Jannat al-Mu‘alla
The land where Makkah is situated slopes downward on one side and upward on the other. The lower part is called Misfalah, and the higher part is known as Mualla. In the elevated section lies an ancient graveyard called Jannat al-Mu‘alla. It is located in the direction of Mina from Makkah. This graveyard is the resting place of Khadijah, may God be pleased with her. It also includes the graves of the Prophet Muhammad’s son, Abraham and his mother Aminah bint Wahb. The graves of his uncle Abu Talib and his grandfather Abdul Muttalib are also here. Notable figures such as the Companion Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr and the caliph Abu Jafar al-Mansur are buried here as well. The graveyard contains many other tombs—reminders of those noble individuals who once walked the earth just as we do today.
Homes are signs of the living, while cemeteries are signs of the dead. Cemeteries remind us that those buried there were once living individuals who, after completing their span of life, moved on to the next stage of existence. When the names and stories of those buried are known, such cemeteries gain even greater significance. They become fragments of history—living pages through which later generations read about their predecessors, and by remembering the continuity of life, link their present to their past. A cemetery, in this sense, becomes a spoken testimony—sharing the stories of success and failure of those who came before us.
When a pilgrim or visitor to Makkah stands before Jannat al-Mualla, the site reminds them that the path they are walking is the very same, well-defined path that many others once walked. These are not the fading traces of a forgotten legend, but the enduring footprints of a caravan whose journey is etched in history.
In Arab tradition, cemeteries are not adorned with domes or solid constructions. The graves appear as slight elevations in a flat landscape—much like the simple, unpaved graves found in modest burial grounds elsewhere. Jannat al-Mualla is one such cemetery: a burial place free from human embellishment. It preserves the plainness of nature, not the artificiality of human design.
When a person stands before Jannat al-Mu‘alla, the mind turns naturally toward those known individuals of history—those who were once born in the soil of Arabia, walked and spoke among their people, and now rest silently in this very earth.
1. Abdul Muttalib
Among the notable souls resting in Jannat al-Mu‘alla is ‘Abd al-Muttalib (497–579 CE), the grandfather of the Prophet Muhammad. When he chose the name “Muhammad” for him, it was virtually unknown among the Arabs. He served as the Prophet’s guardian until the age of eight. As the chief of Banu Hashim, he was a man of remarkable dignity and commanding presence.
During the time of Abdul Muttalib, a significant event took place: Abraha, the governor of Sana‘a under the king of Abyssinia, marched toward Makkah with an army of elephants to destroy the Kaaba. He camped outside the city and seized two hundred camels belonging to Abdul Muttalib. In response, Abdul Muttalib went to meet him. Abraha was struck by his dignified presence, received him with honour, and asked about the purpose of his visit.
Abdul Muttalib said, “I have come for my two hundred camels, which your men have taken.” Abraha replied, “You are appealing to me for your camels, but say nothing about the sacred House (the Kaaba), upon which your people’s honour rests, and which I have come to destroy?”
With calm conviction, Abdul Muttalib replied, “I am the owner of the camels. The Kaaba has its own Lord, and He will protect it.” (Sirah Ibn Hisham, Vol. 1, p. 44)
Indeed, God brought Abraha’s powerful army to ruin, and he failed in his attempt to attack the Kaaba.
The story of Abdul Muttalib serves as a lasting reminder that the Kaaba is a sacred House, safeguarded by none other than God Himself.
2. Abu Talib
Jannat al-Mu‘alla also serves as the resting place of Abu Talib, the Prophet Muhammad’s uncle. According to widely accepted accounts, although he did not embrace Islam, he supported the Prophet with unwavering dedication. He stood resolutely by his side against all opposition. While he did not abandon his ancestral faith, he remained a steadfast source of protection and loyalty until the end of his life.
When the Quraysh placed a boycott on the Prophet, forcing him and his family to seek refuge in the harsh valley of Shi‘b Abi Talib, Abu Talib endured the hardship alongside him. The three-year ordeal took such a toll on him that he fell ill and ultimately died in the tenth year of prophethood (620 CE).
Although Abu Talib did not accept the Prophet’s mission, he fully fulfilled his responsibilities as the family head, providing steadfast support and protection to his nephew.
3. Khadijah bint Khuwaylid
Khadijah bint Khuwaylid was one of the most noble and wealthy women in Makkah. Her father, Khuwaylid ibn Asad, was a respected merchant who left behind a significant inheritance. Khadijah was first married to Abu Halah ibn Zurarah al-Tamimi, and after his death, to Atiq ibn A‘idh al-Makhzumi. Both husbands passed away a few years later, and Khadijah inherited their wealth. Despite being a widow, she became the wealthiest woman in Makkah.
Nobles and wealthy men from the Quraysh tribe sought her hand in marriage. Around this time, through a business arrangement, she came into contact with the Prophet Muhammad. Though he had no material wealth, Khadijah was deeply impressed by his honesty and character. She herself sent him a proposal. The marriage took place when Khadijah was forty years old and the Prophet was twenty-five. Her grave in Jannat al-Mualla reminds every passerby that character is greater than wealth.
When the Prophet received the first revelation, she was the first to believe in him. During the early years of his mission, the Prophet faced great hardships, and Khadijah spent all her wealth in his support. She never hesitated. Every difficulty that fell upon him, she bore with him—not just as a wife, but as a true life companion in every sense.
Abu Hurayrah reports that once, while the Prophet was away from home, the Angel Jibril came and said, “O Messenger of God, Khadijah is approaching, carrying food. When she arrives, convey to her greetings of peace from her Lord and from me, and give her the glad tidings of a palace in Paradise made of pearls, where there will be neither noise nor hardship.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 3820; Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 2432)
Khadijah passed away in the tenth year of Prophethood (620 CE). Aisha once narrated that the Prophet, remembering her, said: “Khadijah believed in me when people rejected me. She affirmed my truth when others called me a liar. She supported me with her wealth when people withheld theirs from me.” (Musnad Ahmad, Hadith No. 24864)
Her grave stands as a reminder of one of history’s most exemplary women—someone who never became a burden on her life partner, and who stood by him through hardship just as she did through ease.
4. Abdullah ibn Zubayr
Among those buried in Jannat al-Mualla is Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr, a Companion of the Prophet Muhammad. He was born into Islam, and during the Prophet’s lifetime, he was regarded as one of the younger Companions. Alongside his profound awareness of God, he was known for his courage and wisdom. Wahb ibn Kaysan reported that Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr once sent him a letter of advice, in which he wrote: “The one who truly fears God is the one who endures trials with patience, accepts God’s decree with contentment, gives thanks for blessings, and submits humbly to the command of the Quran.” (Hilyat al-Awliya, Vol. 1, p. 336)
After the caliphate of Ali ibn Abi Talib, Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr was regarded as one of the most suitable individuals in the Muslim world to take on leadership. He was distinguished by his bravery, wisdom, and piety. The people of Hijaz and Iraq pledged allegiance to him. However, in 73 AH, he was martyred in battle against Hajjaj ibn Yusuf, the governor under Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan.
His grave stands as a reminder of a man who bowed fully before God, but who never bowed before tyranny or injustice.
5. Abu Ja‘far Mansur
Abu Ja‘far al-Mansur (101–158 AH / 719–775 CE) was one of the most capable and strategic caliphs of the Abbasid dynasty. He founded the city of Baghdad in Iraq and developed it into the greatest center of learning and politics of its time. His era saw a major translation movement, with many works from foreign languages translated into Arabic. The well-known Arabic translation, known as Kalila wa Dimna, of the Sanskrit work Panchatantra was completed during this period.
Like many rulers, he took harsh measures against his political rivals and had several of them eliminated. Nevertheless, in terms of maintaining order and ensuring justice for the common people, he was regarded as an effective and just administrator. It is said that Abu Ja‘far al-Mansur wore simple, coarse clothing, sometimes with visible patches. Commenting on this, Ja‘far ibn Muhammad al-Sadiq said, “Praise be to God, who afflicted al-Mansur with personal poverty despite granting him kingship.” (Tarikh Al-Tabari, Vol. 8, p. 81)
In the month of Dhu al-Qa‘dah, 158 AH (775 CE), Abu Ja‘far al-Mansur departed from Baghdad intending to perform Hajj. However, shortly before reaching Makkah, he fell seriously ill and died during the journey. He was buried in the nearby cemetery of Jannat al-Mu‘alla.
6. The Prophet’s Children
The Prophet Muhammad had four daughters: Zaynab, Ruqayyah, Umm Kulthum, and Fatimah—all born to Khadijah. Of these, the first three passed away during the Prophet’s lifetime. Fatimah, the youngest, died approximately six months after the Prophet’s death, at around thirty years of age.
The Prophet also had three sons, all of whom died in early childhood. Qasim and Abdullah were born to Khadijah and passed away during their early years in Makkah. His third son, Abraham, was born to Maria al-Qibtiyya and died in 10 AH at approximately eighteen months old.
It is believed that the graves of Qasim and Abdullah, the two sons of Khadijah, are in the same cemetery in Makkah—Jannat al-Mualla. However, this is only known through oral tradition, as no verified markers remain in the cemetery today.
All India Radio, New Delhi,
13 November 1980.
