ahl ul-Bayt Enclave (Graves of ahl-ul Bayt Enclave)

By the Editors of the Madain Project

The "ahl ul-Bayt enclave" (مرقد أهل البيت) refers to a historically significant section within the larger Jannat al-Baqi, the historic Islamic cemetery located in Madinah, Saudi Arabia. It is an octagonal wall enclosure where according to Islamic tradition, a few of the ahl ul-Bayt (members of Prophet Muhammad's family) are believed to be buried.

Overview

Aerial view of the ahl ul-Bayt graves enclave in in Baqi ul-Gharqad from south-western flank. The enclave is located a towards the north-east a few yards from the main western entrance. The graves of ahl al-Bayt are located some 250 meters east of the prophet Muhammad's Tomb. The octagonal enclosure around the graves is a remnant of Ottoman period domed-mausoleum. Within the enclosure, the four graves of the Imams are arranged side by side as a single group, while the graves of Fatima bint Muhammad and Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib are sequestered separately within the same space. This area, however, is now cordoned off and inaccessible to visitors or pilgrims.

This enclave includes the graves of

  • Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib (aternal uncle and sahabi of prophet Muhammad)
  • Fatima bint Asad (wife of abu Talib and the mother of Ali ibn Abi Talib)
  • Imam Jaffar Sadiq
  • Imam Muhammad Baqir
  • Imam Zain ul-'Abideen
  • Imam Hassan ibn 'Ali ibn abi Talib
  • Fatima bint Muhammad (according to a few traditions, this however is unlikely since the original location of her grave is not definitely known from historical sources)

Aerial view of ahl ul-Bayt Graves Enclave

Interments

circa 650 CE

The Grave of 'Abbas ibn 'abd ul-Muttalib

'Abbas ibn 'Abdul Muttalib
The single grave on the left is the grave of 'Abbas ibn 'Abdul Muttalib, paternal uncle of Prophet Muhammad. The single one to the north (right) of the enclave is the grave of Fatima, separate from the other graves. She was the first person from Ahl al-Bayt (Household of prophet Muhammad) buried in this cemetery.

circa 650 CE

ahl ul-Bayt Graves

Others
View, looking north-west, of the ahl ul-Bayt graves enclave in the Janant ul-Baqi cemetery. The group or cluster of graves to the right belongs to the four Imams from foreground to background; Jaffar al-Sadiq, Imam Muhammad al-Baqir, Imam Zain ul-'Abideen, and Imam Hassan ibn 'Ali. Today these four graves are assimilated together as such, that they seem like a single structure with four headstones or grave markers. The single grave to the left belongs to Abbas ibn Abdul Muttalib.

Ottoman Era Mausoleum

circa 650 CE

Originally a mausoleum was built over the graves of ahl al-Bayt during the Ottoman period, it was demolised circa 1810 CE and follwing the reconstruction in the mid-19th century CE, was destroyed again in the 1925 or 1926 demolitions as part of a broader ideological effort by the emerging Saudi state to eliminate tomb veneration practices considered un-Islamic. During these demolitions, the constructions (domes, mausoleums and tombs) built over some 7,000 graves were destroyed, who were said to have ties or belonged to the period of prophet Muhammad.

Although the site remains austere and unmarked under Saudi religious policy, it continues to carry deep symbolic weight for Muslims globally—especially Shia communities. The destruction of the original mausolea is commemorated as a loss of religious heritage, and the enclave remains a focus of mourning and protest by some Muslims.

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References

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