Somali rage at {Sufi} grave desecration (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

By Mohamed Mohamed
BBC Somali Service


Since they began to capture large swathes of southern Somalia, radical Islamists have been undertaking a programme of destroying mosques and the graves of revered religious leaders from the Sufi branch of Islam.

The destruction of non-approved religious sites started last year when they began to knock down an old colonial era church in the town of Kismayo.

Most Somalis are Sufi Muslims, who do not share the strict Saudi Arabian-inspired Wahhabi interpretation of Islam with the hardline al-Shabab group.
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""The destruction of graves is not something new: we target graves that are overdecorated and ones used for misleading people.

"We are not aiming at the sheikhs and their standing in the society, but it is forbidden to make graves into shrines," Mr Yaquub said."
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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8077725.stm

[imdjh]

1. "it is forbidden to make graves into shrines," Mr Yaquub said." Really?

The Mosque of the Prophet (or Prophet's Mosque) (Arabic: المسجد النبوي‎ ), in Medina, is the second holiest mosque in Islam and the second largest mosque in the world after the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca. It is the final resting place of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The mosque is considered the second holiest mosque by both Shia and Sunni while the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem is the third holiest.
One of the most notable features of the site is the Green Dome over the center of the mosque, where the tomb of Muhammad is located. It is not exactly known when the green dome was constructed but manuscripsts dating to the early 12th century describe the dome. It is known as the Dome of the Prophet or the Green Dome.<1> Subsequent Islamic rulers greatly expanded and decorated it. Early Muslim leaders Abu Bakr and Umar are buried in an adjacent area in the mosque.
The site was originally Muhammad's house; he settled there after his Hijra (emigration) to Medina, later building a mosque on the grounds. He himself shared in the heavy work of construction. The original mosque was an open-air building. The basic plan of the building has been adopted in the building of other mosques throughout the world.
The mosque also served as a community center, a court, and a religious school. There was a raised platform for the people who taught the Qur'an.

wiki

[MADem]

3. The Shi'a do it routinely. All the "good" masjids in Iran have some

famous person buried in them.

[Glorfindel]

2. I hope these monsters never come to power in Egypt

They wouldn't hesitate to destroy the pyramids and all the other treasures of the ancient world, all in the name of their hideous superstition. As far as I'm concerned, religious fanatics of any persuasion are the common enemies of humanity.