Considering where we are right now at Maqbara Al Malawi, have you ever paused to think about final resting places? This is more than just a cemetery. It is a place of profound historical and religious significance. It is also known as the Cemetery of Ma’la. Some even call it Al-Hajun.
Maqbara Al Malawi is located north of Al-Masjid Al-Haram. It is near the Mosque of the Jinn in Mecca. This is where some of Islam’s most important figures rest. They include Prophet Muhammad’s wife Khadijah and his grandfather Abd al-Muttalib.
Before Muhammad’s Hijrah in 622, many of his relatives were buried here. Over the years, people built domes and structures over known graves. However, in 1925, Saudi King Ibn Saud demolished these tombs. This aligns with the Wahabi tradition of Sunni Islam. They forbid building shrines over graves. They do not want any saint or dead person to be taken for worship. This act sparked protests from the international Shia community. Some Shiites still mourn the demolition of shrines in Al-Baqi. They call it Yaum-e Gham or “Day of Sorrow”.
Among the notable people interred at Maqbara Al Malawi is Khadijah. She was the wife of Muhammad and mother of Zainab, Fatimah, Ruqayya, and Umm Kulthum. Qasim ibn Muhammad, the first son of Muhammad and Khadijah, is also buried here. Others include Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib, Muhammad’s uncle and father of Ali. Abd Manaf, the great-great-grandfather of Muhammad and Ali, rests here as well. Asma bint Abu Bakr, a companion of Muhammad and mother of Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr, is also here. Abdullah ibn Zubair, another companion and nephew of Aisha, is buried in Maqbara Al Malawi.
Several notable scholars and Mashaikh are also buried here. Al-Mansur, the second Abbasid Caliph and founder of Baghdad, is one example. Rahmatullah Kairanwi, a 19th-century Indian Sunni Muslim scholar is another. He authored Izhar ul-Haqq. Imdadullah Muhajir Makki, another 19th-century Indian Muslim scholar is here too. Mulla Ali Qari Herawi, a Sunni scholar of Tafseer Quran, Fiqh, Theology, and Arabic Language, also rests here. Ahmad Mashhur al-Haddad, a Sunni scholar prominent in Yemen, Africa, and Saudi Arabia, is buried here. Sheikh Ismail Mahamud Cigaal, a Sunni Scholar prominent in Somalia and East Africa, also found his final resting place here.
Maqbara Al Malawi stands as a silent witness to centuries of history. It reflects the evolution of Islamic traditions and beliefs. While the cemetery has seen changes and faced challenges, it remains a significant site. It connects us to the early days of Islam. It reminds us of the lives and legacies of those who shaped its history. Take a moment to reflect on the stories held within this sacred ground. Remember the people who rest here. Consider their contributions to Islam and the world. Maqbara Al Malawi is a testament to faith, history, and remembrance.