Dr. Abdullah Omar Nasseef
On Removal of Prophet’s (pbuh) Body
Dr. Mozammel Haque
“Saudis
risk new Muslim division with proposal to move Mohamed’s tomb” written by
Andrew Johnson published in The Independent on 01 September 2014. In
that article, it was mentioned, “One of Islam’s most
revered holy sites – the tomb of the Prophet Mohamed – could be destroyed and
his body removed to an anonymous grave under plans which threaten to spark
discord across the Muslim world.
“The controversial proposals are part of a consultation
document by a leading Saudi academic which has been circulated among the
supervisors of al-Masjid al-Nabawi mosque in Medina, where the remains of the
Prophet are housed under the Green Dome, visited by millions of pilgrims and
venerated as Islam’s second-holiest site. The formal custodian of the mosque is
Saudi Arabia’s ageing monarch King Abdullah. The plans, brought to light by
another Saudi academic who has exposed and criticised the destruction of holy
places and artefacts in Mecca – the holiest site in the Muslim world – call for
the destruction of chambers around the Prophet’s grave which are particularly
venerated by Shia Muslims.” (The Independent, 1 September 2014)
This
news spreads like wildfire and actually created a confusion and mistrust among
the general public. This news was published in The Independent about the
removal of the Prophet’s body from Masjid-e-Nabawi and taken it to other
places. This news created a big problem worldwide. I was interviewed by Channel
S, London, on this subject and whatever I understand I gave them the
information which was correct to me to defuse the rumours. I also placed on my
website www.islamicmonitor.blogspot
immediately on 4th of September; the official statement came out
from the Al-Haramain Official departments refuting the rumours. Still I was
trying to understand the real situation. Because it is a very sensitive issue
for the Muslims specially at a time when Muslims throughout the world are going
to Makkah to perform Hajj. People believed that a proper time was chosen to
highlight a topic which will create chaos and confusion among the Muslim
community.
However,
I found a most respectable person who is not only an academic, educationalist,
scientist but also a former Secretary General of the Makkah-based Muslim World
League and former President of the Jeddah-based King Abdulaziz University. He
is none other than Dr. Abdullah Omar Nasseef who is well-known and respected
throughout the world. He was passing through the United Kingdom. I met him and
enquired from him: “What do you think about this whole episode about the
removal of the Prophet’s body? This is very important because this rumour was
denied by the Saudi authorities.
Dr.
Nasseef said, “Everybody knows that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is
respected by everybody and this is part of Islam that we respect the Prophet
peace be upon him); to follow him properly and listen to him exactly as it was
mentioned by him in our lives; so our lives are dependent on adhering to
Sunnah, adhering to his sayings and instructions.”
“But
this matter of the removal of the Prophet’s body has been exaggerated by the
press because somebody wrote a thesis that at the time of the Prophet (peace be
upon him) after his death, the tomb and the chambers of his wife were outside
the Mosque; When Abdul Malik ibn Marwan said to enlarge the mosque; he added
the southern border of the Masjid with three or four lines of Salah so it
became that the tomb instead of being outside came inside and became part of
the mosque; people prayed surrounding the mosque; he was mentioning that I don’t think he has suggested anything; but he
was favouring that we should bring the sufuf of the salah wherever it was originally
at the time of Sahabah, the companions, peace and mercy be upon them,” Dr.
Nasseef explained. .
Dr.
Nasseef emphasized, “So the people exaggerated. Nobody talk about the body;
taking the body but only removing the prayers of chambers. But whatever the
suggestion was there, that was a personal argument; somebody mentioned that and
the king was so angry he said this person deserved to be executed because he is
creating fitnah.”
“When
such person spoke last time, King Khaled bin Abdulaziz said this fellow
deserved to be executed because he is creating fitnah,” Dr. Nasseef mentioned
and added, “I think this time the matter
is also exaggerated by the press We should tell the people that nothing is
taking place.”
While
replying to my question: “do you think there was or is any Ulema or government
officials thinking about this,” Dr. Nasseef said, “Never happened like this.
Never such thing was brought in by any group or ulema or jurisprudence council.
It has never been mentioned.
Dr.
Nasseef had been Secretary General of the Muslim World League for two terms,
i.e. for more than 10 years and then deputy chairman of the Shoura Council of
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I put this question to him, “have you heard any
discussion about this during that period?” Dr. Nasseef said, “This matter has
never been brought up.”
Visits
After
Ramadan Dr. Nasseef went to Slovenia for the International Scouts Conference.
There were two functions in Slovenia: for the International Union of Islamic
Scouts. Generally, it meets every three year. Dr. Nasseef was the chairman of
the International Union of Muslim Scouts and he is still the chairman. There is
international Scouts conference every three years. “We finished in one day and
then the second day the 40th International Scouts Conference was
held. The business and other activities were as usual,” Dr. Nasseef mentioned
and added, “The function I went; it was very good; there were two/three
sessions during that conference.”
Dr.
Nasseef also mentioned about the Messenger of Peace. He said, “Three years ago King
Abdullah said these scouts are the Messengers of Peace. This matter was taken
by the Scouts Foundation to have programmes creating the awareness among the
youth that Council of Messenger of Peace so that they can work harder and
produce well community development programme. So this was emphasized in this International
Scouts Conference.”
Dr.
Nasseef then went to UAE. It was in Ramadan. “The organiser wanted to create a Council
of Muslim Scholars but still the matter was in the beginning. Nothing has been
done. Scholars of wisdom and understanding. But nothing has been done yet. It
was a discussion only for one day,” Dr. Nasseef mentioned about his visit to
UAE.
This
September Dr. Nasseef came to the United Kingdom to attend two Board of
Trustees meeting, the meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Cambridge-based
Islamic Academy and the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies. He is the chairman
of both these educational organisations.
Islamic Academy
On
15th of September, 2014, Dr. Nasseef met the Board of Trustees meeting
of The Islamic Academy in London and discussed about the activities and future
programme of the Academy.
Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies (OXCIS)
In
Oxford, before the Board of Trustees meeting there was academic committee and
the building and planning and strategic committees. They discussed the normal
issues, how the future of the centre, when we can finish the building and the
opening of the new sites and the other things were under the discussion. The
official opening date is 26th 2016 but before that scholars and students
will occupy the premises.
The
Centre promotes multi-disciplinary teaching, research and publication at Oxford
related to Muslim culture and civilization. Its Fellows teach in a range of
faculties across the University of Oxford. Through its international outreach,
and links with academic institutions worldwide, the Centre provides a meeting
place for scholars studying all aspects of contemporary Muslim societies.
The
Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies (OCIS) is a Recognised Independent Centre of
the University of Oxford, founded in 1985. HRH Prince Charles, The Prince of
Wales, the Centre’s patron, has been enthusiastic supporter since its
foundation in 1985. He has twice delivered lectures at the Centre and visited
the 3.25 acre site where building work on its new home began work in 2002.
Prince Charles took a prominent part in the design of the Islamic garden.
Background of the foundation of the Centre
The
Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies was set up in 1985 when Dr. Naseef was the
Secretary General of the Makkah-based Rabita Al-Alam Al-Islami (Muslim
World League). Late Maulana Hassan Nadwi was the first chairman of the Centre’s
Board of Trustees and Dr. Naseef was a member of the Board along with others.
I
had the opportunity to meet Dr. Naseef who has been associated with the Oxford
Centre from the very beginning and a great supporter of the Centre. In the
beginning Dr. Naseef was a member of the Board of Trustees; then he became the
vice-chairman and now chairman. Recollecting those days, Dr. Naseef said, “When
I was Secretary General of the Rabita, Dr. Farhan Nizami came with a big
ambitious project. Alhamdo lillah, it came through and it was a big
dream for him and for us. It’s a blessing of Allah the Almighty. He had made it
to come through.”
“Maulana
Hasan Nadwi came to visit Rabita, the first chairman and then met the Late King
Fahd and told him about the centre that this is the centre in the heart of
colleges in Oxford. Historically, it is very important and the Late King Fahd
gave the support, Alhamdo Lillah,” Dr. Naseef said.
East-West University in Chicago
Dr.
Nasseef was supposed to meet the President and other members of Chicago-based East
West University who was supposed to come to talk about the new Tower building of
the University.
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