Reply to the British "Independent" Newspaper about allegations of transferring the tomb of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

Praise be to Allah, and peace be upon His Prophet.

With reference to the alleged claims of the British "Independent" Newspaper in its edition issued in the first of September 2014 entitled: (Saudis risk new Muslim division with proposal to move Mohamed's tomb) in which it promoted some claims about transferring the tomb of Prophet Muhammad from its place to unknown place!

In fact these allegations include lying, falsehood, and deception, and the issue of moving the Prophet's tomb was raised only to promote incitement; may souls and properties be ransomed for him. It is obvious that the Newspaper is trying to slander the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the incubator and the server of the two Sacred Mosques as well as to slander the scholars of the Kingdom in particular and Muslims in general which will arouse seditions and disagreement among Muslims.

In order to refute these allegations and in response to these falsehoods which violate the professional standards of responsible journalism, I say:

1- The "Independent" Newspaper deliberately intended to spread false information about the transfer of the Prophet's tomb from its place. It practiced deception and lying by attributing this claim to a Saudi academian in Al Imam University. I have briefed the research referred to, and I found that it did not tackle the issue of the Prophetic chamber either by demolish or transfer, and there was no suggestion to transfer the tomb of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Consequnelty, I was sure that the Newspaper has spread false information and mere lying in a try to slander the kingdom.

2- The "Independent" Newspaper sought the help of a researcher whose name was `Irfan `Alawy and claimed that he was the director of the Islamic Heritage Foundation in London, who is known with his opposition to the expansion and new constructions of the Two Sacred Mosques. That person has already practiced his lying and deception before but this time, he invented the idea of transferring the body of the Prophet (peace be upon him), knowing the sensitivity of this issue to all Muslims, and attributed the idea to an academian at Al Imam University despite the fact that his research mentioned nothing about this issue.

3- The expansion referred to in the research was related to the Southern side of the Prophetic Mosque not the chamber of the Prophet, and specifically he pointed to the southern wall of the Mosque known as the wall of `Uthman Al Majidi. The researcher has stated another suggestion but the issue was closed after the decision of the Senior Scientists Body that the expected expansion shall be in the northern side in case of horizontal expansion, or through an upper floor as is followed in Al Masjid Al Haram where the old Mosque shall remain the main and the head of the old and the new mosque including its expansion.

4- It should be known that the place where the Prophet (peace be upon him) was buried is the place which Allah chose for burying the Prophet (peace be upon him), and that dignified tomb is guarded by Allah's Protection, and no one can ever be able to transfer or do anything badly with it even if humans and jinns are gathered to do so. The Prophetic tomb contains the fresh body of the Prophet (peace be upon him) because the bodies of Prophets do not wear out, decomposed, or become bones as the British Newspaper claimed.

The Messenger of Allah as well as all Prophets are living a special life after death as Allah said about martyres who have less degree than Prophets: "Think not of those who are killed in the Way of Allâh as dead. Nay, they are alive, with their Lord, and they have provision." [Surat Al `Imran: 169]. So, no doubt that Prophets have a special life that is more honorable, and is only known to Allah.

It was authentically reported on the authority of `A'ishah, the Mother of the Believes, that she said: "After the demise of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), a disagreement arose (between the Companions) regarding the burial. (Some preferred Al Masjid An-Nabawi. Some because of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)'s attachment to the Companions, said the Baqi`. Some said he should be buried next to his great grandfather, Abraham (peace be upon him). Some said at his birthplace Makkah Mukarramah. etc.) Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) thereupon said: 'I heard something from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) which I did not forget (and remember very well). The death of Prophets occurs in the very place where their burial is desired. Hence bury the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) at the place of his deathbed (where his death occurred).'"

It was authentically reported on the authority of Aws ibn Aws (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Allah (Exalted and glorified be He) has prohibited the earth from consuming the bodies of Prophets." [Reported by Imam Ahmad and others, and Ibn Khuzaymah and Ibn Hibban ranked it as authentic].

Thanks to Allah, Muslims revere and respect the Prophet's tomb but they do not worship it because of the blessing of the Prophet's invocation and his sound instructions to his nation. It was authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "O Allah! Do not make my grave an idol that is worshipped. Indeed, Allah cursed a group of people who took the graves of their Prophets as places of worship." [Reported by Malik and Ahmad].

Shaykh Al Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) said: Allah has responded to the invocation of His Prophet where his grave has not been taken as a place of worship, moreover no one is able to enter his chamber after it had been built. During the life of `A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) no one was given access to enter the chamber to do something forbidden, then the chamber was sealed until it was attached to the current Masjid, hence the door was blocked and another wall was built to protect the chamber. All these were done to protect the honorable tomb from mess up or establishing festivals at his chamber or his grave is worshipped besides Allah. The honorable tomb is covered by thick sand not covered by wood, stones, or clay as other graves are covered. The Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade raising his grave to kill sedition, therefore Allah protected his nation from error and protected his tomb from being worshipped.

5- It is known and confirmed in the history of the Two Sacred Mosques since their enterance under the authority of the Saudi state and during three centuries that they have recieved all care and tender from the Saudi rulers who were honored by expanding and serving the Two Sacred Mosques in all fields according to a Shari`ah way that was explained by the callers to Allah. These efforts have started since the first Saudi state: (1157 - 1233 AH / 1744 - 1818 AD) then the second Saudi state: (1240 - 1309 AH / 1824 - 1891 AD) during which King `Abdul-Aziz bin Abdul-Rahman Al-Faisal (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) untied the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and until now.

Kings of Saudi Arabia inherited that honor one after another until the time of the current Guardian of the Two Sacred Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdul-Aziz. During his rule, the Two Sacred Mosques have witnessed the biggest expansion in their history. The Saudi government treats both Makkah and Medina with great interest and care, particulary the Prophetic chamber.

The observer of the Kingdom way finds out that it worked hard to protect the Two Sacred Mosques from anything that may violate their sanctity and sacredness, moreover it did not oblige the visitors to follow a certain juristic view, but it opened the gate for them to follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) according to the four leaders of Fiqh schools: Abu Hanifah, Malik, Shafi`y, and Ahmad ibn Hanbal (may Allah bestow mercy on their souls).

6- The Newspaper could have followed the path of honesty and objectivity by asking for an explanation from the Presidency Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque in Saudi Arabia or from the Saudi embassy in London, but it violated the journalistic work and the professional bases and chose to publish false information at the tongue of Andrew Johnson (a journalist) whose report carried lying and deception concerning a great matter that is connected with Muslims' emotions worldwide and caused great discomfort to them, in addition to his slander to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Independent Newspaper should offer an apology and pull back these allegations, clarify the truth, and apologize to the Kingdom and to all Muslims worldwide.

As for the Saudi government, it should sue "The Independent" Newspaper to compel an apology for the kingdom and for Muslims worldwide, to clarify the truth from its original sources, and to negate all alleged claims.

The "Independent" should know that a free press does not mean lying and deception, and exploiting the issue of the Prophet's tomb for the purpose of journalistic excitement is unacceptable to all Muslims.

We ask Allah, Almighty, to protect and guard the security and stability of our dear country, as we ask Him to support the Custodian of the Two Sacred Mosques and his government to offer more services and care to the Two Sacred Mosques and the service of Islam and Muslims. We ask Allah to help Muslims to act according to His Book and the Sunnah of His Prophet (peace be upon him), and to protect all of us from all trials, separation, and differences. May Allah send peace and blessings upon His Prophet (peace be upon him).

Riyadh 11/11/1435 AH.