Demolition of al-Baqi': Difference between revisions

[[File:بقیع قبل از تخریب 1.jpg|thumbnail|[[Al-Baqi']] before demolition]]

'''Demolition of al-Baqīʿ''' (Arabic: {{ia|تخریب البقیع}}) refers to the event of demolition of historical and religious graves and shrines of [[al-Baqi' cemetery]] by the [[Wahhabi]]s of contemporary time. Demolition of al-Baqi' was followed by serious protests in Muslim countries including [[Iran]]. Wahhabis destroyed places and graves in al-Baqi' two times, once in [[1220]]/1805-1806 and the second time in [[1344]]/1926. Many [[Shi'a]] hold gatherings, remember the event and mourn on [[Shawwal 8]] of every year which is known as [[Yawm al-Hadm]] (Day of Demolition).

* The shrine of the four Imams (a) and the dome of [[Lady Fatima (a)]] known as [[Bayt al-Ahzan]] were either destroyed or seriously damaged in the first attack of Wahhabis in the same year. According to Abd al-Rahman Jabarti, after a year and a half of besieging Medina and causing starvation, Wahhabi forces entered the city and destroyed all the graves and tombs except the shrine of the [[Prophet (s)]].

* Ottoman empire sent an army and took back Medina in [[Dhu l-Hijja]], [[1227]]/1812. Some shrines were reconstructed in [[1234]]/1818-9 by the order of Sultan Mahmud II (ruling from [[1223]]/1808-9 to [[1255]]/1839-40), as some reports suggest the existence of shrines after those years. Among some people who have reported the existence of the shrines of Imams (a) is Hisam al-Saltana, son of [[Abbas Mirza]] Qajar, Na'ib al-Saltana who went to Medina in [[1297]]/1880 and visited those shrines and [[Bayt al-Ahzan]]. He mentioned more than 10 buildings and shrines in al-Baqi' cemetery. There has been a Mihrab in the shrine of the four Imams (a) and on its left side, there has been a green wooden Darih on the graves of Imams (a). Bayt al-Ahzan of Lady Fatima (a) has been behind the shrine of Imams (a). There are some reports of the buildings in [[al-Baqi' cemetery]] in the travel report of Haj Ayazkhan Qashqa'i in [[1341]]/1922-3, about two years before demolition of al-Baqi'. According to him, the four Imams of [[Shi'a]] were in one shrine but their graves were separate. Ayazkhan also mentioned the existence of the tombs of Ibrahim, son of the Prophet (s), [[Abd Allah b. Ja'far al-Tayyar]], [[Safiyya (Prophet's aunt)|Safiyya]], the Prophet's (s) aunt, [['Atika (Prophet's aunt)|'Atika]], Safiyya's sister, [[Umm al-Banin]], mother of [['Abbas b. 'Ali|Abbas]] and some others from [[Banu Hashim]] located in an alley near al-Baqi'. Apparently, he was among the last Iranian pilgrims who visited Bayt al-Ahzan in al-Baqi'.

== Muslims' Reaction ==

* The government of [[Iran]] announced [[Safar 16]], [[1344]]/[[September 5]], 1925 the national mourning day on the occasion of desecration of al-Baqi' and [[Ayatollah Modarres]] made efforts in the parliament of Iran against this action. The parliament formed a commission for investigation about that. Muslims in countries such as India, [[Pakistan]], parts of Russia made demonstrations and sent messages against this action. To avoid the wrath of Muslims and justify for the demolition of religious sites, Saudi Arabia summoned the representatives of Islamic countries to [[Mecca]]. From Iran, a delegation comprised of Ghaffarkhan Jalal al-Saltana, minister plenipotentiary of Iran in [[Egypt]] and Habibullah Khan Huwiyda entered [[Jedda]] on [[Jumada II 24]], [[1344]]/[[January 9]], 1926. With deceptions of the Saudi government and not seriously pursuing the case by officials of Islamic countries, this incident was given up.

* In his travel to Hijaz, Habibullah Khan Huwiyda met 'Abd al-'Aziz b. Abd al-Rahman b. Sa'ud. According to his report, 'Abd al-'Aziz accused "ignorant Bedouins" for demolition of the holy sites of al-Baqi' and acquitted himself of that action.

* Some Iranian politicians and officials of [[hajj]] who were in Hijaz at the time of demolition and after it, described the very mournful condition of al-Baqi'. Seeing al-Baqi' in such a condition made pilgrims very sad. Expressing their sadness, they have mentioned their wish for reconstruction of the shrines. Some westerners have also visited those graves after their demolition and have reported about them. In his memories, Sir Hartford has mentioned demolition of the domes of Imams' (a) shrines and pillage of the precious stones of the shrine of the Prophet (s). Riter has described Wahhabis' action of demolition of the graves in al-Baqi' to a catastrophic earthquake. Donaldson has also described the tragic condition of the graves after demolition by Wahhabis.

* Since Saudi Arabia refused to reconstruct demolished graves in al-Baqi', for many years, Iran did not formally accept its government and for many more years their relationship was dark.

{{Saudi Arabia}}

{{Wahhabism}}

[[fa:تخریب بقیع]]

[[ar:هدم قبور أئمة البقيع]]