Photo 174(12)

Genre/Subject Matter

This image shows the cemetery known as the Paradise of al-Baqi' in Medina, which was the first Islamic cemetery. Located immediately to the southeast of the Masjid al-Nabawi, the cemetery holds significance due to its status as the burial site of many companions and relatives of Mohammed, who are traditionally venerated by Muslim pilgrims from the Indian subcontinent in particular.

Many of the structures visible in this image were restored in the late nineteenth century by Sultan Abdulhamid II after destruction and damage to the graveyard in 1806 caused by Wahabbis. The mausoleum to the extreme right of the image and six further domes in the centre and left of the image appear in pristine condition. The highly decorated mausoleum is clearly in use, as pilgrims are visible standing and sitting in and around the doorway. Five women are seated around the white building in the centre right of the image.

While many gravestones are visible, there are also graves marked by railings and what appear to be wooden latticework and/or frame structures marking graves. Date palms recede into the background and the Masjid al-Nabawi is not visible, indicating that the photograph was taken from an elevated position facing east southeast or due east across the expanse of the graveyard, perhaps from the city walls.

Inscriptions

Recto:

Upper centre: 'Picture of the Paradise Garden of al-Baqi''

To the right and left of the title:

‘This paradise garden of al-Baqi' is a meadow of Paradise;

Asleep within is the family of the Prophet, the lord of the age;

Also here are the holy bodies of 'Uthman, the bashful, the darling of the Prophet and the companions pure.’

To the right and left of the image:

‘A small distance from the Bab Jibril is the paradise garden of al-Baqi'. It is the cemetery in which are tombs of Fatima the Resplendent, may God be pleased with her; 'Aisha the Sincere, may God be pleased with her; 'Uthman, may God be pleased with him; Imam Malik, may God have mercy on him, Halima, the fortunate, the noble-born wet-nurse of the refuge of apostleship and many other companions. From the beginning until now, this area has taken into loving embrace the inhabitants of this holy city and people whose soul birds have come here after having flown away from the cage of the elements [the body]. Here everyone moves around respectfully with the utmost care because God only knows where there may be a tomb belonging to some venerable person or companion [of the Prophet]. This is the cemetery for which most people pray to God, with utmost humility:

O God, save me from every affliction

By the honour of the chosen one, the lord of the beautiful [the Prophet]

And grant me in Medina firmness of faith and burial in al-Baqi'.

Amen.’

Lower centre: ‘H. A. Mirza & Sons, Photographers, Chandni Chowk, Delhi’

Lower right corner, along right edge, in pencil: ‘12’ ‘149’

Verso:

In pen, upper right corner:

‘I.O / 149

4th [?] [? 07?] [illegible]’

Recto:

In red ink in the upper left-hand corner of the image and – faintly – beneath lower left intersection of cruciform double-barred frame:

رجسطری شده

[superscript ط]

Labels

Labels (verso):

1 – Letterpress

‘149 H. A. Mirza and Sons, Photographers.

نقشه جنه المعلی (Naqsha-i-Jannat-ul-Mualla.

A photo. [sic] of a graveyard near Mecca, with a

brief description.) One sheet. Published

by the Photographers: Delhi. (Octr.

15, 1907.) 14 x 18º. Litho. Ist Edition.

Price, Re. I, A. 4.’

2 – Ink stamp

‘India Office

19 May 1909

Library.’

Other Notes

The image was formerly referred to as ‘Graveyard near Mecca’

A letterpress on the verso of the previous image in the sequence, Photo 174/11, is the correct label for this image, while the letterpress as transcribed above refers to Photo 174/11.