Al-Baqi'

Coordinates: 24°28′02″N 39°36′58″E / 24.4672°N 39.616°E / 24.4672; 39.616

The Baqi Cemetery

Jannatul Baqi (جنة البقيع)
Details
Established C.E. 622
Location Medina
Country Present-day Saudi Arabia
Type Muslim
Owned by State
Size State Secret
Number of graves State Secret

Maqbaratul Baqī' (Arabic: مقبرة البقيع, The Baqi Cemetery) is a cemetery in Medina, present-day Saudi Arabia, located to the southeast of the Masjid al-Nabawi (The Prophet's Mosque). The mosque is built where the Islamic prophet Muhammad used to live, and is currently buried. The cemetery is also known as Jannatul Baqi, meaning "The Garden of Baqi" and Baqiul Qarqad, which means "Baqi of the Boxthorn".

The cemetery holds much significance. It contains many of Muhammad's relatives and companions. Many traditions relate Muhammad issuing a prayer every time he passed it. A Jewish graveyard was once located behind Jannatul Baqi. The Umayyad rulers took down the wall of the Jewish cemetery and widened the Muslim graveyard to enclose the tomb of Caliph Uthman ibn Affan within it.[1]

History

Al-Baqi before the demolition

When Muhammad arrived at Medina from Mecca in September 622, al-Baqi was a land covered with Lycium shawii boxthorn trees.

During the construction of the al-Masjid al-Nabawi, on the site he purchased from two orphan children when he arrived after his migration from Mecca to Medina, Asa'ad Bin Zararah, one of Muhammad's companions died. Muhammad chose the spot to be a cemetery and Asa'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.

Shortly after Muhammad arrived from Badr, Uthman bin Maz'oon died and was buried in al-Baqi. He was considered the first companion of Muhammad from the Muhajirun to be buried in the cemetery.

Earlier Caliph Uthman ibn Affan was buried in the huge neighbouring Jewish grave yard. The first enlargement of al-Baqi in history was made by Muawiyah I, the first Umayyad Caliph. In order to honour Uthman ibn Affan, Muawiyah included the huge Jewish graveyard into al-Baqi cemetery. The Umayyad Caliphate built the first dome in al-Baqi over his grave. During different times of history, many domes and structures were built or rebuilt over many famous graves in al-Baqi.

Demolitions

The Cemetery after the 1926 demolition. The Mosque of the Prophet is in the background.

On 21 April 1926 (Wednesday, 8 Shawwal 1344 A.H.), the mausoleums in al-Baqi were destroyed by king Ibn Saud. In the same year, he also demolished the tombs of holy persons at Mualla Cemetery in Mecca where Muhammad 's first wife Khadijah, his grandfather and other ancestors are buried.[2] This happened despite protests by the international Islamic community.[3][4]

Notable interments

Kin of Muhammad

Notable figures

Other notable figures (unknown location)

Gallery

See also

References

  1. Textual Sources for the Study of Islam By Knappert, Jan, Andrew Rippin
  2. "List of people buried in Jannat ul Baqi". Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  3. http://www.al-islam.org/shrines/baqi.htm. History of the Cemetery of Jannat al-Baqi
  4. "8th of Shawwal - A day of deep grief and sorrow". Sibtayn.com. Sibtayn International Foundation. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  5. Lady Fatima, Islamic Insight, Accessed September 1, 2012.

External links

Media related to Jannatul Baqi at Wikimedia Commons

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