Many people of the opinion that heritage conservation is not
in line with Islamic teaching. Meanwhile, as we can see, there are many cases
of demolish of heritage in Muslim countries such as the destruction of
sites associated with early Islam in the holy cities
of Mecca and Medina of western Saudi Arabia, Bamiyan valley, the
giant centuries-old Buddha destroyed by the Taliban in Afghanistan and Bujang
valley, a 1,200-year-old site in Malaysia that was demolished by developer
last year.
1. Most of the heritage materials, especially ancient civilization is in the form of statues or idols that obviously against the Islamic principle. As we know, Islam never tolerates with any kind of idol.
2. There is a hadith narrated by Abdullah Bin Umar that when prophet Muhammad ( PBUH ) was passing by thamud house on his way to the battle of thamud, he warned his companions from entering upon the people that had been punished, saying
"I fear that you may be affected by what afflicted them; so do not enter upon them."
Justifiably, this hadith interpreted to mean that any preserve efforts of heritage are prohibited given that visit it is prohibited.
Does the heritage conservation effort only for sacrosanct purpose?
What is the main reason of prophet act? Do the forbidden of visiting the heritage sites not be changed according to current reality?
To be continues…
 |
| Bamiyan, the statue of standing buddha destroyed by Taliban in 2011. |
Admittedly, there are a few Muslim scholars judge that
heritage conservation is prohibited in Islam. The situation is getting worse when
the government exploited this view to justify their acts in demolishing heritage
site for physical development. Even the Muslim communities, their awareness and
understanding of the value of heritage still lack.
The Muslim scholar that against the heritage conservation, uphold
their claim by the following reasons:-
1. Most of the heritage materials, especially ancient civilization is in the form of statues or idols that obviously against the Islamic principle. As we know, Islam never tolerates with any kind of idol.
2. There is a hadith narrated by Abdullah Bin Umar that when prophet Muhammad ( PBUH ) was passing by thamud house on his way to the battle of thamud, he warned his companions from entering upon the people that had been punished, saying
"I fear that you may be affected by what afflicted them; so do not enter upon them."
Justifiably, this hadith interpreted to mean that any preserve efforts of heritage are prohibited given that visit it is prohibited.
However…
Does the heritage conservation effort only for sacrosanct purpose?
What is the main reason of prophet act? Do the forbidden of visiting the heritage sites not be changed according to current reality?
To be continues…
 |
| According to an article in the Independent, urbanisation projects for redeveloped mecca are responsible for the destruction of many sacred sites there. |
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