Rebuilding the Baqi' Tombs, an Action That Could Impact Saudi Tourism

According to Ashura News, quoted by Mehr reporter, on the occasion of the 8th of Shawwal, the anniversary of the destruction of Baqi' Sharif, Hojjatoleslam Hamid Ahmadi has expressed this important point, which we read below:

Religious and historical sites and holy places, in addition to reflecting and manifesting their spiritual dimensions that are a source of joy and security for society, are also signs and pillars of the authenticity of culture and the historical and social greatness of every society, and in addition, they are an important factor in social and cultural continuity and cohesion. For this reason, all governments and cultural associations are trying to register, preserve, and introduce religious and historical sites, including places of worship and tombs of prominent cultural and scientific figures and activists in the history of their country and society. They learn and promote them as tangible and spiritual cultural and historical heritage of their nation and land, and use them in building a collective, historical, and cultural identity.

Therefore, scholars consider the conflict and challenge against cultural heritage, religious and cultural buildings and sites to be a sign of meaninglessness and an identity crisis in a society.

The destruction of ancient, historical, and cultural monuments of society under any title indicates that the society has suffered an identity crisis1 and will undoubtedly become a basis for cultural decline.

In the Islamic world, one of the elements that strengthen collective identity and social cohesion has been religious and cultural places that are inspired by the teachings of revelation, such as the sanctification of the Kaaba and its veneration and the station of Abraham next to the Kaaba in the Holy Quran and in all Islamic religions, can be understood and understood with this perspective.

These places have always been respected and honored and visited by different segments of society and localities for spiritual vitality and mental connection with the past and history of the country, nation and religion.

Unfortunately, with the collapse of the Ottoman Caliphate due to the intrigues of the West and the foolishness of its rulers, a widespread crisis prevailed in many regions of the Islamic world. What is even more regrettable is that instead of a wise plan to overcome this crisis, other crises were added and intensified by the intrigues of colonialism, and the colonialists, with the wrong address, referred the solution to the crisis to the removal of identity-building monuments and heritage and referred it to conflict with Islamic sanctities and beliefs.

The superficiality and superficiality of a few, which led to the rejection and conflict with the wisdom, thought, and rationality emanating from the revealed sciences, led them to detours and took steps that led to the destruction and elimination of valuable heritages such as the holy shrines in Mecca and Medina, such as Baqi’ al-Sharif.

The rise to power of a small, misguided group in the Hijaz with the help of the British colonial government, which led to the destruction of most of the cultural, historical, and religious monuments in the two cities of Mecca and Medina, was the result of a crisis of meaning and identity that gripped the Islamic world. Colonialism pursued the break between Muslims and their honorable past and spiritual and honorable capitals, and by taking advantage of soulless superficiality, it assigned puppet rulers and misguided groups to destroy and eliminate all the honorable historical and cultural monuments. As Imam Khomeini, may God be pleased with him, considered reactionary rulers such as Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Saddam, and the leaders of the region to be of the same path and ideology, and said: "There is no difference... in their de-Islamization and opposition to the Quran, and they are all servants of America, tasked with destroying mosques and altars, and responsible for extinguishing the flame of the righteous cry of the nations." 2

In this view, Imam Khomeini considers Wahhabism to be the dagger of colonialism on the body of the Islamic world and writes: ...These vile Wahhabis who are unaware of God are like daggers that have always plunged into the hearts of Muslims from behind." 3

Therefore, one of the signs of the identity crisis in society is the rupture and disconnection of the nation and society from the brilliant pages of history and its forgetting. This was done through widespread and effective propaganda in dominated societies with apparently religious literature and the depiction of an imaginary past. An imaginary past that, instead of clinging to the brilliance of its existential effects, they turned to negation, rejection, and deprivation, and fake identities And they replaced it with a sect.

In this regard, the Supreme Leader said: "A look at the cultural, social, economic, and military situation of Muslim countries today, and its spiritual and material observation, and a close look at the political systems and the state of most of these countries' governments, where everything indicates a sense of inferiority and helplessness, makes it clear that one of the most important reasons for this situation is the alienation and disconnection of these countries and nations from their historical pasts and the glory and greatness that, after centuries, can lead every weak and hopeless person to hopeful movement and effort. 4

The removal of signs of honor, splendor, and identity of the past, such as the tombs and monuments of scientific, cultural, and academic greats in Baqi' and other places that are the glory and greatness of history and the common heritage of the Islamic nation, is a cause of self-delusion and alienation.

The graves that have been in Baqi' for years are a testimony to the respect of Muslims of all tribes for great men and women from the rich and fruitful lineage of the brilliant life of Islam. They were figures with a high and noble status among all and guardians of Islamic dignity, and the nation and culture of Islamic civilization have always been indebted to their enlightened thought. It is only within this framework that it can be interpreted and analyzed that some superficial and lost people in their identity and ignorance, as soldiers of colonialism, resorted to the inductive literature of the depraved and petrified, to destroy and eliminate these raised flags of honor and pride. The result of this was to intensify religious differences, create resentment and hatred, and pave the way for the entry of colonialism and cultural domination by foreigners, so that there would be no sign of sacred buildings and places in the holiest land and holy place, and the searching eyes of Muslims would not find any sign of these minarets against oppression and ignorance and the tribunes of seeking honor, martyrdom and knowledge. However, despite the colonialist will, the hearts of Muslims have never been empty of love and humility in front of these illuminated shrines that are deprived of the most basic signs of glorification and reverence, and they have always been remembered, named and blessed. The intellectual and spiritual brilliance of those divine saints shines in the desert of the Islamic world and in scientific circles. Hence, they took their stand and bothered us.

If the Saudi Arabian government is in search of its historical honors and national pride, its path is not to wander in the barren wilderness of ignorance and devoid of civilization and to fan the mirage of Umayyad Islam and the artificial sect of colonialism. Its only path is to magnify scientific and Islamic honors, which without this strong, solid and fruitful support, its skirt is empty of all greatness and honor. We cannot talk about cultural identity and historical honors and sit and watch and approve the destruction of all signs of honor and identity.

If the Saudi government is seeking to restore its historical identity and create an advanced and attractive tourism industry alongside pilgrimage, there is no path, monument, building, or identity more effective, more brilliant, more eye-catching, and more honorable than the great leaders of culture, science, and religion from the family and companions of the Prophet of God, and scholars, and scientific, cultural, and religious elders. Therefore, wisdom and experience dictate that the most necessary and urgent action is to honor and commemorate them, which is the least expected reconstruction of the monuments that the army of ignorance and darkness destroyed, which will support the society's trust and belief in modernity in politics and culture of the state claimant.

1- See: Rajai, Farhang, Jamia Salem, No. 24, 1995, p. 17

2- Sahifah Hajj, vol. 1, p. 131

3- Ibid.

4- Sahifah Hajj, vol. 2, p. 63