DDHK News, Saudi - The Saudi Arabian government plans to destroy a site believed to be the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad. The location is just a few steps from Makkah Al-Masjid Al-Haram.
This is part of the ongoing expansion plan for the Grand Mosque.
"The remaining historical sites in the kingdom are the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad, perhaps the most important site for Muslim and Shia communities around the world," said Dr Irfan al-Alawi, a historian and executive director of the British Heritage Research Foundation.
"Most people don't even realize there are plans to destroy it now."
The new demolition plans are to make way for the priest's residence and the adjacent royal palace.
The birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad is directly beneath a library built in 1950 which is also being demolished.
The Saudi government has denied that the building called the "House of Mawlid" was the birthplace of the Prophet.
However, according to many experts, the existence of the Prophet's birthplace will encourage shirk.
The latest expansion of the Grand Mosque, approved by King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, will cover an area of 400.000 square meters to accommodate 1,2 million worshipers.
The area of the Grand Mosque is now 356.000 square meters and accommodates 770.000 worshipers.
The Grand Mosque is now surrounded by skyscrapers, shopping malls and luxury hotels. (mel / onislam.net / localhost / project / personal / ddhongkong.org / ddhongkong.org). *
