Grand Ayatollah Shirazi Calls for Renewed Effort to Rebuild Graves at Jannat al‑Baqi’
Grand Ayatollah Shirazi Calls for Renewed Effort to Rebuild Graves at Jannat al‑Baqi’
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Senior Shia religious authority Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq al‑Husayni al‑Shirazi has reiterated his condemnation of the destruction of the historic graves of the Imams and other revered figures at Jannat al‑Baqi’ cemetery in al‑Madinah al‑Munawwarah, emphasizing that Muslims should not lose hope in seeking their reconstruction.
In remarks published on his official website, Grand Ayatollah al‑Shirazi described the demolition of the graves over a century ago by Wahhabi‑aligned forces as a profound affront not only to the family of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his pure family), but to Islam as a whole. He referred to the demolition, which took place on the eighth of Shawwal more than 100 years ago, as “a great humiliation” inflicted upon the Holy Prophet, his Pure Household, and the Qur’an.
The Supreme Marja urged believers to work toward ending what he called this “great insult” by restoring the sacred tombs, encouraging Shia Muslims and all concerned Christians and Muslims around the world to persist in demanding the rebuilding of these shrines. He stressed that adherents should maintain hope that this significant honour could be realized “by the hands of the faithful” with divine support.
“We should not despair in calling for the reinstatement of the graves of al‑Baqi’, but rather maintain hope that the efforts of those before us and our own endeavours will be fulfilled in our time and through our actions,” he said, noting that if believers do not pursue the goal, others might achieve it.
Grand Ayatollah Shirazi has frequently called on the global Muslim community to observe a “World Day for al‑Baqi’”, asserting that it is a religious duty to raise awareness of the historic injustice and the suffering inflicted on one of Islam’s most sacred sites.
