Why is Saudi Arabia destroying ancient Islamic sites ?

[ronki23]

Saudi Arabia Bulldozes Over Its Heritage

 

[ronki23]

Destruction of early Islamic heritage sites in Saudi Arabia - Wikipedia

 

[mangalavara]

From what I remember reading not that long ago, the destruction of Islamic heritage sites in Saudi Arabia has as its basis the Wahhabi perspective that the veneration of those things is idolatrous. This is similar to how some Christians, especially here in the US, refuse to even display a cross because to them it is an 'idol.' Perhaps someone who knows more than us can inform us what is going on in Saudi?

 

[Subduction Zone]

Saudi Arabia Bulldozes Over Its Heritage

The last paragraph of the article is very telling:

"“The Saudis know the oil is going to run out,” he said. “Hajj is already their second major source of income, after oil. They look at Dubai, and Qatar, and ask ‘what are we going to do?’ And they say, ‘We have Hajj, and we’re going to exploit it to the max.'"

I'm going to Islamic Disneyland!!

At least that is what it looks like.

 

[ronki23]

From what I remember reading not that long ago, the destruction of Islamic heritage sites in Saudi Arabia has as its basis the Wahhabi perspective that the veneration of those things is idolatrous. This is similar to how some Christians, especially here in the US, refuse to even display a cross because to them it is an 'idol.' Perhaps someone who knows more than us can inform us what is going on in Saudi?

The last paragraph of the article is very telling:

"“The Saudis know the oil is going to run out,” he said. “Hajj is already their second major source of income, after oil. They look at Dubai, and Qatar, and ask ‘what are we going to do?’ And they say, ‘We have Hajj, and we’re going to exploit it to the max.'"

I'm going to Islamic Disneyland!!

At least that is what it looks like.

Preventing idolatry / maximising Hajj and Umrah is no excuse to destroy things like the houses and tombs of Muhammad's family. Correct me if I'm wrong but there are OTHER types of Sunnis let alone Shia that would be against this ?

 

[Shakeel]

Why are you bringing this topic up again? Smells like propaganda.

 

[danieldemol]

Why are you bringing this topic up again? Smells like propaganda.

Well the article was a bit old at 2014, but I dont see why it is propaganda to call for important historical sites to be preserved.

In my opinion.

 

[Shakeel]

Well the article was a bit old at 2014, but I dont see why it is propaganda to call for important historical sites to be preserved.

In my opinion.

It is the repeated posting of an article that is propaganda in itself.

And what is the actual complaint? That they built over some 300-year-old buildings? Is that a crime? Who cares? They're allowed to build what they want, aren't they? Do other countries preserve all their "historical" sites - i.e. old buildings?

There is nothing special about average mosques other than their use. So to destroy a building that has been used as a mosque is not destroying anything holy or a "religious site". Muslims shouldn't put importance to mosques due to when they were built or how. The whole earth is a masjid for Muslims.

As for the Prophets ﷺ grave, I don't think it should be in the mosque at all, though I don't see how it could be removed, if that's what they mean.

Then it complains about the birth place of the prophet ﷺ - what is the significance of that? Is it a place to pray and make special supplications? Should people venerate a spot on earth because the Prophet ﷺ was born there? Did he not specifically warn people:

"Narrated `Umar: I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, "Do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians praised the son of Mary, for I am only a Slave. So, call me the Slave of Allah and His Apostle."'

Or is their purpose to attract tourists?

The library is new anyway. It's just that the Prophet ﷺ was allegedly born in that spot of the earth. So are they now going to remove that spot altogether?

It then goes on to talk about wahabbism - not exactly surpsiring. What is wahabbism? Allegedly it is following Abd Al-Wahabb. But did he bring anything new to the table when it comes to Islamic doctrine? Nope. So what does it mean to follow him? Does it not equal following all those before him who held the same views? Are his views not based on the Qur'an and the authentic hadiths?

 

[ronki23]

It is the repeated posting of an article that is propaganda in itself.

And what is the actual complaint? That they built over some 300-year-old buildings? Is that a crime? Who cares? They're allowed to build what they want, aren't they? Do other countries preserve all their "historical" sites - i.e. old buildings?

There is nothing special about average mosques other than their use. So to destroy a building that has been used as a mosque is not destroying anything holy or a "religious site". Muslims shouldn't put importance to mosques due to when they were built or how. The whole earth is a masjid for Muslims.

As for the Prophets ﷺ grave, I don't think it should be in the mosque at all, though I don't see how it could be removed, if that's what they mean.

Then it complains about the birth place of the prophet ﷺ - what is the significance of that? Is it a place to pray and make special supplications? Should people venerate a spot on earth because the Prophet ﷺ was born there? Did he not specifically warn people:

"Narrated `Umar: I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, "Do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians praised the son of Mary, for I am only a Slave. So, call me the Slave of Allah and His Apostle."'

Or is their purpose to attract tourists?

The library is new anyway. It's just that the Prophet ﷺ was allegedly born in that spot of the earth. So are they now going to remove that spot altogether?

It then goes on to talk about wahabbism - not exactly surpsiring. What is wahabbism? Allegedly it is following Abd Al-Wahabb. But did he bring anything new to the table when it comes to Islamic doctrine? Nope. So what does it mean to follow him? Does it not equal following all those before him who held the same views? Are his views not based on the Qur'an and the authentic hadiths?

What about the tombs of Muhammad's family members and in-laws ?

What about their birthplace?

 

[Subduction Zone]

What about the tombs of Muhammad's family members and in-laws ?

What about their birthplace?

Unfortunately some people do not value history and think that no one else should either. I do not mind that much if some people ignore history. It is a problem when they try to enforce their beliefs upon others.

 

[danieldemol]

Unfortunately some people do not value history and think that no one else should either. I do not mind that much if some people ignore history. It is a problem when they try to enforce their beliefs upon others.

The problem is ignoring history can be intertwined with forcing their beliefs.

Have a narrative that the original Muslims did not venerate the tomb of the Prophet and desire to enforce non-veneration? No problem, just demolish any evidence of what the original Muslims did at the site of the tomb and your hadith appears to become historical regardless of what the actual evidence may have said. (I don't know if early Muslims venerated the tomb etc but the point is we can't know if the archaeological evidence is destroyed).

In my opinion.