The Saudi government established an institute named “ Institute of Islamic Heritage and Proofs,” this department had the responsibility to oversee the Islamic Heritage, Relics and Proofs. (Government Resolution: M26 dated 1396AH).

Relating to this a higher board was established named Al Mujallisal Ala lil Asar (Supreme Council for Protection of Islamic Heritage). Resolution 235 (21/02/1398AH) passed by the Higher Ministry stated that the Minister of Education and President of the Hajj Ministry and Religious Affairs as well as the Information and Media Departments were all to become members of the Supreme Council for Protection of Islamic Heritage.

Section 6 – protect and maintain all “Islamic Heritage and Historical Proofs”

Section 7 – ascertain the status of various Islamic Heritage and Historic Proofs” for the purpose of classification, transferable or non-transferable (Example Hajar-e-Aswad would be non-transferable but coins or letters are transferable.)

Section 11 – incurring damage or modifying any Islamic Heritage or Historic Proofs is strictly forbidden

Section 12 – any extension or construction needs permission from the “ Institute of Islamic Heritage and Proofs”

Everyone knows according to this declaration all the mosques and relics belonging to the time of the Prophet Muhammad (sallahu alaihi wa sallam) and the Sahaba Keram are to be given the highest priority for protection due to the sacredness and the abundance of respect due to them. The believers are proud to honour them because these relics remind us of our forefathers and their history.

At one point King Khaled was advised by certain members of his audience to separate the sacred grave of the Prophet Muhammad (sallahu alaihi wa sallam). His response was to reject this idea and he became angry at this suggestion.

King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz became aware of the extension to the Quba mosque in Madinah, all the historic artefacts were to be removed. King Fahd immediately ordered a stop to the extension and ordered a new plan for extension that protected the original position of the Mosque. He ordered the extension to be done on the right, left and behind but crucially not the front. “This ensured that the old signs and sacred places of the time of the Prophet Muhammad (sallahu alaihi wa sallam) are still with the coming generations of Muslims” - taken from an interview by al-Madinah Al Nadwa a Saudi newspaper.

Source: Islahi Fiqaru – Ihtakaal (Correction of thinking in belief) Urdu translation published by Fareed Book Stall Pakistan (1999)

Editor's note: For the sake of clarification on the face of this article it looks like it is praising the actions of the rulers of Saudi Arabia. The matter that should be noted is that there are two constitutions in operation in Saudi Arabia which are not allowed to interfere with each other. Due to this complex system the Islamic Laws are not to interfere with political laws. The Royal constition operates at times without knowledge of the sacred sites being destroyed as the hardline scholars of Najd have their own constitution. At times the rulers are aware of these actions and when it suits them and their beliefs (suprisingly some of the rulers of Saudi Arabia have been sympathetic to protecting the heritage of Islam even if they act too slowly) and will block the more nefarious actions of the ulema of Najd.

This site is not affiliated with the Saudi regime in any way but it is not a political tool either thats aim is to criticise Saudi Arabia and nothing else. We are here to protect the heritage of Islam and the Hijaz insha'Allah.

Sayyid Muhammad al-Maliki al-Makki was a resident of Makkah and was under house arrest as he was a staunch Sunni muslim and opposed many governmental and Najdi innovations in al-Hijaz. He passed away in Ramadan 2004, May Allah have Mercy on him.