Commentary: The Diminishing of Islamic Heritage in the Wake of Saudi Arabia’s World Cup Preparations. FIFA has selected Saudi Arabia to host the 2034 Men’s World Cup, highlighting the kingdom’s significant investments in international sports. Yet, this decision is shadowed by worries regarding Saudi Arabia’s extensive campaign to dismantle historical Islamic landmarks, especially those linked to the Prophet Muhammad and his companions, in order to make way for new developments such as hotels and entertainment facilities.
Alagi Yorro Jallow.
As Saudi Arabia constructs mega infrastructure, including immense skyscrapers, hotels, and amusement venues, essential Islamic cultural sites and some heritages of the Prophet Mohammed (saw) are being replaced in a construction frenzy. This transformation turns deserts into replicas of New York, Houston, or Las Vegas, initiating a project that threatens the Ummah’s physical heritage. While development akin to Las Vegas might have been less troubling for Muslims, the emphasis on Makkah and Madinah is leading to the destruction of historic Islamic sites. These sites are being supplanted by concrete and glass towers that not only surround but also tower over the Masjid al-Haram, reducing its spiritual atmosphere.
Many Muslims find themselves unable to perform Hajj due to the soaring costs that escalate annually. Rather than a spiritual pilgrimage, Hajj has become a financial burden, with Saudi royals and their affiliates extracting significant amounts from pilgrims’ life savings. Travel agencies in the West have even introduced luxury Hajj packages, likening the sacred journey to a vacation akin to Disneyland. This commercialization strays far from the core tenets of Islam, undermining the essence of Hajj and the principles of equality and brotherhood that it is meant to uphold, as highlighted in the Qur’an and the practices of Allah’s Messenger (saws).
Fatoumatta: The Saudis are constructing a megastructure that stands 400 meters tall, wide, and long, which will be spacious enough to house 20 Empire State Buildings, as stated by the Saudi Public Investment Fund. Bloomberg has reported that it will become the world’s largest building. This megastructure will serve as the focal point of the district, featuring a design that draws inspiration from traditional Islamic architecture and offering 2 million square meters of interior space. Within it, a grand twisting tower will ascend, and holographic technology will be employed to simulate underwater and otherworldly environments. The excavation process is nearing completion, with 10 million cubic meters of earth already excavated using 250 excavators and 400 pieces of equipment, and the project’s completion is anticipated by 2030.
Globally, Muslims are facing challenges not only from external adversaries, particularly the US and its allies, but also from less acknowledged threats to Islamic history and culture by those who purport to be their guardians. Muslims are subjected to multifaceted attacks, both military and cultural. External military interventions have led to the loss of countless lives in countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, India, and Chechnya. In nations with Muslim majorities, such as Pakistan, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco, there are also internal military confrontations. These are further exacerbated by Western cultural influences.
However, these grave situations may appear less significant when compared to the events in the sacred cities of Makkah and Madinah, known together as the Haramayn to Muslims. Motivated by both greed and Wahhabi fervor, the ongoing destruction of Islamic monuments poses a threat to the erasure of the profound historical heritage of early Islam in the coming years. The Saudi government’s emphasis on modernization and infrastructure advancement has resulted in the razing of many historical locations, including residences and mosques linked to the Prophet Muhammad (saw) and his companions.
Fatoumatta: The destruction of Islam’s historical sites has paved the way for the construction of hotels, restaurants, and other modern facilities, ostensibly to provide better services for pilgrims. However, this is misleading as the vast majority of pilgrims cannot afford the exorbitant prices charged by such establishments. Many Muslims who visit Mecca aspire to ascend Jabal al-Nur, the “Mountain of Light,” to reach the Cave of Hira. This cave is where the Prophet (pbuh) would seclude himself during Ramadan for prayer and contemplation, and where he received the initial revelations of the Quran. There are those who wish to demolish the mountain to deter pilgrims from visiting this significant site.
Fatoumatta: The destruction is not merely a loss for Muslims, but for all of humanity. These irreplaceable sites are treasures of immense historical, cultural, and religious value. Their obliteration severs the tangible links to the dawn of Islam and the rich legacy preserved over centuries. While many Middle Eastern oil-producing nations succumb to construction frenzies, transforming deserts into replicas of Western metropolises, Saudi Arabia is undertaking a project that threatens the physical heritage of the Ummah. The focus on developing Riyadh in the likeness of Las Vegas might have been inconsequential to many Muslims, but the targeting of Makkah and Madinah is alarming. The historical Islamic sites are being replaced with towering structures of concrete and glass, which not only encircle but also overshadow the Masjid al-Haram, thus undermining its spiritual essence.
The rising costs of Hajj have made it increasingly difficult for many Muslims to fulfill this spiritual journey, a pillar of their faith. Instead of a sacred pilgrimage, it has become a costly venture, with Saudi authorities and travel agencies profiting significantly. Luxury Hajj packages are marketed like vacation trips, undermining the essence of Hajj, which is meant to be a demonstration of equality and brotherhood as taught in the Qur’an and by the Prophet Muhammad (saws). Critics argue that the commercialization of Hajj contradicts Islamic teachings and that the Saudi government prioritizes profit over religious values, even dismissing traditional practices they disapprove of as innovations contrary to Islam.
Fatoumatta: While the court scholars appear to condone the Saudi destruction of Islamic historical sites and the commercialization of the Hajj, others, including non-Muslims, have taken notice.
Beyond such vulgarity lies a more significant issue: the destruction of historic buildings and sites. The desecration of the Baqi‘ Cemetery in Madinah pales in comparison to the potential plans for the Prophet’s (saws) grave. A decade ago, Muqbil ibn Hadi al-Wadi’i, a University of Madinah student, authored a thesis titled “About the Dome Built over the Grave of the Messenger,” under Shaykh Hammad al-Ansari’s guidance. In his thesis, Muqbil ibn Hadi argued for the removal of the Prophet’s grave from the Mosque, claiming that its presence and the dome were significant innovations (bidas) that should be destroyed. The university’s high praise for his thesis indicated a profound disrespect for the Messenger of Allah (saws).
Muslims face challenges on multiple fronts, ranging from military to cultural conflicts. Significant numbers of Muslims have been affected by violence from foreign forces in countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, and Chechnya. Additionally, internal conflicts within Muslim-majority countries like Pakistan, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco have also led to confrontations between citizens and state armies. These military conflicts are further exacerbated by cultural tensions, including concerns over the preservation of Islamic historical heritage.
The global community, including Muslims around the world, should speak out against this cultural eradication. The preservation of Islamic heritage extends beyond mere structures; it encompasses the protection of a civilization’s identity, history, and legacy. The actions of the Saudi government warrant accountability, and there should be calls to cease the destruction of these holy sites.
Fatoumatta: As Saudi Arabia gears up to host the 2034 Men’s World Cup, the implications of such developments must be considered. Ignoring the obliteration of Islamic heritage for the sake of modernity is not an option. Now is the moment for united efforts to safeguard the rich historical tapestry of early Islam, ensuring that future generations have a link to their heritage.
