Hezbollah condemned on Thursday the crime that terrorists committed against the grave of Prophet Mohammad’s (PBUH) dignified companion, Hujr Ibn Adi Al-Kindi, in Adra, Damascus.
In a statement it issued, Hezbollah Media Relations expressed its pain for hearing the “news that armed terrorists has dug the grave of the Prophet’s dignified companion, Martyr Hujr Ibn Adi Al-Kindi, in Adra, near the Syrian capital, Damascus.”
“What we expected and feared, and what Hezbollah Secretary General, his Eminence Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah, warned of two days ago, regarding the assault on sanctums, and the violation of religious sanctities, has happened,” the statement said.
“The shrine of the great companion, Hujr Ibn Adi, is one of the most important shrines for all Muslims, and violating and digging his grave in this way reveals a terrorist and criminal mentality that does not respect neither Muslim nor Christian sanctities,” it added.
The statement indicated that “this crime raises one big question: Where is the Syrian opposition which claimed it wanted to protect sanctities and pledged to defend shrines and religious centers?”
In conclusion, Hezbollah expressed its deep concern over the ongoing attacks on sanctities, and called upon the responsible parts “to hold responsibility so that they wouldn’t be partners in the crime, and in order to put an end to this issue which is an indicator to great sedition and rising evil.”
About Hujr ibn Adi:
Hijr ibn Adi and his son were killed in 660 CE by Muawiya ibn Abu Sufyan, due to his firm loyalty to Imam Ali (as).
Sunni scholar Sayyid Abul Ala Mawdudi in his book Caliphs and Kings writes:
“Hijr ibn Adi was a pious companion of the Prophet (saw) and played a vital role in the correction of the Ummah. During Muawiyah’s reign when the custom of cursing Ali from the pulpit’s of Mosques began, hearts of the Muslims were being bled dry but people bit their tongues fearing death. In Kufa, Hijr ibn Adi could not remain silent and he began to praise Ali (as) and condemn Muawiyah. Until Mughira remained the Governor of Kufa, he adopted a lenient attitude towards this, but when Ziyad’s Governorship of Basra was extended to include Kufa, serious altercations arose. He would curse Ali (as) during the sermons and Hijr would refute him.
On one occasion he (Hijr) warned Ziyad for being late for Jummah prayers. Ziyad then arrested him along with twelve of his companions on false accusations of forming an opposition group to overthrow the Khalifa. He also gathered witnesses to testify against them alleging that they claimed that khilafath was the exclusive right of the lineage of Ali (as) and further accused them of creating an uproar, of sending blessings upon him and hating his enemies.
The accused were sent to Muawiyah and he sentenced them to death. A condition was placed that if they cursed Ali (as) and showed their hatred to him they would be pardoned. They refused and Hijr ibn Adi said `I will not say that which would displease Allah’.
Finally Hijr ibn Adi, his son Humaan ibn Hijr and his seven companions were murdered. From amongst them Abdur Rahman bin Hasan was sent back to return with a written instruction that he be murdered in the worst possible manner, Ziyad buried him alive.”
[Chapter 4: “The elimination of freedom of speech” by Sayyid Abul Ala Mawdudi].
In other traditions, it is said that Hijr’s final wish was that his son be killed before him, in fear that his son would be terrified of death and give in to the demands to curse Ali (as).
Hijr saw his son be killed before he too stepped forward for martyrdom, both giving their lives in loyalty to Ali (as) and for the sake of Allah (swt).
