Saudi ambassador to Indonesia Mustafa Ibrahim Al-Mubarak yesterday denied reports of plans to remove Prophet Muhammad’s tomb from Al-Nabawi Mosque to Al-Bagi Cemetery, Indonesia’s Antara news agency reported.

“It is a baseless rumour which is impossible to happen,” said Mustafa after meeting with executives of the National Awakening Party (PKB) at its central executive board office in Jakarta yesterday.

Mustafa stressed the Saudi government’s commitment to maintaining the grave in accordance with the Prophet’s will.

“The Saudi government and King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz have no intention to remove the Prophet’s tomb.

“The government will not allow (any party) even to touch the tomb, let alone demolish it,” he said.

Mustafa made the remarks in response to a report by UK’s The Independent on Sept 1 on a proposal by a leading Saudi academic, Dr Ali bin Abdulaziz al-Shabal of Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University in Riyadh to remove the Prophet’s grave.

The PKB said earlier it would send a delegation of scholars and clerics from the largest Indonesian Muslim organisation, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) to Saudi Arabia to seek clarification about the reports.

PKB general chairperson Muhaimin Iskandar said last week an official statement from the Saudi Arabian government was vital to end the debate on plans to remove the tomb.

“If Saudi Arabia does not immediately issue an official statement about those plans, it could invite uncertainty and develop seeds of conflict among Muslims all over the world,” Muhaimin said in a statement last Friday.

Muhaimin, PKB legal council chairperson Aziz Mansyur and party executives who met the Saudi ambassador yesterday said they were relieved to hear the explanation directly from Mustafa.

“This meeting is important to explain the matter to all Muslims in Indonesia that the plans are not true and that Muslims in Indonesia and Saudi Arabia can build mutual trust,” Muhaimin said.

- Bernama