GO Staff Report, "Sufi group accuses Al Shabaab of using foreigners to destroy graves" - Garowe Online - Garowe, Nugaal, SomaliaThursday, December 26, 2008
Mogadishu: A Muslim Sufi group in Somalia says Al Shabaab insurgents are responsible for destroying graves revered by locals, Radio Garowe reports.
Sheikh Abdulkadir Somow, spokesman for Sufi group Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jamee'a, told Friday a press conference in Mogadishu that Al Shabaab fighters destroyed the graves of Sheikh Nur Hussein and two of his sons.
"It is prohibited to bother a Muslim person, living or dead, in Islam," Sheikh Somow said.
Earlier Friday, Al Shabaab insurgents destroyed the graves in Jilib, a district in Middle Jubba region.
An unidentified fighter who spoke for the insurgents confirmed the report, adding: "We believe people were worshipping the dead... and so we destroyed the graves."
But Sheikh Somow urged restraint on the part of Sufi followers, while appealing to Al Shabaab to "stop destroying graves and mosques."
"Non-Somalis took part in the destruction of Sheikh Nur Hussein's grave, according to locals," Sheikh Somow said.
It is the second time this month that Al Shabaab insurgents have been blamed for destroying graves revered by followers of the Sufi sect, a group with many supporters across Somalia.
Locals say relatives and supporters regularly pray at the graves of revered Shayks, following centuries of mystical tradition.
[Picture: The Jubba River. Photo from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juba_River].
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1 comment:
Reprehensible is the word for those who enjoy destroying the graves of muslims on a false pretext that it leads to idolatory. Those who invent lies against Allah, can they succeed? The true ahle-sunna will never destroy a muslim grave. Muslims can never be idolators. Remember, destroying a grave does not destroy a soul that is elavated by Allah.
Also, Dr. G.F. Haddad and others in modern times, and the eminent and classical Ulema of the past have refuted ad infinitum, the alleged claims of those who go on a grave-destroying spree in their mistaken belief. Visiting graves of muslims is a Sunnah in Islam as even a child knows. We can only pray to Allah to give a sense of restrain and true islamic belief to such people who care neither for the Saaliheen and Awliya-Allah, nor for the Islamic sentiments and heritage.
Nasir
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