Saudi Arabia to demolish tomb of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) for expansion of mosque
Thursday, November 1st, 2012 12:23:52 by Faisal Farooq
In order to expand the second holiest site of Muslims, Masjid an-Nabawi, Saudi Arabia is all set to demolish three of the world’s oldest mosques, including Prophet Mohammed (PBUH)’s tomb.
According to media reports, construction work on the Masjid an-Nabawi in Madina, where the Prophet Mohammed is buried, is due to start next month. Under the proposed plans the site will be developed to include a mosque with a capacity for 1.6m worshippers.
According to a report carried out by UK daily The Independent, the Saud government faced problem of accommodating an ever growing number of pilgrims to Makkah and Medina every year.
In order to facilitate the pilgrims, the Saudi Arabian government has launched an ambitious expansion project of Masjid-e-Nabawi, which potentially includes razing of Riyad-al-Jannah (Garden of Paradise) and the graves of Holy Prophet (PBUH) and caliphs Hazrat Abu Bakar (RA) and Hazrat Umar (RA).
Riyad-al-Jannah is believed to be a holy site, with Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) once having decreed that the area between his house and pulpit was one of the gardens (Rawdah) of Paradise.
The multi-billion dollar plan further includes demolishing three of the world’s oldest mosques dedicated to the aforementioned Caliphs and Masjid Ghamama, built to mark the spot where the Prophet is believed to have given his first Eid prayers.
It will not be the first time authorities have bulldozed historic sites in Makkah and Medina to make way for new developments.
The Gulf state knocked down the Ottoman-era Ajyad Fortress and the hill it stood on to make way for the Jabal Omar complex and has also redeveloped the Prophet’s birthplace and the house of his first wife Khadijah.
This plan has already received a lot of flak from Muslims around the world, including heritage campaigners, having already criticized the Kingdom’s disdain for preserving the historical and archaeological heritage of the country’s holiest city, Makkah.
With a booming middle class in Muslim countries, both Makkah and Medina are struggling to cope with the 12 million pilgrims who visit each year – a number expected to grow to 17 million by 2025.
Tags: Hazrat Abu Bakar (RA), Hazrat Umar (RA), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Madina, Masjid an-Nabawi, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Makkah, ukShort URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=34577
Posted by Faisal Farooq
on Nov 1 2012. Filed under World.
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I am both angry and sad that the Saudis are going to demolish the prophets grave in order to expand the Masjid. Please we can expand without interfering with the Beloved of Allah grave. Muslims of the world, how can we tolerate this.
This is a rumour, or at the very least, an exaggeration of facts.
Yes, the Saudi authorities have no problem razing to the ground historical sites (as has been the case for decades for expansion and for ideological reasons) – and they will probably do so again for this expansion.
But no way, are they going to relocate the Resting Place of Prophet Muhamamad, beloved by more than a Billion people around the world.
They will also have construction in Riyad Al Jannah (a very small area at the front of the Grand Mosque of Madinah considered to be a symbolic part of paradise) – but they will certainly not “raze” it to the ground. This just seems a deliberate attempt at sensationalism on the part of the media. But I doubt it will result in protests. No cartoons involved this time.
What will happen to the empty grave beside Proph. Muhammad’s tomb that is reserved for Jesus?
Un acceptable untolerable 🙁
its really unacceptable and untolerable….
Please join the group https://www.facebook.com/StopDemolitionOfHistoricMosquesInSaudiArabia and protest if anything like this is happening.
why not get rid off saud family
Firstly i have very strong feeling that this seems to be just a media gimmic. I tried to search all sorts of sites/news but could not get any confirmation. But, GOD forbid if happens, it would be the worst thing for Muslim Ummah and the subsequent dowmfall.
the word used is tomb not grave.
It will be better for them if this is just a rumour or ELSE….. the family is gonna enjoy the last days of their rule over Arabia