save muslim heritage campaign - Shia Professionals of London

SAVE MUSLIM HERITAGE
CAMPAIGN
REPORT ON THE DESECRATION OF THE GRAVE: HUJR IBN ADI
REPORT BY: ZAHRA KAZMI, ALI BOKHARI AND SAARAH BOKHARI
MAY 2013
Save Muslim Heritage Campaign
E: [email protected] F: facebook.com/savemuslimheritage
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Abstract
Everybody deserves dignity and respect in life and death.
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On May 2 2013, a group named Jubhatul Nusra, identified as a terrorist organisation by the United States of America ,
desecrated the grave of Hujr ibn Adi in Damascus, Syria. The perpetrators attempted to exhume his body; fortunately no
body was recovered from the site.
Irrespective of sectarian differences in Islam, Hujr ibn Adi is a revered personality to all. He is a companion of Prophet
Muhammad and thus his grave desecration has caused shock and outrage across the Muslim world.
Sufficient media evidence has been published internationally reporting the desecration of the grave of Hujr Ibn Adi.
These recent events have initiated a campaign, Save Muslim Heritage , to voice and escalate the UK Muslim community s
condemnation to the Government. The Save Muslim Heritage campaign is focusing on the inhumane aspect of the
actions taken by the Syrian militia.
The objective is for the Government to condemn the destruction of any Islamic heritage, particularly any attempts to
exhume graves occurring in and around Syria, regardless of the political situation. We also request the Government to
advocate on behalf of the UK Muslims concerns at appropriate International platform(s).
The aim is for the protection of Islamic heritage for our future generations.
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Universal Muslim Association of America, The Desecration of The Grave of Hujr Ibn Adi, Washington D.C., UMAA: 2013.
http://www.umaamerica.net/
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Introduction
Hujr Ibn Adi was a significant and revered companion of the Holy Prophet Mohammad and fourth Muslim Caliph Ali son of
Abi Talib. He was renowned to be a devout man of piety, a man who had great insight and knowledge, and was trusted and
beloved to Prophet Mohammad. He also proved to be a great warrior at time of defense against injustice and tyranny. Due
to these unique characteristics he encompassed, he enjoyed an esteemed status in the Muslim community from the time
of Prophet Mohammad till present day.
Hujr ibn Adi has an honored position in the two prominent sects of Sunni and Shia. In his book, the renowned Sunni
scholar, Al-Isti'ab', b. Abd al-Bir al Maliki says: "Hujr was among the excellent Companions, and his age was less than their
old ones." Also another Sunni scholar, Al-Mustadrak', al-Hakim, has described him as: "the monk of the Companions of
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Muhammad, may God bless him and his family."
Hujr Ibn Adi was martyred in 660 CE at a time of immense internal Islamic political unrest after the death of Prophet
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Mohammad. Prior to the recent events of 2 May
, in which Hujr Ibn Adi s grave was desecrated, many Muslims
worldwide visited his shrine in Syria and paid their respect.
In Shia sources, the third Shia Imam, Hussain son of Ali, wrote a letter of condemnation to the people responsible for the
killing of Hujr ibn Adi, and stated: Hujr the brother of Kinda is the one of worshipping prayers who refused oppression and
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regarded heresies as great.
According to Ibn `Asakir, a Sunni narration, Ayesha, the wife of Prophet Mohammad condemned the killers of Hujr ibn Ad.
She narrates that the Prophet had prophesized the killing of Hujr ibn Adi, in a narration that states the people of the
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heavens will be angry at the killers of Hujr ibn Adi .
Desecration of the Grave of Hujr ibn Adi
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On 2 May 2013, a group named Jubhatal Nusra entered the shrine of Hujr ibn Adi in Adra, a suburb of Damascus, Syria.
They demolished the shrine with an explosion, and proceeded to dig the grave in an attempt to exhume the body.
Fortunately, no body was recovered.
A growing number of scholars from the two main denominations of Islam, Sunni and Shia have condemned this atrocious
and inhumane act.
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ABNAA, Hujr Ibn Adi al-Kindi The Great Martyr, Tehran, ABNAA: 2013. http://www.abna.ir/data.asp?lang=3&id=417401
Imam Reza.Net, Hujr Ibn Adi al-Kindi The Great Martyr , Mashad: 2013
http://www.imamreza.net/eng/imamreza.php?print=596
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Imam Reza.Net, Hujr Ibn Adi al-Kindi The Great Martyr , Mashad: 2013
http://www.imamreza.net/eng/imamreza.php?print=596
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Evidence of Incident
Pictorial Evidence of Desecration of Hujr Ibn Adi’s Grave
Published by AIM: http://www.aimislam.com/shrine-of-the-great-companion-hijr-ibn-adidestroyed-and-body-stolen/
https://www.facebook.com/syriansufirevolution
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Media Evidence of Desecration of Hujr Ibn Adi’s Grave
Published by AlAlam TV: http://en.alalam.ir/news/1471059
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/05/04/301739/larijani-raps-muslim-site-assault-in-syria/
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Additional Media Evidence of Desecration of Grave of Hujr Ibn Adi
Published By
Link
Council of European
Jamaats
http://www.coej.org/secretariat/statements/2639-hujr-bin-adi-al-kindistatement
Buratha News
http://www.burathanews.com/news_article_193222.html
Live Leak
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=2bb_1367522866
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/07/world/middleeast/iran-warns-syrianrebels-after-report-of-shrine-desecration.html
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Save Muslim Heritage Campaign
The desecration of the grave of Hujr ibn Adi has lead to the formation of the campaign: Save Muslim Heritage. A youth
group based in High Wycombe initiated the campaign in light of the desecration of the grave.
Founder: Zahra Kazmi
Co-Founders: Saarah Bokhari, Ali Bokhari
The aims of this campaign are as follows:
Local Aims:
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Muslim leaders within their own respective communities to condemn the incident.
Muslim and non Muslim community leaders and professionals to sign the written petition.
For the written petition to be presented to as many local MP s in the UK.
For local MP s to lobby Government and relevant official departments.
National Aims:
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To raise awareness of the incident through the means of social media.
Collectively voice the condemnation of the entire UK Muslim community, irrespective of sects.
For the Government to condemn the destruction of any Islamic heritage.
For the Government to advocate on behalf of the UK Muslims concerns at appropriate international platform(s).
To protect Islamic heritage for our future generations.
Action taken:
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Social media – Facebook, twitter.
Documentation produced for communities to be taken to local MP:
Dossier entailing evidence of the incident
Letter of petition to be signed by local community leaders.
E-petition to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Protection of Islamic heritage in Syria
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Bibliography
Internet sources:
ABNAA, Hujr Ibn Adi al-Kindi The Great Martyr, Tehran, ABNAA: 2013. http://www.abna.ir/data.asp?lang=3&id=417401
Last accessed: 15/05/2013
AIM, Shrine of the great companion Hijr ibn Adi destroyed and body reportedly exhumed, London: 2013 http://www.aimislam.com/shrineof-the-great-companion-hijr-ibn-adi-destroyed-and-body-stolen/
Last accessed: 15/05/2013
AlAlam TV, Al-Azhar slams desecration of holy site in Syria, Iran:2013: http://en.alalam.ir/news/1471059
Last accessed: 15/05/2013
BNA, New tragedy committed by criminals scavenging and vandalized the tomb stone Sahaabi bin Udai in Damascus, Iran: 2013
http://www.burathanews.com/news_article_193222.html
Last accessed:15/05/2013
COEJ, Desecration of shrine of Hujr bin Adi al Kindi: statement, London: 2013 http://www.coej.org/secretariat/statements/2639-hujr-binadi-al-kindi-statement
Last accessed: 15/05/2013
Facebook, The Syrian Sufi Revolution, Syria: 2013 https://www.facebook.com/syriansufirevolution
Last accessed: 15/05/2013
Imam Reza.Net, Hujr Ibn Adi al-Kindi The Great Martyr , Mashad: 2013 http://www.imamreza.net/eng/imamreza.php?print=596
Last accessed: 15/05/2013
Live Leak, Terrorists destroy the shrine of Hujr ibn Adi , a companion of the Prophet, near Damascus, USA: 2013
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=2bb_1367522866
Last accessed: 15/05/2013
NY Times, Iran Warns Syrian Rebels After Report of Shrine Desecration, New York: 2013
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/07/world/middleeast/iran-warns-syrian-rebels-after-report-of-shrine-desecration.html
Last accessed: 15/05/2013
Press TV, Iran’s Majlis speaker slams desecration of holy site in Syria, http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/05/04/301739/larijani-raps-muslimsite-assault-in-syria/
Last accessed: 15/05/2013
Universal Muslim Association of America, The Desecration of The Grave of Hujr Ibn Adi, Washington D.C., UMAA: 2013.
http://www.umaamerica.net/
Last accessed: 15/05/2013