Kargil, April 29: The Imam Khomeini Memorial Trust (IKMT) in Kargil organized a protest to mourn the demolition of the Graves of Ahlulbayt in Jannatul Baqi by the Al-Saud dynasty. During the gathering, Haji Asgar Ali Karbalai, a member of the Guardian Council IKMT, delivered a speech about the historical background of the event. Presenting here is some excerpts from the speech.

In the name of Allah the most beneficent the most merciful.

On 08 Shawal 1344 Hijri, in the land of Hijaz, where Allah’s revelations were received and where angels descended, a regime that sought to eradicate the values associated with the Ahlulbait named al-Saud clan came to power. Mohammad Bin Saud, a member of the al-Saud clan, seized control over Dariya and gradually extended his power over Najd and other surrounding territories.

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In the year 1220 Hijri, the Al-Saud launched an attack on the holy shrines in Jannatal Baqi, looting valuable items from the harams of Imams. Their destructive campaign continued in 1227 when they invaded Karbala, looting precious artifacts and taking the lives of 2500 innocent people. Their attempts to move towards the holy city of Najaf were thwarted, and they were forced to retreat after losing in a battle. At that time, Makkah and Madinah were under the control of the Ottoman Empire, who eventually reconstructed the tombs. Britain formed an alliance with Saudi Arabia, as the Al Saud were known for their hostility towards Muslims, particularly the Ahlulbait. Under the guise of Islam, the British encouraged the Al Saud to continue their anti-Islamic mission, and they welcomed Mohammad Bin Wahab into their ranks.

The Al-Saud, along with Muhammad bin Wahab and the assistance of Britain, made attempts to introduce innovations in Islam, which gradually spread to other Muslim-populated regions. They even had control over the Qazi of Madina, using him as a puppet to call for the demolition of holy shrines, labeling them as places of idol worship. As a result, the people of Madina protested and were faced with a blockade and sanctions for two and a half years. Borders were closed, preventing even the import of essential food items. Eventually, Jannat al Baqi, where the Prophet’s companions, wives, Imam Hassan al-Mujtaba, Imam Zainul Abedin, Imam Muhammad Baqir, and Imam Muhammad Sadiq are buried, was brought to the ground.

The grief, sorrow, and suffering inflicted upon Prophet Mohammed, the last Prophet of Islam, were much greater and more intense than those experienced by all the other Prophets from Adam to the end. However, the Prophet brought people from ignorance and humility towards enlightenment and dignity. In return for all his contributions to mankind, the Prophet only asked for love, respect, and affection towards his progeny. Allah says that He and His Angels send salawat (supplication) on Muhammad and his “Aal” and ask humans to do the same and completely surrender themselves to the Prophet and his Aal, progeny. However, Muslims have omitted the progeny from the Salawat. The Al-Saud and Al-Sheikh (Mohammad bin Wahab) engaged in a witch-hunt to erase the name of Mohammed and Aal Muhammad from the face of the earth. One such attempt was made on 8 Shawal 1344 Hijri. Today, the 100th anniversary of this demolition is being marked.

The lovers and followers of Mohammad and Aal Muhammad are shedding tears of blood for the tragedy that occurred on 8 Shawal 1344 Hijri. Despite the efforts of the seminaries of Najaf and Qom, led by Abul Hassan Isfahani and Abdul Karim Hairi Shirazi, nothing significant was achieved, and the sorrowful incident has now completed 100 years of demolition. The dynasty that emerged from Najd, however, renamed the holy land of the Prophet and ascribed their own ancestor’s name, Saudi Arabia, erasing the name Hijaz from the minds of Muslims. Their goal was not only to eradicate the memory of the companions, family, and progeny of the Prophet but also to destroy the Haram of Prophet Mohammad himself. The Al-Saud and Muhammad bin Wahab believed that all other shrines are small idols and insignificant in comparison to the “biggest idol,” the Shrine of Prophet Mohammed. However, when they attempted to destroy the Haram of the Prophet, Muslims from across Asia and Africa stood up in resistance, compelling the Al-Saud to retreat.

History is repeating itself in our time as well. The descendants of Sufyani emerged from Syria and, with the help of some from Iraq, captured the city of Mosul and steadily expanded their territory. The United States, European countries, and Britain provided support to them. They combined their armed forces and Arab money to establish a new state between Syria and Iraq called the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq (ISIS). Just like the previous episode in Saudi Arabia, they held the flag of Islam and targeted the shrines of Ahlulbait and the companions of Prophet. However, their ultimate target is again Prophet Mohammed himself.

We must thank the Almighty Allah that the mission which started in 2000, manifested in 2011, and seized power in 2015 calling itself the “Islamic State of Iraq and Syria” (ISIS), was brought to an end by a person whose name is the soul of Allah (Ruhullah). He is the flag bearer of the Islamic Revolution and the Protector of the Haram of Ahlulbait, who formed an army and a community that resisted against the so-called powerful army whose mere name had terrified the world. If you still doubt these words, you can ask the pilgrims who have witnessed that who manage, control, and beautify the shrines of Ahlulbait.

God willing, the Muslim world has one fervent wish for the Iranian Nation: to reestablish and rebuild Jannat al-Baqi. The Saudis have now bowed to the Iranian Nation, seeking peace on Iran’s terms. The community that sacrificed their comfort, their loved ones, and their safety to protect the Haram of the Ahlulbait emerged victorious against their enemies on all fronts. By 2023, the Arab nations that had sought to overthrow Bashar al Assad in 2011 have one by one joined hands with him, acknowledging their mistake in attempting to remove him from power.

May Allah include us all among those who strive to protect the holy shrines and who seek to rebuild Jannat al-Baqi.