14. Baqi Gharqad

Al-Baqi

Al-Baqi’, as is confirmed by authentic Ahadith, means a place in which there are stumps of trees of many varieties, and it is written in Ad-Durruth-Thamin by Ash-Shanqiti: “Soft earth in which there are no rocks, and this type (of soil) is sought after by the people for use as graveyards. And in Al- Madinah Al-Munawwarah, there is much soil of this kind, such as Baqi’ Al-Khail, Baqi’ Az-Zubair and others, but this word has acquired the meaning of the graveyard of Al- Madinah Al-Munawwarah, which is situated to the east of the Prophet’s Mosque. It used to be separated from it by a large district, which was known as Harratul-Aghwat and

there were residing the servants of the Sacred Mosque. This district was evacuated for the purpose of expanding the Sacred Mosque of the Noble Prophet and its open areas. After this there was nothing in between the Sacred Mosque and Al-Baqi’ and this took place in the year 1405 AH.16[164]

✿The Virtue of Al-Baqi

The Ahadith concerning the virtue of Al-Baqi’ are numerous, and among these Ahadith is the narration of Muslim from the Hadith of ‘Aishah(رضی اللہ عنہا), who said that whenever it was her night with Allah’s Messenger(ﷺ), he would go out in the last part of the night to Al-Baqi’ and say

‏”‏السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ دَارَ قَوْمٍ مُؤْمِنِينَ وَأَتَاكُمْ مَا تُوعَدُونَ غَدًا مُؤَجَّلُونَ وَإِنَّا إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ بِكُمْ لاَحِقُونَ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لأَهْلِ .بَقِيعِ الْغَرْقَدِ‏”

 “Assalamu ‘alaikum, Dara Qawmin Mu’minin, wa atakum ma tu’adun ghadan mu’ajjalan, wa inna in sha’ Allahu bikum lahiqun; Allahummaghfir li ahli Baqi’il Gharqad.”

(May the Peace of Allah be upon you, O abode of the believing people. What was promised to come to you tomorrow has come to you after some delay and we, if Allah wills, shall follow you; O Allah! Forgive the people of Al-Gharqad Cemetery).[165]

And from the Hadith of ‘Aishah(رضی اللہ عنہا): When it was his turn for Allah’s Messenger(ﷺ) to spend the night with me, he turned on his side, put on his mantle and took off his shoes and placed them near his feet, and spread the corner of his shawl on his bed and then lay down till he thought that I had gone to sleep. 

[164:Ad-Durruth-Thamin (p. 110)].

[165:”Muslim (974) and Ibn Hibban (3172).]

He took hold of his mantle slowly and put on the shoes slowly, and opened the door and went out and then closed it lightly. I covered my head, put on my veil and tightened my waist wrapper, and then went out following his steps till he reached Al-Baqi’. He stood there and he remained standing for a long time. He then lifted his hands three times, and then returned and I also returned. He hastened his steps and I also hastened my steps. He ran and I too ran. He came (to the house) and I also came (to the house). I, however, preceded him and I entered (the house), and as I lay down in the bed, he entered the (house) and said: “Why is it, O ‘Aishah, that you are out of breath?” I said: “It is nothing.” He said: “Tell me or the Most Kind and Courteous, the All-Knowing will inform me.” I said: “O Messenger of Allah! May my father and mother be sacrificed for you,” and then I told him (the whole story). He said: “So, you were the shadow that I saw in front of me?” I said: “Yes.” He pushed me on the chest which caused me pain, and then said: “Did you think that Allah and His Messenger would deal unjustly with you?” I said: “Whatsoever the people conceal, Allâh the Almighty, the All-Powerful will know it.” He said: “Jibril(علیہ السلام) came to me when you saw me. He called me and he concealed it from you. I responded to his call, but I too concealed it from you (for he did not come to you), as you were not fully dressed. I thought that you had gone to sleep, and I did not like to awaken you, fearing that you may be frightened. He (Jibril) said: ‘Your Lord has commanded you to go to the inhabitants of Al-Baqi’ and ask forgiveness for them.”” I said: “O Messenger of Allah! How should I pray for them?” He told to say

السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ أَهْلِ الدِّيَارِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمِينَ وَيَرْحَمُ اللَّهُ الْمُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنَّا وَالْمُسْتَأْخِرِينَ وَإِنَّا إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ بِكُمْ لَلاَحِقُونَ ‏”‏

“As-Salamu ‘ala ahlid-dar minal-Mu’minina wal- Muslimin, wa yarhamullahul-mustaqdimina minna wal-musta’khirina wa inna in sha’ Allahu bikumul- lahiqun.”

(May the Peace of Allah be upon the inhabitants of this abode (i.e., the graveyard) from the believers and the Muslims, and may Allah have mercy on those who have gone ahead of us, and those who come later on, and we shall, Allah willing, follow you.)[166]

Ibn ‘Umar(رضي الله عنه) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)said:

“I am the first one for whom the earth will be cleft, then Abu Bakr, then ‘Umar, then the inhabitans of Al-Baqi’ and they will be gathered with me, then I will await the people of Makkah between the two Holy Mosques.[167]

And ten thousand of the Companions(رضي الله عنهم) were buried in Al- Baqi’ and therein are buried from among the children of the Prophet(ﷺ) : Fatimah Az-Zahra’, Ruqaiyah, Umm Kulthum, Zainab and Ibrahim-may Allah be pleased with all of them. And it is not known exactly which of the Companions are buried there, except some of the Salaf and their families.

[166:Muslim (974) and An-Nasa’i (2039).]

[167:At-Tirmidhi (3692) and Al-Hakim (2/465).]

✿Expansion of Al-Baqi’ During the Saudi Era

The First Expansion

Al-Baqi’ has been expanded twice during the Saudi era: The first expansion took place during the rule of King Faisal bin ‘Abdul-‘Aziz may Allah rest him in peace when he incorporated Al-Baqi’ Al-Gharqad (5,929 sq. meters) which is comprised of Al-Baqi’ Al-‘Ammat (3,493 sq. meters) and Az-Zuqaq, which is between Al-Baqi’ Al-‘Ammat and Al- Baqi’ Al-Gharqad and whose area is 824 sq. meters and a triangle of land which lay to the north of Al-Baqi’, whose area is 1,612 sq. meters. And the graveyard was surrounded by a concrete wall and cement paths were laid inside it in order to facilitate the movement of the people for burials on days when it rains.

The Second Expansion

And during the reign of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, limited areas were added to Al-Baqi’, making the total area after the expansion 174, 962 sq. meters and it was surrounded by a wall whose height is 4 meters and whose length is 1,724 meters, which was covered in marble and it is composed of arches and squares whose spaces are filled with black metal grills and a main gate and slanted suitable entrances were built.[168]

[168:Buyut As-Sahabah (p. 169).]

REFERENCE:

Book: “History of Madina Munawwarah”

Prepared by a group of Scholars  under the supervision of  Shaikh Safir ur Rahman Mubarak puri. (Darussalam)