Shawwal 8 Marks Poignant Anniversary of Al-Baqi Demolition as Shiites Worldwide Grieve

Shawwal 8 Marks Poignant Anniversary of Al-Baqi Demolition as Shiites Worldwide Grieve
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Shia Muslims across the world are marking the 8th of Shawwal with mourning ceremonies commemorating the destruction of the graves of the Imams of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) in the historic Al-Baqi Cemetery, an event widely regarded among Shia communities as a profound historical injustice.

More details in the following report:

Jannat al-Baqi, one of the most sacred burial sites in Islam, is the resting place of the Holy Prophet’s Household, including four Imams: Imam Hasan ibn Ali, Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn Zayn al-Abidin, Imam Muhammad al-Baqir, and Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (peace be upon them), as well as Sayyida Um-ul-Baneen (peace be upon her).

According to widely circulated historical accounts within Shia tradition, the site endured two major waves of destruction. The first occurred in 1805, when early Wahhabi forces demolished structures over the graves. These were later rebuilt during the era of the Ottoman Empire, restoring the sanctity and architectural dignity of the site.

However, in 1925, following the takeover of Medina by Wahhabi-aligned forces, the cemetery was again targeted. Domes, shrines, and historical markers were demolished, leaving the graves flattened and largely unmarked — an act Shia scholars and communities continue to condemn as a violation of Islamic heritage and respect for the Household of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his pure family).

Eyewitness descriptions from historical travelers recount how the once-distinctive white domes marking the graves disappeared, replaced by a barren landscape where the identities of those buried are no longer visibly honored.

Each year, followers of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) organize mourning gatherings, lectures, and commemorative rituals to keep alive the memory of what they describe as a historic oppression and to reaffirm their attachment to the legacy of the Holy Prophet’s family (peace be upon them).

In a statement marking the anniversary, Shia Waves Agency extended condolences to the global Muslim community — particularly followers of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) and religious authorities, particularly Grand Ayatullah Syed Sadiq al-Hussaini al-Shirazi — describing the demolition as a lasting wound in Islamic history.

The statement called for the reconstruction of Jannat Al-Baqi and emphasized that the continued neglect of the site represents not only a loss of historical heritage but also an affront to the sanctity owed to the Holy Prophet’s family. It urged the Muslim world to unite in preserving Islamic historical sites and restoring what it described as a legitimate right for honoring the Immaculate Imams.