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As I read this article on Yahoo recently, a sense of resignation hit me.
Mecca’s hallowed skyline transformed: Excerpts
The building boom is in some cases destroying Mecca’s historic heritage, not just overshadowing it. In 2002, Saudi authorities tore down a 200-year-old fort built by the city’s then-rulers, the Ottomans, on a hill overlooking the Kaaba to build a multi-million-dollar housing complex for pilgrims.
The holy sites have also been targeted for decades by the clerics who give Saudi Arabia’s leadership religious legitimacy. In their puritanical Wahhabi view, worship at historic sites connected to mere mortals — such as Muhammad or his contemporaries — can easily become a form of idolatry. (Worship at the Kabaa, which is ordered in the Quran, is an exception.)“Obviously, this is an exaggerated interpretation. But unfortunately, it is favored among officials,” said Anwar Eshky, a Saudi analyst and head of a Jiddah-based research center.
The house where Muhammad is believed to have been born in 570 now lies under a rundown building overshadowed by a giant royal palace and hotel towers. The then king, Abdul-Aziz, ordered a library built on top of the site 70 years ago as a compromise after Wahhabi clerics called for it to be torn down.
Other sites disappeared long ago, as Saudi authorities expanded the Grand Mosque around the Kaaba in the 1980s. The house of Khadija, Muhammad’s first wife, where Muslims believe he received some of the first revelations of the Quran, was lost under the construction, as was the Dar al-Arqam, the first Islamic school, where Muhammad taught.
At Hira’a Cave, where Muhammad is believed to have received the first verses of the Quran in the mountains on the edge of Mecca, a warning posted by Wahhabi religious police warns pilgrims not to pray or “touch stones” to receive blessings.
Are the Saudi authorities so carried away by the wave of development that they are blindly wiping their past! It’s a pity that such revered historical places have been razed to the ground without a whimper from the Muslim world. Ironic indeed that the destruction of a few centuries old mosque in india created such a furore worldwide but the demolition of the Prophet’s [PBUH] 1400-year-old home not even a passing mention. What’s happening to us?
With the rate at which the Saud family is going I can only see the Masjid-e-Nabavi and Khan-e-Kaaba standing 10 years from now. And they too will be dwarfed by the new high rise buildings coming up. Not to mention McDonald’s Golden Arches.
As for me, you can’t flourish if you destroy your very roots.
- Surá Al-Hajj (22), Verse 40
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Anis: My whole problem with wahaabis is that they think that Islam has come to us through a vacuum. They talk as if Quaran was revealed in 7th century; then forgotten completely; and then re-invented by them in 19th century. They forget that Islam is a living religion. It has come to us through a continuos chain of pious people who have lived and breathed Islam. Disowning history of Islam from 7th century to 19th century is an insult to the memory of countless muslims who lived and died for Islam.
And the argument that there are no buddhists in Afghanistan and hence nothing wrong in destroying the bamiyan buddha is a bogus one. May be Talibans should start their own hadiths. As long as even one buddhist lives on earth, buddha is sacred. And even if buddhism were wiped out from earth, still no one gets a right to destroy the works of ancient people. It is part of collective heritage of humanity; not the private property of some fanatic.
[quote]And even if buddhism were wiped out from earth, still no one gets a right to destroy the works of ancient people. It is part of collective heritage of humanity; not the private property of some fanatic.[/quote]
Wonderful !!
Dear All,
I read whatever you wrote.. I dont have that much of knoledge about the Quran and all the rules and regulation.. but as per our human tendency we feel closer and our heart feel wonderful when we touch anythin which belongs to our loved ones.. when we touch our mother or when we sleep on her lap we feel good..we feel closer..we get a peace which is not available anywhere in this world..similarly god(Allah, Jesus, Bhagwaan whatever you want to call the creator)..he created our soul or our soul is a part of him when we touch him or when e touch anything which belongs to him or which has been touched by him we feel closer to him..that doesnt mean we wont follow his guidance..or the truth in which he asked us to go ahead..all the rules & regulations or the path which he shown us was for our own peace, truth and development..so why this arguments and proving ourselves the right?..I think we should have the monuments which was there in which our teacher taught & attained the supreme knowledge should be there so that we can feel closer to our god….I think when you guys pray to god u do that in a particluar direction why, just to feel closer to him and in a way you are touching it then u bent & touch ur forhead to the land..that again touchin…So it do have significant value….
As per buddhism, God Buddha came in this world for the same purpose as prophet..to spread truth and god message to this world..Prophe got disturbed by the poverty, negligence, sadness, etc and he used to pray to god for his own peace but as he kept on doing that God chose him to become his messenger so that he can show the real path of god….then people started following what prophet preached..but as the days went people again started or somewhere lost the way of truth then again the misery started developing then again another human being was born called Gautam(Buddha)..he was also very sentimental in his heart couldnt see people in pain..he also started meditating & seeking for truth tht too for his own peace of mind..but again god chose him as his messenger again to put people in right direction and to attain that truth..so why we have to destroy the things which has some significance or imprint of the Gods greatest messenger..why cant we respect them and preserve them..
@Snigdha:
“As per buddhism, God Buddha came in this world for the same purpose as prophet..to spread truth and god message to this world..”
Good sentiments — except that there is no “God” Buddha as per buddhism. Buddha did not come to spread “God”’s message!
Remember Buddha’s words :
appa deepo bhava.
(Be your own light).
Anis: “As far as destroying bamian structure is concerned, I do agree Taliban were a bit over zealous. I cannot comment on their act as it was their land their law……I don’t see there were many followers of that statue in Afghanistan. “.
Anis, please cut the CRAP and learn to acknowledge a wrong doing than to gloss over it. And don’t whine when non-Muslims get “a bit overzealous”.
I have read your similar “incisive” views on the virtues of not listening to Music earlier on this blog.
Anis:”When Taliban were in power, they put a complete stop on the drugs trade and now the same trade is florishing again and Allah knows how many lives and homes will be destroyed with this.”
WOW! you beat Goebbels hands down.
Anis, one question, why not have Saudi Arabia type criminal law for Indian Muslims?
To add to what Abhilash said:
Atta hi attano natho
atta hi attano gati
(you are your own master
you make your own future)
Also, “deepo” can be translated as either “lamp” or “island” – both signifying a person working on his own for enlightenment.
Yes enlightenment..That is the god which is there in us…The same light which was there in prophet & Buddha..The thing is both of them recognized that light & listened to it…& at the end both wanted us to get enlightenment…..Wat do u think wat is heaven?.Is it some place or its our inne peace & beauty…& when we r beautiful from inside we see everything around us also beautiful…So when we r enlightened & have found the truth then we will be in heaven… but we are struck in the path & arguing about the path istead of the destination.& the fact is all of us whether its Hindu, Muslim, Christian, or follower of any god and goddess have the same distination or place where they want to be that is the heaven(our inner light, peace)….the way or the path which is shown by different masters doesnt matter…It is our choice or individuals choice which path tht person wants to follow or in which he/she is comfortable…….as per Countries, law & order etc..these are created by us the human being……..nature has not given us any boundary…….othr animals, birds etc doesnt follow this country boundary…….the faith, relegion is bigger then these boundaries….& hinduism, muslims religion, christianity etc is not the property of hindus, muslims or christians……….these are the faith & indivial has the right to choose wat he or she wants……nobody can question it..Its a very personal thing for individual…..it is too personal….ki how that person follows.If I find something which suits me in muslim religion & some in indu religion & some in christina then I will take all those from them & will incorporate…….nobody has the right on me to say that u cant do this becoz its for us muslims only..or Hindus only or Christians only…….? If those enlightened people also would have thaught abt tht as our forefather has asked us to pray this god only we would do this…then they wouldnt have strived for truth…all the new religion or path which has come becoz they went to follow their own heart & their inner self…….
@Anis and Kafir:
Anis: “As far as destroying bamian structure is concerned, I do agree Taliban were a bit over zealous. I cannot comment on their act as it was their land their law……I don’t see there were many followers of that statue in Afghanistan. “.
Kafir: “Anis, please cut the CRAP and learn to acknowledge a wrong doing than to gloss over it. And don’t whine when non-Muslims get “a bit overzealousâ€?.
I entirely agree with kafir.
Distinguishing between demolisher s of Bamiyaan Buddha and demolisher s of Babri mosque is plain dishonest. Both belong to the same breed of fanatics. Their place is not in mosques or temples but in the dustbins of history.
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