SAUDI ARABIA DESTROYING ISLAM’S RELICS
| The large-scale destruction of Islamic relics and sacred objects of love and reverence being perpetrated by the Saudi regime in the Holy Cities of Islam is cause for great concern. The sacred relics bringing memories of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and the Sahaabah are being bull-dozed and destroyed in the interests of modernity.
To achieve the goal of modern transformation the desecration of sacred relics, holy and beloved to Muslims, is inevitable. It now appears that the Saudi regime is bent on effacing from the Holy Cities some of the most valuable and important treasures of Islamic heritage which had been preserved by successive Muslim rulers of Hijaaz for the past fourteen centuries. |
The following are some of the recent acts of sacrilege and destruction committed by the authorities:
Musjid Quba: The Qur’aan Majeed refers to this Musjid. Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam himself participated in the construction of this Musjid situated about three miles beyond the confines of Madinah. Two raka’ts Nafl Salaat pe,fonned here is the equivelant of one Umrah in Thawaab. A massive extension has recently been done to the Musjid. In the process, all signs of the old Musjid have been eliminated. The new mihraab is located in a different position. There is no indication of the location of the Mihraab which had existed since the time of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).
Until 1987 there existed a broken wall. This was the wall of the Musjid which cracked open by the Command of Allah Ta’ala and from this opening Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi was shown the Ka’bah Shareef which he had yearned to see.
*Musjid Qiblatain or the Mosque of the two Qiblahs: This Musjid is on a hill near the Valley of Aqeeq in the north-west of Madinah. It is the Musjid with two Mihraabs, one towards Baitil Maqdis (Jerusalem) and one towards the Ka’bah. Initially the Qiblah of Islam too was Baitil Maqdis. When Allah Ta’ala commanded theQiblah to be changed to the direction of the Ka’bah, the Divine Order came here, hence it is called Musjid-e-Qiblatain.. This sacred and living monument of Islam has been replaced by a showpiece Mosque with all the sacred and historical signs eliminated. There no longer remains any indication of the spot where Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) stood for Salaat.
*Musjid Maaidah: This is the place where food from Jannat was miraculously sent for the grand-children of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). In commemoration of this wonderful event a Musjid was constructed at the spot. This holy Musjid has been demolished. In all likelihood the ground will be misappropriated for some commercial enterprise to conform to the scheme of modernization of the Saudi authorities.
*Uhad: Every Muslim is aware of the famous Battle of Uhad. It was in this battle that a tooth of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) was martyred. The spot where this event occurred was marked out. However, a shop has recently been built over it.
*Quba: Here was a small house where Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) stayed for fourteen days. The original old house existed until recently. Sadly, a parking lot for cars has now been erected there.
The Camel’s Footprint: Until a year ago the footprint of Rasulullah’s (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) Camel had existed in Musjid-e-Quba. This has now been obliterated . The print has been cemented over.
*Khaak-e-Shifa or the Sand of Cure:In the area of Bani Haarith in Madinah, Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) used of its sand as a medication for a Sahaabi. Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said that in the Sand of Madinah is cure for physical ailments. This area has been cemented over a long time ago by the Saudis. However, a small section was left uncemented. In 1988 this too was finally obliterated by cementation. The place is treated as a rubbi,sh dump.
*The Birth-place of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam): This sacred place was preserved until the Turks ruled Hijaaz. The actual room wherein Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) was born had existed for 14 centuries. After the departure of the Turks, this holy location was desecrated by demolition by either the Saudis or Sharif Husain. A hammaam (bathroom) was built in its place. As a result of strong objections by the inhabitants of Makkah, the hammaam was transformed into a library. It has now been reported that even this library has been destroyed.
*The Well of Arees: Among the the many Wells associated with Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), which have been destroyed and covered up, the Well of Arees is a significant. In this Well the Ring of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) was lost during the time of Ameerul Mu’mineen Hadhrat Uthmaan (radhiallahu anhu). The Saudis have wiped out this historical and sacred Well. A traffic island was built over this Well. Later this traffic island became part of a public square.
*The Garden of Hadhrat Salmaan Faarsi (radhiallahu anhu):Until 1982 this Garden had existed. In this Garden ,right until 1982, were two date trees planted by Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) himself. These trees have been uprooted and the Garden destroyed. Until 1982 these trees were bearing good quality fruit.