Wahhabism - A Research work on this ideology by Michael R. Dillon

What is the role of Wahhabism in the rise of global terrorism? Is Saudi Arabia and its Wahhabi ideology a contributing factor in the spread of violent radicalization in the Muslim world? What are the possible causal mechanisms linking Wahhabism to violence? How is it possible to ascertain these mechanisms and disentangle them from other sources of radicalization in the Muslim world? Three potential hypotheses may provide answers to these questions: (1) Wahhabism provides passive ideological support for extremism, but is not a sufficient cause of violent radicalization, (2) Wahhabism provides indirect support through the establishment of networks that give material facilitation to extremist groups, and (3) Wahhabism provides direct support to extremists with the approval of the Saudi government. The major finding of this study is that the first hypothesis—Wahhabism is a facilitator but not a direct contributor to violent extremism—is best supported by the evidence. Those who claim that Wahhabism has nothing to do with terrorism underestimate the extent to which the core principles of Wahhabism overlap with the extremist ideology of takfir, and its inherent intolerance toward other creeds can create fertile minds ready to demonize foreigners and even fellow Muslims who are non-Wahhabists. The second hypothesis receives hardly any evidential support, while the third hypothesis has no support at all and amounts to guilt by association.

Wahhabism.pdf

What Happened to Jannatul Baqi ??!!

Whenever I go to Medina, so many questions come to my mind, “Why is the cemetery where the daughter of the Prophet (pbuh) not built up?  Why is it that my 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th Imams do not have a zarih and a haram where I can visit them?

When we look at the history of Jannat-ul-Baqi we realize that the cemetery was not always like this.  Umar bin Jubair has described Al-Baqi in his travel diaries as follows:
“Al-Baqi is situated to the east of Medina, … the grave of Ibrahim son of our Prophet (pbuh) with a white dome over it, … a small shrine containing the graves of the Prophet (pbuh)’s wives…. The grave of Hasan bin Ali (a.s.) situated near the gate to its right hand, has an elevated dome over it, … walls are paneled with yellow plates and studded with beautiful star-shaped nails.”

Al-Baqi before destruction

This gives us a completely different picture of Jannat-ul-Baqi, doesn’t it?  So then what happened to these beautiful structures?

Following gives a brief account of what happened:
In 1221 the Wahhabis entered Madina to damage al-Baqi as well as every mosque they came across.  They also tried to demolish the Prophet’s tomb. 

In 1818 the Ottoman rulers reconstructed all the sacred places.

In 1848-1860, further renovations were made by the Ottomans.

In 1924 Wahabis entered Hijaz again. 

In 1925 they destroyed every Islamic heritage except the Prophet’s mosque. 
The date that this destruction of Jannat-ul-Baqi took place is recorded as 8th Shawwal, Wednesday, in the year 1345 AH, April 21, 1925.
Unfortunately, the destruction of Jannat-ul-Baqi continues today.
Several protests have been held over years, several resolutions have been passed, but the destruction has not ceased!

Let aside the destruction, the saddest thing is that one is not even allowed to stand by the cemetery and pay his/her respects to the holy personalities in peace.

It is so heartbreaking that Sayyada Fatema (a.s.), and our Imams were tormented during their lifetime and are still being agonized.

Let’s pray to Allah to hasten the appearance of our Imam (a.s.) so we can stop this anguish and pain!

Jannat-ul-Baqi at present

Ref: History of the Cemetery of Jannat Al-Baqi, www.al-islam.org/shrines/baqi.htm
www.ezsoftech.com/islamic/baqi.asp

JANNAT-UL-BAQII’ – The Graveyard that Shook the Saudi Dynasty

Demolition of Jannat-ul-Baqi’: Saudi dynasty digs its own grave

Jannat-ul-Baqi’ is a much revered graveyard located in Madinah Munawwarah in Saudi Arabia. Many great personalities of the Ahle Bait (a.s.), immaculate members of his (s.a.w.a.) household including his (s.a.w.a.) successors are laid to rest here:

1. Hazrat Fatemah al-Zahra (a.s.), the Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) highly-revered daughter
2. Imam Hasan b. Ali – Al Mujtaba (a.s.)
3. Imam Ali b. Husain – Zain al-Aabedeen (a.s.)
4. Imam Muhammad b. Ali – Al-Baqir (a.s.) and
5. Imam Jafar b. Muhammad – Al-Sadiq (a.s.)

In addition to the successors of the Messenger (s.a.w.a.), prominent and famous companions of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and his (s.a.w.a.) close relatives are also buried here:

1. Abbas b. Abdul Muttalib (Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) uncle)
2. Safiyyah bint Abdil Muttallib and Aatika bint Abdil Muttalib (Prophet’s aunts (s.a.w.a.))
3. Ibrahim b. Muhammad (Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) son)
4. Hazrat Fatima binte Asad (Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) aunt and Ameerul Momineen’s (a.s.) mother (a.s.))
5. Aqeel b. Abi Talib (Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) cousin and Ameerul Momineen’s (a.s.) brother)
6. Muhammad b. Ali b. Abi Taalib, famous as Muhammad-e-Hanafiyyah (his mother’s name was Hanafiyyah)
7. Hazrat Ummul Baneen (mother of Hazrat Abul Fazl Abbas b. Ali b. Abi Taalib (a.s.))
8. Ismail b. Imam Sadiq (a.s.)
9. Abdullah b. Jafar-e-Tayyaar (a.s.)

These are the individuals buried in Baqi’ and their graves were adorned with mausoleums and tombs. Even today Muslims have preserved pictures of the tombs and these are widely available on internet websites. These tombs were present till 8th Shavval 1344 A.H. Apart from these great personalities, graves of approximately seven thousand famous companions are located in Baqi’. Similarly, many scholars of the early days of Islam are also buried here, like Imam Maalik – the founder of the Maaliki sect. Like with other graves, a tomb was also built over his grave.

The first attack on Baqi’ – 1220 A.H.
The attack was first engineered by the Wahhabis in 1220 A.H. i.e. when the first Saudi government was overthrown by the Ottoman government. In 1220 A.H. Wahhabis entered Medinah to demolish Baqi’ and tried to demolish many mosques instead of Baqi’. They initially tried to pull down the dome of the mausoleum of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) but apparently refrained due to fear of reprisal.
The Ottoman government renovated the mausoleums and Shias and Sunnis from all over the world accumulated funds for its renovation. Consequently, beautiful tombs were created in Baqi’ and visitors from all over the world at the time of Hajj, Umrah and Ziyaarah paid their respects to these tombs.
However, this was just the beginning of the nightmare for the Islamic world.

The Day of Demolition
The Day of Demolition as it came to be known later was the day of breaking down of all mausoleums and tombs in Baqi’.
In 1344 A.H. when Aal-e-Saud – Saudi family gained complete control of Makkah, Madinah and its neighborhood, they decided to wipe out the signs of the holy places, Jannatul Baqi’, companions and family of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) from the map of Islam. For this, they obtained rulings from the scholars of Madinah to make it easy for themselves and to gain support of the people of Hijaz who were previously not ready for their rule.

Rulings for Demolition