Destruction of early Islamic heritage sites in Saudi Arabia

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Jannatul Baqi graveyard in Medina, Saudi Arabia Bagicemetri2.JPG
Jannatul Baqi graveyard in Medina, Saudi Arabia

The destruction of heritage sites associated with early Islam is an ongoing phenomenon that has occurred mainly in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, particularly around the two holiest cities of Islam, Mecca and Medina. [1] The demolition has focused on mosques, burial sites, homes and historical locations associated with the Islamic prophet Muhammad, his companions, and many of the founding personalities of early Islamic history by the Saudi government. [1] [2] In Saudi Arabia, many of the demolitions have officially been part of the continued expansion of the Masjid al-Haram at Mecca and the Prophet's Mosque in Medina and their auxiliary service facilities in order to accommodate the ever-increasing number of Muslims performing the pilgrimage ( hajj ). [3]

Contents

History

Much of the Arabian Peninsula was politically unified by 1932 in the third and current Saudi state, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The military campaign led by King Abdulaziz ibn Saud and his Bedouin army of tribesmen conquered the Hejaz and ousted the ruling Hashemite clan. The new Najdi rulers, nomadic Arabs largely found themselves at the reins of a highly sophisticated society. A cohesive political structure based on the Majlis al-Shura (consultative council) system had been in place for centuries. A central administrative body managed an annual budget which allocated expenditure on secondary schools, military and police forces. [4] Similarly, the religious fabric of the Najd and the Hejaz were vastly different. Traditional Hejazi cultural customs and rituals were almost entirely religious in nature. Celebrations honouring Muhammad, his family and companions, reverence of deceased saints, visitation of shrines, tombs and holy sites connected with any of these were among the customs indigenous to Hejazi Islam. [5] As administrative authority of the Hejaz passed into the hands of Najdi Wahabi Muslims from the interior, the Wahabi Ulama viewed local religious practices as unfounded superstition superseding codified religious sanction that was considered a total corruption of religion and the spreading of heresy. [6] What followed was a removal of the physical infrastructure, tombs, mausoleums, mosques and sites associated with the family and companions of Muhammad. [7]

19th century

In 1801 and 1802, the Saudis under Abdul Aziz ibn Muhammad ibn Saud attacked and captured the Shia holy cities of Karbala and Najaf in today's Iraq, massacred parts of the Shia Muslim population and destroyed the tomb of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of Muhammad and son of Ali, Muhammad's son-in-law. In 1803 and 1804, the Saudis captured Mecca and Medina and destroyed historical monuments and various holy Muslim sites and shrines, such as the shrine built over the tomb of Fatimah, the daughter of Muhammad, and even intended to destroy the grave of Muhammad himself as idolatrous, causing outrage throughout the Muslim world. [8] [9] [10] In Mecca, the tombs of direct relations of Muhammad located at Jannatul Mualla cemetery, including that of his first wife Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, were demolished. [11] The initial dismantling of the sites began in 1806 when the Wahhabi army of the First Saudi State occupied Medina and systematically levelled many of the structures at the vast Jannat al-Baqi cemetery [12] adjacent to the Prophet's Mosque (Al-Masjid al-Nabawi) housing the remains of many of the members of Muhammad's family, close companions and central figures of early Islam. The Ottoman Turks, practitioners themselves of more tolerant and at times mystical strains of Islam, had erected elaborate mausoleums over the graves of Al-Baqi. These were levelled in their entirety. Mosques across the city were also targeted and an attempt was made to demolish Muhammad's tomb. [13] Widespread vocal criticism of this last action by Muslim communities as far away as India, eventually led to abandoning any attempt on this site. Political claims made against Turkish control of the region initiated the Ottoman–Saudi war (1811–1818) in which the Saudi defeat forced Wahhabi tribesmen to retreat from the Hejaz back into the interior. Turkish forces reasserted control of the region and subsequently began extensive rebuilding of sacred sites between 1848 and 1860, many of them done employing the finest examples of Ottoman design and craftsmanship. [8]

20th century

Baghi tomb.jpg
The Al-Baqi cemetery before the 1926 demolition
Jannatul-Baqi before Demolition.jpg
The former mausoleum of Fatimah, Abbas, Hasan ibn Ali, Ali as-Sajjad, Muhammad al-Baqir and Ja'far as-Sadiq
Medine cennet-ul baki.jpg
The Cemetery after the 1926 demolition. The Prophet's Mosque in far background, view towards west.
Panorama Perkuburan Baqi' (Maqbaratu al-Baqi').jpg
Panorama showing the cemetery, with the Qiblah being behind the photographer, view towards north.
Imam Zain al-Abidin desecrated grave at Al-Baqi' in Saudi Arabia Grave Fatema(single one) and other Imams.JPG
Imam Zain al-Abidin desecrated grave at Al-Baqi' in Saudi Arabia

On 21 April 1925 the mausoleums and domes at Al-Baqi in Medina were once again levelled [8] and so were indicators of the exact location of the resting places of Muhammad's family members and descendants, as it remains to the present day. Portions of the famed Qasida al-Burda, the 13th century ode written in praise of Muhammad by Imam al-Busiri, inscribed over Muhammad's tomb, were painted over. Among specific sites targeted at this time were the graves of the Martyrs of the Battle of Uhud, including the grave of the renowned Hamza ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib, uncle of Muhammad and one of his most beloved supporters, the Mosque of Fatimah Al Zahraa', daughter of Mohammad, the Mosque of the Two Lighthouses (Manaratayn) as well as the Qubbat Al-Thanaya, [8] the cupola built as the burial place of Mohammad's incisor tooth, which was broken from a blow received during the Battle of Uhud. In Medina, the Mashrubat Umm Ibrahim, the home of Mohammad's Egyptian wife Mariah and birthplace of their son Ibrahim, as well as the adjacent burial site of Hamida al-Barbariyya, mother of Musa al-Kadhim, were destroyed during this time. [8] The site was paved over and is today part of the massive marble esplanade beside the Mosque. The government-appointed permanent scholarly committee of Saudi Arabia has ordered the demolition of such structures in a series of Islamic rulings noting excessive veneration leading to shirk (idolatry). [14]

21st century

The twenty-first century has seen an increase in the demolition of sites in Mecca and Medina by Saudi authorities, alongside expansion of luxury development.

As the annual hajj continues to draw larger crowds year after year, the Saudi authorities deemed it necessary to raze large tracts of formerly residential areas around the two important mosques to make way for pilgrimage-related infrastructure. In 2010, it was forecast that developers were going to spend an estimated $13 billion on the largest expansion project in the city's history. [15]

While there is widespread agreement for the need of facilities that can accommodate greater numbers of pilgrims, the development of upscale hotels and condominium towers, restaurants, shopping centres and spas [16] has caused some to criticize the over-commercialization of a site which many consider to be a divinely ordained sanctuary for Muslims.

The rapid influx of capital investment in Mecca and Medina leads many to believe that money and economic growth are the ultimate reason for Saudi authorities. Critics argue that this monetary focus works with Wahhabi state policy that imposes a massive cultural and social deletion within the Holy Cities, [17] erasing any elements that encourage practices counter to the Wahhabi creed.

According to The Independent , the House of Mawalid where Muhammad is said to have been born is about to be replaced by a huge royal palace, as a part of a multibillion-pound construction project in Mecca which has resulted in the destruction of hundreds of historic monuments. [18]

The Saudis are turning Diriyah, the demolished capital of the First Saudi State, into a major tourist attraction. [19] [20]

Destroyed sites

Below is a complete list of destroyed sites:

Mosques

Cemeteries and tombs

Historical religious sites

Historical military structures

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mecca</span> Holiest city in Islam, Saudi Arabian provincial capital

Mecca is the capital of Mecca Province in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia and the holiest city in Islam. It is 70 km (43 mi) inland from Jeddah on the Red Sea, in a narrow valley 277 m (909 ft) above sea level. Its last recorded population was 2,385,509 in 2022. Its metropolitan population in 2022 is 2.4 million, making it the third-most populated city in Saudi Arabia after Riyadh and Jeddah. Around 44.5% of the population are Saudi citizens and around 55.5% are foreigners from other Muslim countries. Pilgrims more than triple the population number every year during the Ḥajj pilgrimage, observed in the twelfth Hijri month of Dhūl-Ḥijjah. With over 10.8 million international visitors in 2023, Mecca was one of the 10 most visited cities in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medina</span> City in Medina Province, Saudi Arabia

Medina, officially Al-Madinah al-Munawwarah and also commonly simplified as Madīnah or Madinah, is the capital of Medina Province in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia. It is one of the oldest and most important places in islamic history. One of the most sacred cities in Islam, the population as of 2022 is 1,411,599, making it the fourth-most populous city in the country. Around 58.5% of the population are Saudi citizens and 41.5% are foreigners. Located at the core of the Medina Province in the western reaches of the country, the city is distributed over 589 km2 (227 sq mi), of which 293 km2 (113 sq mi) constitutes the city's urban area, while the rest is occupied by the Hejaz Mountains, empty valleys, agricultural spaces and older dormant volcanoes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hejaz</span> Region of Saudi Arabia

The Hejaz is a region that includes the majority of the west coast of Saudi Arabia, covering the cities of Mecca, Medina, Jeddah, Tabuk, Yanbu, Taif and Baljurashi. It is thus known as the "Western Province", and it is bordered in the west by the Red Sea, in the north by Jordan, in the east by the Najd, and in the south by the Region of 'Asir. Its largest city is Jeddah, which is the second-largest city in Saudi Arabia, with Mecca and Medina, respectively, being the fourth- and fifth-largest cities in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prophet's Mosque</span> Historic mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia

The Prophet's Mosque is the second mosque built by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in Medina, after that of Quba, as well as the second largest mosque and holiest site in Islam, after the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, in the Saudi region of the Hejaz. The mosque is located at the heart of Medina, and is a major site of pilgrimage that falls under the purview of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shrine</span> Dedicated holy or sacred place

A shrine is a holy or space dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, daemon, or similar figure of respect, wherein they are venerated or worshipped. Shrines often contain idols, relics, or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated. A shrine at which votive offerings are made is called an altar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diriyah</span> Town in Saudi Arabia, capital of the first Saudi state and Emirate of Diriyah

Diriyah, formerly romanized as Dereyeh and Dariyya, is a town and governorate in Saudi Arabia located on the northwestern outskirts of the Saudi capital, Riyadh. Diriyah was the original home of the Saudi royal family, and served as the capital of the Emirate of Diriyah under the first Saudi dynasty from 1727 to 1818. Today, the town is the seat of the Diriyah Governorate—which also includes the villages of Uyayna, Jubayla, and Al-Ammariyyah, among others—and is part of Ar Riyad Province.

The Wahhabi war, also known as the Ottoman-Saudi War, (1811–1818) was fought from early 1811 to 1818, between the Ottoman Empire and the Emirate of Diriyah, the First Saudi State, resulting in the destruction of the latter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al-Baqi Cemetery</span> First Islamic cemetery of Medina, Saudi Arabia

Jannat al-Baqi is the oldest and first Islamic cemetery of Medina in the Hejazi region of present-day Saudi Arabia. It is also known as Baqi al-Gharqad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Islam in Saudi Arabia</span> State religion

Sunni Islam is the state religion of Saudi Arabia. The kingdom is called the "home of Islam"; it was the birthplace of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, who united and ruled the Arabian Peninsula. It is the location of the cities of Mecca and Medina, where Prophet Muhammad lived and died, and are now the two holiest cities of Islam. The kingdom attracts millions of Muslim Hajj pilgrims annually, and thousands of clerics and students who come from across the Muslim world to study. The official title of the King of Saudi Arabia is "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques"—the two being Al-Masjid al-Haram in Mecca and Al-Masjid al-Nabawi in Medina—which are considered the holiest in Islam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Uhud</span> Mount in Arabia

Mount Uhud is a mountain north of Medina, in the Hejazi region of Saudi Arabia. It is 1,077 m (3,533 ft) high and 7.5 km (4.7 mi) long. It was the site of the second battle between the Islamic prophet Muhammad and the polytheists of his tribe of Quraysh. The Battle of Uhud was fought on 19 March, 625 CE, between a force from the small Muslim community of Medina and a force from Mecca, in north-western Arabia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holiest sites in Islam</span>

The holiest sites in Islam are predominantly located in the Arabian Peninsula and the Levant. While the significance of most places typically varies depending on the Islamic sect, there is a consensus across all mainstream branches of the religion that affirms three cities as having the highest degree of holiness, in descending order: Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem. Mecca's Al-Masjid al-Haram, Al-Masjid an-Nabawi in Medina and Al-Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem are all revered by Muslims as sites of great importance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jannat al-Mu'alla</span> Cemetery in Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Jannat al-Mu'alla, also known as the "Cemetery of Ma'la" and Al-Ḥajūn, is a cemetery to the north of Al-Masjid Al-Haram, and near the Mosque of the Jinn in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. It is the place where the Islamic prophet Muhammad's wife, grandfather, and other ancestors are buried.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green Dome</span> Architectural dome on the Mosque of the Prophet in Medina, Saudi Arabia

The Green Dome is a green-coloured dome built above the tombs of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and the early Rashidun Caliphs Abu Bakr and Omar, which used to be the Noble Chamber of Aisha. The dome is located in the southeast corner of Al-Masjid al-Nabawi in Medina, present-day Saudi Arabia. Millions visit it every year, since it is a tradition to visit the mosque after or before the pilgrimage to Mecca.

The Saudi government does not conduct a census on religion or ethnicity, but some sources estimate the Shia population in Saudi Arabia to make up around 20% of the approximately 34 million natives of Saudi Arabia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holiest sites in Shia Islam</span>

Both Sunni Muslims and Shia Muslims agree on the three holiest sites in Islam being, respectively, the Masjid al-Haram, in Mecca; the Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, in Medina; and the Al-Masjid al-Aqsa, in Jerusalem.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holiest sites in Sunni Islam</span>

Both Sunni Muslims and Shia Muslims agree on the three Holiest sites in Islam being, respectively, the Masjid al-Haram, in Mecca; the Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, in Medina; and Al-Masjid al-Aqsa, in Jerusalem.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wahhabi sack of Karbala</span> 1802 sack of a city

The Wahhabi sack of Karbala occurred on 21 April 1802, under the rule of Abdulaziz bin Muhammad Al Saud, the second ruler of the Emirate of Diriyah. Approximately 12,000 Wahhabis from Najd attacked the city of Karbala. The raid was conducted in retaliation against attacks on Hajj caravans by Iraqi tribes and coincided with the anniversary of Ghadir Khumm, or 10th Muharram.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Masjid al-Haram</span> Islams holiest mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Masjid al-Haram, also known as the Sacred Mosque or the Great Mosque of Mecca, is considered to be the most significant mosque in Islam. It encloses the vicinity of the Kaaba in Mecca, in the Mecca Province of Saudi Arabia. It is among the pilgrimage sites associated with the Hajj, which every Muslim must perform at least once in their lives if able. It is also the main site for the performance of ʿUmrah, the lesser pilgrimage that can be undertaken any time of the year. The rites of both pilgrimages include circumambulating the Kaaba within the mosque. The Great Mosque includes other important significant sites, such as the Black Stone, the Zamzam Well, Maqam Ibrahim, and the hills of Safa and Marwa.

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Medina, Saudi Arabia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demolition of al-Baqi</span> Destruction of al-Baqi cemetery in Medina by Wahhabis in 1806 and 1925/26

Al-Baqi cemetery, the oldest and one of the two most important Islamic graveyards located in Medina, in current-day Saudi Arabia, was demolished in 1806 and, following reconstruction in the mid-19th century, was destroyed again in 1925 or 1926. An alliance of the House of Saud and the followers of the Wahhabi movement known as the Emirate of Diriyah carried out the first demolition. The Sultanate of Nejd, also ruled by the House of Saud and followers of Wahhabism, carried out the second. In both cases, the actors were motivated by the Wahhabi interpretation of Islam, which prohibits the building of monuments on graves.

References

  1. 1 2 "Wahhābī (Islamic movement)". Encyclopædia Britannica . Edinburgh: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 9 June 2020. Archived from the original on 26 June 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2020. Because Wahhābism prohibits the veneration of shrines, tombs, and sacred objects, many sites associated with the early history of Islam, such as the homes and graves of companions of Muhammad, were demolished under Saudi rule. Preservationists have estimated that as many as 95 percent of the historic sites around Mecca and Medina have been razed.
  2. ↑ "Medina: Saudis take a bulldozer to Islam's history". The Independent. 26 October 2012. Archived from the original on 6 September 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  3. ↑ "'Cultural genocide of Islamic heritage' in Saudi Arabia riles Sunni Sufis". The Times of India . 11 April 2013. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013.
  4. ↑ Yamani, Mai (2009). "Devotion". Cradle of Islam. London: I.B. TAURIS. p. 2. ISBN   978-1-84511-824-2.
  5. ↑ Yamani, Mai (2009). "Devotion". Cradle of Islam. London: I.B. TAURIS. p. 4. ISBN   978-1-84511-824-2.
  6. ↑ Rentz, George S. (2004). "Devotion". The Birth of the Islamic Reform Movement in Saudi Arabia. London: Arabian Publishing Ltd. p. 139. ISBN   0-9544792-2-X.
  7. ↑ Angawi, Dr.Sami (February 19, 2002). "A NewsHour with Jim Lehrer Transcript". PBS NewsHour Online Transcript. Archived from the original on October 24, 2010. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Ahmed, Irfan, "The Destruction of Holy Sites in Mecca and Medina", Islamica Magazine , no. 15, p. 71, archived from the original on 13 July 2011, retrieved 29 October 2010 alternative url
  9. ↑ Nibras Kazimi, A Paladin Gears Up for War Archived 2008-03-04 at the Wayback Machine , The New York Sun, November 1, 2007
  10. ↑ John R Bradley, Saudi's Shi'ites walk tightrope, Asia Times , March 17, 2005
  11. ↑ "The American Muslim (TAM)". Theamericanmuslim.org. Archived from the original on 16 March 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  12. ↑ "The Saud Family and Wahhabi Islam". Countrystudies.us. Archived from the original on 16 March 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  13. ↑ Anthony H. Cordesman (2003). Saudi Arabia enters the 21st century. Praeger (April 21, 2003). ISBN   978-0-275-98091-7. Archived from the original on January 18, 2023. Retrieved August 12, 2015. The tension between Saudi Shi'ite and Wahhabi is especially intense because Saudi "Wahhabis" actively reject all veneration of man, even the prophet. At one point, they attempted to destroy Muhammad's tomb in Medina. In contrast, the Saudi Shi'ites are "Twelvers", a branch of Islam that venerates the Prophet's son-in-law Ali, and believes that the leadership of Islam must pass through Ali's line. They venerate each of the past imams, and make pilgrimages to their tombs.
  14. ↑ "Fatwas of the Permanent Committee". Official KSA Rulings. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  15. ↑ Abou-Ragheb, Laith (July 12, 2005). "Dr.Sami Angawi on Wahhabi Desecration of Makkah". Center for Islamic Pluralism. Archived from the original on July 22, 2016. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  16. ↑ "Makkah Hotels: Makkah Hotel at Fairmont". Fairmont.com. Archived from the original on 5 February 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  17. ↑ Laessing, Ulf (November 18, 2010). "Mecca goes Upmarket". Reuters. Archived from the original on November 21, 2010. Retrieved December 1, 2010.
  18. ↑ "Mecca under threat: Outrage at plan to destroy the 'birthplace' of the Prophet Mohamed and replace it with a new palace and luxury malls". The Independent. Archived from the original on 13 November 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  19. ↑ Hubbard, Ben (31 May 2015). "Saudis Turn Birthplace of Wahhabism Ideology Into Tourist Spot". The New York Times .
  20. ↑ Estimo Jr, Rodolfo (5 January 2017). "Diriyah on course to become world-class tourist spot". Arab News . Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 History of the Cemetery of Jannat al-Baqi Archived 2013-10-17 at the Wayback Machine , History of the Shrines, Al-Islam.org (Ahlul Bayt Digital Islamic Library Project). Accessed online 16 December 2008.
  22. 1 2 Salah Nasrawi,"Mecca's ancient heritage is under attack – Developments for pilgrims and the strict beliefs of Saudi clerics are encroaching on or eliminating Islam's holy sites in the kingdom" Archived 2016-12-24 at the Wayback Machine , Los Angeles Times , September 16, 2007. Accessed online 16 December 2008.
  23. ↑ Power, Carla (November 14, 2014). "Saudi Arabia Bulldozes Over Its Heritage" Archived 2014-11-14 at the Wayback Machine . Time .
  24. ↑ "Why is Saudi Arabia destroying the cultural heritage of Mecca and Medina?". The Art Newspaper. 19 November 2015. Archived from the original on 23 January 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  25. ↑ "Historic Makkah fortress demolished". Arab News. 2002-01-09. Archived from the original on 2021-01-19. Retrieved 2021-11-07.
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