islam promoted by the petro-dollars of Saudi Arabia and some Gulf States through Wahhaabi madrasahs (Wahhaabi religious schools) is responsible for the rise of ISIS and world-wide terrorism in the name of Islam. Inhumane, barbaric and un-Islamic acts, such as, beheading of unarmed men, enslavement and commoditization of women and children, terrorist suicide missions, and the forcing of Muslims and non-Muslims to accept their brand of Islam at gunpoint has denigrated Islam and humiliated the Muslim Ummah. They claim to know the Quran but do not understand and apply the well known verse {2:256} that says: “There is no compulsion in religion”.  Wahhaabis believe and preach that their version of Islam is the only authentic and correct teaching of Islam without any documented proof that their understanding of the Qur’an is in accordance with what Allah (SWT) Had Intended. In contrast, Islam, as taught by Prophet Muhammad (sa) the chief of those blessed by Allah (SWT) (an Amta A’layhim), has been protected and inculcates high standards of morality, spirituality, contentment and universal brotherhood (both between Muslims, and between Muslims and non-Muslims, as humans).

In view of the above, it is clearly evident that these anti-Islamic forces, along with those war-mongering forces, are testing the level of faith of the Muslim Ummah and its willingness to condemn such blasphemy. They are also promoting a sectarian divide between Sunnis and Shias and is largely responsible for the worldwide terrorism problem that is defaming Islam and humiliating the Muslim Ummah. Therefore, we humbly request you to take action in the following ways, with the intention to please Allah (SWT):

1) Use all your contacts and resources to have your relatives, friends and loved ones use social media or other avenues to show the Muslim Ummah how the Saudi rulers are unfit to be called Khadim al-Haramain al-Sharifain. In fact, the control and jurisdiction of the Holy Cities of al-Makkah and al-Madinah should be under an entity represented by the Muslim Ummah as they belong to all Muslims, not to a family. This will help in rebuilding the Islamic heritage sites of the Prophet Muhammad’s (SA) era, especially Jannat al-Mu’alla and Jannatul al-Baqi.

2) Demand the Saudi government not to demolish the birthplace of Prophet Muhammad (sa) to build a “Presidential Palace” in its place; as reported by Sounak Mukhopadhyay on Nov. 13, 2014, in the International Business Times’ Faith & Belief Section, and Anna Edwards in the Daily Mail on Feb 21, 2014.​

3) Demand the Saudi rulers to pay a fair share of the petroleum resources bestowed by Allah(swt) for relieving hundreds of thousands Muslims all around the world from acute starvation, ignorance, natural disasters, lack of education and skills needed to earn their livelihood and to meet their other needs before spending on their luxurious life-style.

4) Demand that the Saudi government a) stop funding terrorists b) stop forcing Wahhaabism on Muslim Ummah and c) enforce fare labor practices on their citizens and to ensure that their foreign employees, especially people from developing countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Palestine are not shortchanged.

5) Insist on not referring to the region including Mecca, Medina and Jeddah as “Saudi Arabia”. Instead call it by its original name “Hijaz,” which was in use since the time of Prophet Muhammad (sa).

6) Remind the Muslim Ummah to:

a) understand the Quran’s essential command to follow the footsteps of the personalities known as  An-Amta Alayhim – personalities blessed with leadership role for providing Divine Guidance- on Sirat al- Mustaqueem (the way of righteous living) as is stated in Surah al-Fatiha, the summary of the Quran and the key to its understanding. 

b) ponder why Salawat (connection) on “Muhammad Wa Aale Muhammad” is an integral part of Salat/Namaz. Is it not a constant reminder to all the Muslim Ummah of these AnAmta Alayhim’s  pivotal role in the protection and propagation of Islamic teachings? AlHamdollilah all Muslims -Sunni and Shia-  understand it except Munafequeen (hypocrites).
Ma’ As-Salam,

Prophet’s Tomb Protection Group

Additional information on this and similar subject are as follows:

1) Attached Articles -1 and 2 on ISIS by Javed Anand

2) The following article: “Saudis risk new Muslim division with proposal to move Mohamed’s tomb” by Andrew Johnson

One of Islam’s most revered holy sites – the tomb of the Prophet Mohamed – could be destroyed and his body removed to an anonymous grave under plans which threaten to spark discord across the Muslim world.
The controversial proposals are part of a consultation document by a leading Saudi academic which has been circulated among the supervisors of al-Masjid al-Nabawi mosque in Medina, where the remains of the Prophet are housed under the Green Dome, visited by millions of pilgrims and venerated as Islam’s second-holiest site. The formal custodian of the mosque is Saudi Arabia’s ageing monarch King Abdullah. Read more

3) The following article “Attack on Mohamed’s tomb could stir up sectarian hatred” by Professor Robert Gleave

From the earliest period of Islam, it has been a common practice to pay respects to the Prophet Mohamed and visit his tomb.
Muslims refer to Mecca and Medina as “the two sanctuaries”, and many combine their hajj pilgrimage to Mecca with a visit to the Prophet’s mosque in Medina. There, alongside the prayer area and the Prophet’s pulpit, is the chamber housing his final resting place – where he was buried in 632.
It has also long been controversial, however, due to Islam’s rejection of idolatry, rooted in the firm monotheism laid out in the Koran. Do the prayers performed at the tomb amount to the worship of the Prophet? If so, then they contravene the fundamental Islamic message that God alone is worthy of worship. Read more

 

Source:

http://www.shiapac.org/2014/12/09/urgent-action-wahhabis-dark-agenda-to-desecrate-the-holy-prophets-grave/

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