Jannat al-Baqi (Arabic: ٱلْبَقِيْع, "The Baqi'", Hejazi Arabic pronunciation:[al.ba.ɡiːʕ,al.ba.qiːʕ]) is the oldest and first Islamic cemetery of Medina[1] 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 reported to have been founded by Muhammad and is the burial place of 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 and, after their reconstruction, again in 1926 under the Sultanate of Nejd, in accordance with their Wahhabi interpretation of Islamic law on idolatry.[1] These demolitions were condemned across the Islamic world, but the Saudi government has rejected calls for reconstruction.[1]
History
When Muhammad arrived at Medina from Mecca in September 622 CE, al-Baq was a land covered with boxthorn. According to historical records, after the arrival of Muhammad, 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 at al-Madina.[1] Also, al-Baqi' was introduced as somewhere whose east side is Nakhl and the west side contains houses. In fact, before demolition al-Baqi' was located behind the houses in the city.[3]
During the construction of the Prophet's Mosque, on the site he purchased from two orphan children when he arrived 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 sick and died in 624. She was buried in al-Baqi'. She was the first person from Ahl al-Bayt (Household of Muhammad) 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. He was also called by Muhammad to be the first 'among us to go to the hereafter', and he also called the place where he is buried Rawhā.
When his youngest son Ibrahim died, he commanded that he be buried there also; he watered the grave and called this place Zawrā.[4] As per his command, two of his daughters Zainab and Umm Kulthum also buried near the grave of Uthman bin Maz'oon.[5]
Initially, 3rd caliph Uthman[6] was buried in the huge neighbouring Jewish graveyard. The first enlargement of al-Baqi' in history was made by Muawiyah I, the first Umayyad Caliph. In order to honor Uthman, Muawiyah included the huge Jewish graveyard in al-Baqi's cemetery. The Umayyad Caliphate built the first dome in al-Baqi' over his grave. During different times in history, many domes and structures were built or rebuilt over many famous graves in al-Baqi'.
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 Wahhabis of Najd's nineteenth century (1806) control over Mecca and Medina, they demolished many of the religious buildings, including tombs and mosques,[9] whether inside or outside the Baqi,[10] in accordance with their understanding of the Islamic doctrine forbidding idolatry.[1] These were razed to the ground[8][11] and demolished due to Wahhabi claims of grave worshipping.[12]
Second demolition
The clan 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, and the demolition began on April 21, 1926[8] (or 1925)[7][13] by 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 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,[when?] efforts have been made by Iranian religious scholars and political figures to restore the cemetery and its shrines.[8] Both Sunni and Shia protested against the destruction,[1][13] and rallies are held annually.[1][15] 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, but the Saudi authorities have so far ignored all criticism and rejected any requests for restoration of the tombs and mausoleums.[8]
Lubaba claimed to be the second woman to convert to Islam, the same day as her close friend Khadijah. She is the wife of the Prophet's Uncle Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib
Tenth wife of Muhammad. She originated from a Jewish tribe Banu Nadir, after the Battle of Khaybar muslims won the battle and the Prophet married her (m.628)
The last wife of Muhammad. She was an Egyptian woman and gifted to Muhammad in 628 as a slave by Al-Muqawqis, a Christian governor of Alexandria. Prophet had a son with her Ibrahim (m.628)
Early companion of Muhammad, Third Rashidun Caliph (r.644–656) and he's son-in-law of Muhammad, he married two (Ruqayya & Umm Kulthum) of his daughters earned him the honorific title Dhū al-Nurayn (The Possessor of Two Lights). He was first buried in a Jewish graveyard behind Al-Baqi', but later Muawiyah I extended Al-Baqi' to include Uthman.[17][18]
One of the Prominent Companion of Muhammad, Islamic tradition regards him as the greatest interpreter of the Quran and he influenced many theologians and Hadith Scholars
He was the political, military, and spiritual leader and the third Imam of the Caucasian Imamate (1834–1859), and a Sunni Muslim Shaykh of the Naqshbandi Sufi Tariqa
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