Al-Baqi Cemetery

Al-Baqīʿ
ٱلْبَقِيْع
Al-Baqi Cemetery, 2021
Map
Interactive map of Al-Baqīʿ
Details
EstablishedC.E. 622; 1404 years ago (622)
Location
Medina
CountrySaudi Arabia
Coordinates24°28′01″N 39°36′59″E / 24.4669°N 39.6164°E / 24.4669; 39.6164
TypeMuslim
Owned byMinistry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance
No. of intermentsList of burials at Jannat al-Baqī

Jannat al-Baqī (Arabic: ٱلْبَقِيْع, "The Baqi'", Hejazi Arabic pronunciation: [al.ba.ɡiːʕ, al.ba.qiːʕ]) is the oldest and first Islamic cemetery of Medina[1] located in the Hejazi[2] region of present-day Saudi Arabia. It is also known as Baqi al-Gharqad (Arabic: بَقِيْع الْغَرْقَد, meaning "Baqiʿ of the Boxthorn").[1]

Al-Baqi is reportedly founded by Prophet Muhammad and serves as the burial place for many of his relatives and companions, establishing it as one of the two holiest cemeteries in Islamic tradition. Monuments and mosques built on or near al-Baqīʿ were demolished under the Emirate of Diriyah in 1806. After their reconstruction, they were again demolished in 1926 under the Sultanate of Nejd, in accordance with their Wahhabi interpretation of Islamic law regarding idolatry.[1] These demolitions were condemned across the Islamic world, but the Saudi government has rejected calls for reconstruction.[1]

History

When Muhammad arrived in Medina from Mecca in September 622 CE, al-Baqi' was a land covered with boxthorn. According to historical records, after Muhammad’s arrival, the houses of Medina developed near al-Baqi', which was therefore considered the public tomb. The bramble growth was cleared, and the place was consecrated to be the future cemetery of the Muslims who died in al-Madina.[1] Additionally, al-Baqi’ was introduced as a location with Nakhl on its east side and houses on its west side. In fact, before its demolition, al-Baqi’ was situated behind the houses in the city.[3]

During the construction of the Prophet’s Mosque on the site he purchased from two orphan children after his migration from Mecca to Medina, As'ad ibn Zurarah, one of Muhammad's companions, died. Muhammad chose the spot to be a cemetery, and As'ad was the first individual to be buried in al-Baqi' among the Ansar.

While Muhammad was outside Medina for the Battle of Badr, his daughter Ruqayyah fell ill and died in 624. She was buried in al-Baqi'. Ruqayyah was the first person from the Ahl al-Bayt (Household of Muhammad) to be buried in this cemetery.

Shortly after Muhammad arrived from Badr, Uthman bin Maz'oon died in 3 AH (624/625 CE) and was buried in al-Baqi'.[1] He was considered the first companion of Muhammad from the Muhajirun to be buried in the cemetery. Muhammad also referred to him as the first ‘among us to go to the hereafter,’ and he named the place where Uthman bin Maz’oon is buried as Rawhā.

When his youngest son Ibrahim died, Muhammad commanded that he be buried there as well. He watered the grave and called this place Zawrā.[4] Following his instructions, two of his daughters Zainab and Umm Kulthum, were also buried near the grave of Uthman bin Maz'oon.[5]

Initially, the third caliph, Uthman,[6] was buried in the large neighbouring Jewish graveyard. The first expansion of al-Baqi' was carried out by Muawiyah I, the first Umayyad caliph. To honor Uthman, Muawiyah incorporated the extensive Jewish cemetery into al-Baqi’s burial grounds. The Umayyad Caliphate constructed the first dome over Uthman’s grave in al-Baqi’. Over time, numerous domes and structures were built or reconstructed over various graves in al-Baqi’.

Demolition

Main article: Demolition of al-Baqi
The cemetery before the 1926 demolition
The former mausoleum of Fatimah, Abbas, Hasan ibn Ali, Ali as-Sajjad, Muhammad al-Baqir and Ja'far as-Sadiq

First demolition

The cemetery after the 1926 demolition. The Prophet's Mosque in far background, view towards west.
Panorama showing the cemetery, with the Qiblah being behind the photographer, view towards north.

The cemetery was demolished[1] by forces loyal to the Wahhabi-Saudi alliance in 1806 and 1925[7] (or 1926).[1][8]

At the beginning of the nineteenth century, during the Wahhabi control over Mecca and Medina in 1806, many religious buildings, including tombs and mosques,[9] were demolished. This demolition occurred both inside and outside al-Baqi,[10] in accordance with the Wahhabi interpretation of Islamic doctrine that forbids idolatry.[1] These structures were razed to the ground[8][11] due to Wahhabi claims of grave worship.[12]

Second demolition

The House of Saud regained control of the Hijaz in 1924[8] or 1925.[1] The following year, King Ibn Saud granted permission to destroy the site, with religious authorization provided by Qadi Abd Allah ibn Bulayhid. The demolition began on 21 April 1926[8] (or 1925)[7][13] by the Ikhwan ("The Brothers"), a Wahabbi religious militia.[14] The demolition included destroying "even the simplest of the gravestones.".[1] The British convert Eldon Rutter compared the demolition to an earthquake: "All over the cemetery, nothing was to be seen but little indefinite mounds of earth and stones, pieces of timber, iron bars, blocks of stone, and a broken rubble of cement and bricks, strewn about."[8]

The second demolition was discussed in the Majles-e Shora-ye Melli (the National Consultative Assembly of Iran), and a group of representatives was sent to Hijaz to investigate. In recent years (1982),[15] efforts have been made by Iranian religious scholars and political figures to restore the cemetery and its shrines.[8] Both Sunni and Shia communities protested the destruction,[1][13] and rallies are held annually.[1][16] The day is regarded as Yaum-e Gham ("Day of Sorrow").[13] Prominent Sunni theologians and intellectuals have condemned the "unfit" situation of the Baqi cemetery. However, the Saudi authorities have ignored all criticism and rejected any requests for the restoration of the tombs and mausoleums.[8]

Notable early burials

Main article: List of burials at Jannat al-Baqī

Chronological list of distinguished members of the Ahl al-Bayt and companions of the Prophet interred at Jannat al-Baqi:

Name Death year (CE) Notes
Notable members of Ahl al-Bayt
Ruqayya bint Muhammad March 624 Daughter of the Prophet and wife of Uthman
Zaynab bint Khuzayma 625 Fifth wife of the Prophet, also known as Umm al-Masakin (mother of the poor)
Zainab bint Muhammad 629 Eldest daughter of the Prophet
Umm Kulthum bint Muhammad 630 Daughter of the Prophet and also wife of Uthman
Rayhana bint Zayd c. 631 Wife or concubine of the Prophet, was a Jewish convert to Islam from the Banu Nadir
Ibrahim ibn Muhammad c. 27 January 632 Son of the Prophet Muhammad; died in infancy
Fatima bint Muhammad 632 Daughter of Muhammad, wife of Ali.

The exact burial place is not known, though many traditions hold that her grave is in Jannat al-Baqī

Maria al-Qibtiyya c. 637 Twelfth wife of the Prophet. She was an Egyptian (Copt) woman gifted to Muhammad in 628 as a slave
Zaynab bint Jahsh 640 / 641 Seventh wife of the Prophet
Sawdah bint Zam'ah c. 644 or 674 Second wife of the Prophet
Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib c. 653 Paternal uncle of the Prophet
Umm Habiba 664 Ninth wife of the Prophet
Safiyya bint Huyayy c. 664 – c. 672 Tenth wife of the Prophet, originating from a Jewish tribe Banu Nadir
Hafsa bint Umar c. 665 Fourth wife of Muhammad and daughter of Umar
Hasan ibn Ali 670 Grandson of the Prophet and son of Ali and Fatima.

Briefly caliph in early Islamic history

Aqil ibn Abi Talib 670 or 683 Cousin of the Prophet and elder brother of Ali
Juwayriya bint al-Harith 676 Eighth wife of the Prophet
Aisha c. 678 Third and youngest wife of Prophet Muhammad and daughter of first caliph Abu Bakr
Umm Salama c. 680 or 682/683 Sixth wife of the Prophet
Ali al-Sajjad c. 712 – c. 714 4th Shia Imam; great-grandson of Prophet Muhammad
Muhammad al-Baqir c. 732 5th Shia Imam, known for transmitting knowledge
Ja'far al-Sadiq 765 6th Shia Imam, renowned scholar of hadith, Fiqh, and science
Isma'il ibn Ja'far c. 765 or 775 7th Ismaili Shia Imam; son of Ja'far al-Sadiq. Isma'ili sources hold that he was buried in Salamiyah, while other sources place his burial in al-Baqī[17]
Notable Companions of the Prophet Muhammad
As'ad ibn Zurara 623 He suffered from an illness resembling diphtheria or meningitis. He is reported to be the first man buried in al-Baqi[18]
Uthman ibn Maz'un 624 Was either the first Companion or the first Muhajir to be buried in the al-Baqi'
Khunays ibn Hudhafa c. 624 Died 25 months after the Hijra. His funeral prayer was led by Muhammad.[19]
Abu Salama 625 He was also a cousin and a foster-brother of Muhammad.
Nusaybah bint Ka'ab 634 One of the early women to convert to Islam and a warrior who participated in the battles of Uhud, Hunain, and Yamamah.[20][21]
Halima bint Abi Dhu'ayb c. 635 Foster-mother and Wet nurse of the Prophet
Ubayy ibn Ka'b c. 649 He is notable for the Quran codex he compiled.
Abd Allah ibn Mas'ud c. 653 Regarded by Sunni tradition as one of the greatest early interpreters of the Quran[22][23] He was buried at night in al-Baqi[24]
Abu Sufyan ibn Harb c. 653 A prominent opponent-turned companion of the Prophet
Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf c. 654 One of the wealthiest among the companions, he is known for being one of the ten to whom Paradise was promised.
Uthman 656 Son-in-law of the Prophet and the 3rd Caliphate

He was initially reportedly to be buried in al-Baqī, but due to local resistance, was instead interred in a Jewish cemetery, which was later incorporated into al-Baqī by the Umayyads.

Zayd ibn Thabit c. 665 Personal scribe of the prophet Muhammad, serving as the chief recorder of the Quranic text
Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas 674 Military Commander and Governor of Kufa[25]
Hakim ibn Hizam c. 674 Respected merchant and a key figure in the Quraysh tribe and nephew of Khadija bint Khuwaylid
Hassan ibn Thabit c. 674 Arabian poet, who was best known for poems in defence of the prophet.
Abu Hurayra 679 Companion of the prophet and considered the most prolific hadith narrator[26]
Abu Sa'īd al-Khūdrī 7th-Century Prominent companion of the Prophet and prolific hadith narrator, He is believed to have died around 693, though some sources suggest 683.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Werner, Ende (2010). "Baqīʿ al-Gharqad". In Fleet, Kate; Krämer, Gudrun; Matringe, Denis; Nawas, John; Rowson, Everett (eds.). Encyclopaedia of Islam (3rd ed.). Brill Online. doi:10.1163/1573-3912_ei3_COM_23494. ISSN 1873-9830.
  2. ^ Hopkins, Daniel J.; 편집부 (2001). Merriam-Webster's Geographical Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. p. 479. ISBN 0-87779-546-0. Archived from the original on 23 June 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  3. ^ Muhammad Sadiq Najmi. history of tombs of Imam in Baqi and other monuments (in Persian). Mashar. pp. 67–68. Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  4. ^ "Encyclopedia of Islam by the Turkish government". Archived from the original on 2 September 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  5. ^ Sunan Abu Dawood. pp. https://sunnah.com/abudawud:3206.
  6. ^ Textual Sources for the Study of Islam, by Knappert, Jan, and Andrew Rippin
  7. ^ a b Mohammadi, Adeel (2014–2015). "The destruction of Jannat al-Baqi': A case of Wahhabi Iconoclasm" (PDF). Undergraduate Journal of Middle East Studies (8). Canada: 47–56. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 August 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Bahramian, Ali; Gholami, Rahim (2013). "al-Baqīʿ". In Madelung, Wilfred; Daftary, Farhad (eds.). Encyclopaedia Islamica (Third ed.). Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  9. ^ "Sahih Muslim 969a, 969b – The Book of Prayer – Funerals – كتاب الجنائز – Sunnah.com – Sayings and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم)". sunnah.com. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  10. ^ Ahmed, Irfan. "The Destruction Of The Holy Sites in Mecca and Medina". Islamica Magazine. No. 15. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  11. ^ "History of the Cemetery Of Jannat Al-Baqi". Al-Islam.org. 23 December 2013. Archived from the original on 10 April 2019. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  12. ^ Bahramian, Ali. "Baqi". The Great Islamic Encyclopedia (in Persian). Archived from the original on 7 July 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  13. ^ a b c Shahi, Afshin (2013). The Politics of Truth Management in Saudi Arabia. Routledge. ISBN 9781134653195. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  14. ^ "The Destruction Heritage in Saudi Arabia" (PDF). The Center for Academic Shi'a Studies. August 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 April 2019. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  15. ^ Kramer, Martin (August 1987). "BEHIND THE RIOT IN MECCA". The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. 5: 7. Archived from the original on 31 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  16. ^ Hassan, Sara (27 July 2015). "Protests at Saudi Embassy in Washington". American al-Jazeera. Archived from the original on 25 June 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  17. ^ Buyukkara, Mehmet Ali (1997). The Imāmi Shi'i movement in the time of Mūsā al-Kāẓim and 'Ali al-Riḍa. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
  18. ^ Muhammad ibn Saad. Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir vol. 3. Translated by Bewley, A. (2013). The Companions of Badr. London: Ta-Ha Publishers.
  19. ^ Ibn Saad/Bewley vol. 3 p. 307.
  20. ^ Qassem, Hamzah. "Umm 'Umara: The Prophet's Shield at 'Uhud - SunnahOnline.com". sunnahonline.com.
  21. ^ Ghadanfar, Mahmood Ahmad (26 December 2017). Great Women of Islam. Darussalam. ISBN 9789960897271 – via Google Books.
  22. ^ "'Abd Allah ibn al-'Abbas". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. I: A-Ak - Bayes (15th ed.). Chicago, Illinois: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 2010. pp. 16. ISBN 978-1-59339-837-8.
  23. ^ Ludwig W. Adamec (2009), Historical Dictionary of Islam, p.134. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0810861615.
  24. ^ Muhammad ibn Saad. Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir vol. 3. Translated by Bewley, A. (2013). The Companions of Badr. Loon:TaHa Publishers.
  25. ^ al-Basri, Muhammad ibn Saʿd (1990). Al-Ṭabaqāt al-Kubrā. Vol. 3. Beirut: Dār al-Kutub al-‘Ilmīyah. pp. 109–110.
  26. ^ Abgad Elulm, pp.2, 179.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jannatul_Baqi