On the occasion of the eighth of the Islamic month of Shawwal, which marks the anniversary of the destruction of the Jannat al-Baqi’ cemetery, Grand Ayatollah Hoseyn Nouri-Hamadani has issued a message of condolences. This sorrowful event is a call to “preserve Muslim unity in order to solve the problems in the Islamic world.”
In 1924 CE, Wahhabis entered Hejaz from the Najd region and carried out merciless attacks on the people and their holy sites. People in the streets were killed and houses were razed to the ground. The accursed Sa’ud family gained power in Hejaz in 1925. On 21 April, 1925 (8 Shawwal, 1345 AH), they destroyed the historic and most respectable graveyards of Jannat al-Mu’allah in Makkah and Jannat al-Baqi’ in Madinah. These are the holy places wherein the graves of forefathers of the Prophet (S), His Family (A), the wives of the Prophet (A), his companions (RA), and the taba’in (RA) [followers of the companions] lie.
The following is Ayatollah Nouri-Hamadani’s message:
In the name of God, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
Upon the arrival of the eighth of Shawwal, the memory of the tragic and catastrophic destruction of Jannat al-Baqi’ cemetery awakens and revives those who love the Ahlul-Bayt (A) of the Prophet of Islam (S) and for those whose ears hear and whose hearts are open to the truth as is stated in Hadith ath-Thaqalayn (Narration of the Two Weighty Things).
The crimes perpetrated by the unlawful Wahhabi sect, which was established by the “global arrogance” to sow discord and destruction among Muslims, continues to this day. They have created sectarian groups which commit atrocities and preach doctrines which are against the verses of the Quran and credible narrations from the Prophet Muhammad (S). They believe the shrines that used to be above the holy graves were idolatrous and consider mourning and the slogans and supplications of respect to the Prophet and his Infallible Family (A) as polytheistic.
Therefore, [the truthful] Islamic sects are the focus of the harshest accusations. We have announced repeatedly that we are willing to debate the Wahhabis in all subjects and topics upon the basis of logic. Many books have been written in reply to the Wahhabi arguments, but they do not reply or agree to participate in debates. But, firmness and strictness are being used as tools to persecute and threaten Muslims. In Islamic countries these enemies have been busy creating controversy, sedition and bloodshed and brutal acts.
We condemn this criminal and offensive act which aims at destroying all Islamic relics and holy sites in Arabia and other countries performed by these Wahhabi and Takfiri groups. We request all Muslims to solve their problems by uniting. We hope that these holy shrines will be restored with greater glory than before.
If God wills it.
Hoseyn Nouri-Hamadani
8 Shawwal, 1435 – 4 August, 2014