ramadan 1438
A break for Quran reading in a shop selling second-hand car parts in Mumbai. In search of the prophets,
Ramadan is a month of fasting, prayer and reflection. Some of the stories Muslims reflect on are those from the life of the Prophet Mohammed and the messengers before him – here we rediscover the holy places where they are believed to be buried. Rym Ghazal has more
There are important lessons to be learnt from the prophets, from their struggles, the patience and the special gifts bestowed upon them by Allah. Six Surhas (chapters) of the Quran are named after prophets: Surah 10 after Yunus (Jonah), Surah 11 after Hud, Surah 12 after Yusuf (Joseph), Surah 14 after Ibrahim (Abraham), Surah 47 after Prophet Mohammed and Surah 71 after Nuh (Noah). The 21st chapter is Al Anbiya (The Prophets) and chapter 31 is named Luqman, though whether or not he was a prophet is still debated. From books and films to animation and links to archaeological finds, the prophets' stories continue to inspire and intrigue people worldwide, with new interpretations and theories behind their stories appearing with every generation. "Mohammed is not the father of [any] one of your men, but [he is] the messenger of Allah and last of the
Prophets. And ever is Allah, of all things, knowing." (Quran 33:40). As parts of the Middle East remain embroiled in conflict, and terrorist groups such as ISIL destroy tombs of prophets and historical sites, the fight to preserve history and holy sites has never been more critical. It is believed that there were hundreds of messengers, with only a fraction known by name and 25 mentioned in the Quran. We explore six of these prophets and where they are believed to be buried. Prophet Mohammed, the last messenger of Allah, "Khatem Al Anbiya" (the seal of the Prophets) is buried in Masjid Al Nabawi in Medina, Saudi Arabia. Sulaiman
Prophet Sulaiman is known as King Prophet and was the son of Prophet Dawud. The Bible says he is Soloman, the king of Israel and son of King David. Sulaiman was known for his wisdom and knowledge and was bestowed with many special gifts, including the ability to command the winds, speak to animals and to have had power over the Jinn. One story tells of Prophet Sulaiman and his encounter with the smallest of creatures: an ant. When Prophet Sulaiman marched his troops towards the Valley of the Ants, the queen ant warned her subjects of great danger. The Prophet – upon overhearing the queen ant's warning – thanked Allah for the many favours bestowed upon him and avoided trampling over the homes of the ants. The Quran also tells of Sulaiman's encounter with the hudhud (hoopoe) bird, which told him that the people of Saba (believed to be Sheba of southern Arabia) and their queen worshipped the Sun. The bird carried a letter from Prophet Sulaiman calling on the queen to worship Allah instead. After the queen visited the Prophet she accepted his faith. Two monumental tunnel tombs at the southern end of the City of David (Wadi Hilweh), south of the Old City of Jerusalem, are where scholars believe Prophet Sulaiman and King David are buried.
Yusuf
Prophet Yusuf descends from a long line of prophets, including his father Prophet Yaqub. He is famous for his good looks and is known as Joseph, son of Jacob, in the Bible. The 12th Surah is named after him and begins with Prophet Yusuf telling his father that he had a dream or Ruya (vision) where he had seen 11 stars, the Sun and the Moon prostrating to him. His father warned him against telling his brothers, who were already jealous of Yusuf for being his father's favourite. His brothers found out and plotted to kill him, but instead threw him into a well. They told their father Yusuf had been eaten by a wolf. A passing caravan found Yusuf and he was sold to a man in Egypt who adopted him as a son, but because of his good looks the man's wife tried to seduce him. He was so handsome that when he walked by women cutting food they ended up cutting their hands, saying "Perfect is Allah! This is not a man; this is none but a noble angel." (Quran 12:31) The story continues with Yusuf in prison interpreting dreams until he is given a position of power by the king of Egypt. Prophet Yusuf's tomb can be found either in Nablus, Palestinea est e or with his forefathers in Masjid Al Khalil in Al Khalil, Palestine.
Nuh
Also known as Noah, Prophet Nuh was charged by Allah to preach to his people to worship only one God and to abandon their wicked ways and live pure lives. As mentioned in the Quran, he preached for hundreds of years until finally the flood came that cleansed the Earth, with only those in Prophet Nuh's ark surviving. It is said that a pair of all the animals, Prophet Nuh's followers and family – except for one son who disbelieved – were on the ark which ended up on Mount Judi, which some believe refers to the one in Turkey. The Quran refers to the Prophet's wife, widely believed to be named Naamah, as being false to her husband and was punished by entering the fires of Hell. The search for Noah's ark still captivates researchers, with many believing Turkey's Mount Ararat is where the ark came to rest after the great flood. It is believed the first city founded by Nuh was known as Karak and therefore places named as such are believed to be his final resting place. Some of the places Prophet Nuh is thought to be buried are: Al Karak (south of Amman) Jordan; Karak (Zahla), Lebanon; Cizre (south (south-eastern eastern Anatolia region) Turkey; Najaf in Iraq; and Nakhchivan in Azerbaijan.ba
Adam
The father of mankind and the first prophet, Allah taught Prophet Adam the names of everything He created. This prophet was so revered that even angels were ordered to bow to him and – according to the Quran – all but Iblees (Satan) did. Adam's wife Hawa (Eve) is believed to be buried in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Jedda Jeddah t translatesa sates as grandmother, in reference to Hawa being the grandmother of mankind. In the Quranic version of the story of Adam and Eve there is no snake nor apple; Satan is the one who whispers to them telling them to eat from the forbidden tree. This angers God, who expels them from Paradise and puts them on Earth. Allah warns them and their children not to be tempted by Satan to do wrong, and to worship God alone. There are several theories as to where Prophet Adam's final resting place is. Some say he is buried in Mecca ecca at t the e foot oot of Mount Abu Qubais. Another account places him in the Chapel of Adam within the Church of the Holyo y Sepup Sepulchrec e in Jerusalem.Je usa e A third story says he is buried in the Ibrahimi Mosque or Cave of the Patriarchs in Al Khalil,Khalil Palestine. Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his sons are also said to have been buried there. Another legend says that Adam's Peak or Sri Pada (sacred footprint) in Sri Lanka is where Adam first set foot after being exiled from Paradise.
Yunus
Prophet Yunus is known by many names: Jonah, Jonas and 'Dhul Nun', meaning the one of the whale, because it is said, he was swallowed by a whale. Surah 10 is named after him and the verses of the Quran tell his story. Prophet Yunus was delivering the message of Allah. But when the people did not listen to him he was left disappointed and angry and fled his mission. While on board a ship a storm hit and the passengers cast lots to see who was responsible and should be thrown overboard. Prophet Yunus's name appeared three times and he was thrown off the ship and was then swallowed by a whale. It was inside the whale that Yunus learnt patience and repented. The whale eventually spat him out on land where Allah protected him until he was well enough to return to his mission: "But We threw him on to the open shore while he was ill. And We caused to grow over him a gourd vine. And We sent him to [his people of] a hundred thousand or more. And they believed so We gave them enjoyment [of life] for a time." (Quran 37:145148). Today there is an expression among sailors to call someone a Jonah, meaning that person is a bad omen and endangers the ship, like a jinx. In 2014, the mosque of Prophetp (Nabi)( ) Yunus in Mosul, Iraq – where Yunus was believed to have been buried – was destroyed by ISIL. A shrine at the same site was said to have contained a tooth from the whale that swallowed him.
Salih
Prophet Salih's story has origins in the archaeological site Al Hijr, or Madain Salih, in Al Madinah Region in Saudi Arabia. It is believed to be a cursed place because the Thamud, the tribe that once lived there, was punished by God. Salih was sent to guide the Thamud, who were said to be arrogant, oppressive and worshipped idols. Prophet Salih called on his people to worship Allah alone but they doubted him and asked for a miracle as proof: a unique female camel to descend from the mountains. And indeed the camel appeared. Prophet Salih called on the tribe to be kind to the camel and not to cause it any harm but the Thamud killed her and were punished with an earthquake. Salih was father to Prophet Hud, and both were believed to have been giants with their tombs known for their size. A tombb in Hasik,as , Oman – one of the places where Prophet Salih is believed to be buried – is more than 10 metres long. About 200 kilometres away, in Salalah, h, the camel camel's s hoof prints alongside the rod prints of Prophet Salih are said to be preserved on a rock inside a museum. The other possible tombs of Prophet Salih are in a wadi close to the Monastery of St Catherine at the foot of Mount SinaiSa in Egypt,gypt, and ad in Hadramout, Yemen. Some say he was buried in the very place his legend lives on: Madain Salih.