‘Proposal to move holy tomb unwise’

MUMBAI: Members of the Muslim community are outraged at the controversial proposal by Saudi authorities to destroy one of Islam’s most revered holy sites, the tomb of the Prophet Muhammad at al-Masjid al-Nabwi in Medina. Both scholars and commoners say the ill-advised step would “create a bloodbath” among Muslims and destabilize the Saudi royals.
“If the Saudi authorities are really mulling to pull down the Prophet’s tomb, it is unfortunate.It will implode the Muslim world as the Prophet’s tomb is not an ordinary shrine,” said Islamic scholar Zeenat Shaukat Ali. Farid Batatawala of Muslim Front said moving of the Prophet’s body will spell doom for the Saudi kingdom. “If such a plan exists, then it should be nipped in the bud before it snowballs into a huge crisis,” said Batatawala.