SAUDI AUTHORITIES DENY REPORTED PLANS TO REMOVE THE PROPHET'S (PBUH) TOMB

Saudis-risk-new-Muslim-division-with-proposal-to-move-Mohamed’s-tomb-600x448 — **Al-Masjid al-Nabawī (Arabic: المسجد النبوي‎), often called the Prophet’s Mosque, is a mosque built by the Prophet Muhammad PBUH situated in the city of Medina.** (Photo: arabnews.com)

Medinah, 12 Dzulqa’dah 1435/7 September 2014 (MINA) – The Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques has strongly denied reports that surfaced in Western media outlets claiming that the tomb of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in Madinah may be removed, Arab News quoted Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting, Sunday.

“This is the personal opinion of a researcher, who had expressed his views in a study, and it does not reflect the views of the presidency or the Kingdom,” said Ahmed Al-Mansouri, the presidency’s media spokesman, on Thursday.

The spokesman urged media outlets and researchers to refrain from spreading speculative rumors about significant holy sanctuaries, affirming that a provision is made against such actions in the presidency’s charter.

“We are discussing the prospect of taking legal action against the British daily with our legal consultants,” Mowafaq Al-Nowaiser, deputy editor-in-chief of the “Makkah” newspaper, told Arab News.

The green dome atop the Prophet’s shrine was first built in 678 Hijri, according to a historical account published by the Madinah Municipality.

In 1228, Ottoman ruler Sultan Mahmud II reportedly renewed the dome and painted it green. (T/P3/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)