By Abdullahi Inuwa
Historical records have revealed a remarkable and little-known tradition of spiritual reverence and royal legacy tied to the sacred city of Madinah. According to Islamic historians and archival sources, only three notable individuals in modern history — who died outside the borders of Saudi Arabia — have been granted the extraordinary honour of having their Janazah (funeral) prayers conducted at the Prophet’s Mosque, Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (sometimes mistakenly referred to as Masjid al-Haram of Madinah).
Among these rare figures stands Muhammad Al-Badr, the last reigning King of North Yemen, who fled his homeland amid political upheaval but whose memory was forever sealed with the holy city of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
Muhammad Al-Badr bin Ahmad Hamidaddin, the final monarch of the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen, ruled briefly in 1962 before being overthrown during a military coup that led to the creation of the Yemen Arab Republic. He fled into exile, first to Saudi Arabia and later to the United Kingdom.
Despite living the remainder of his life in exile, Al-Badr maintained a strong spiritual connection with Islam’s holy sites and was well respected in religious and royal circles across the Arab world. When he passed away in London in August 1996, his body was flown to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where, in a deeply symbolic act, his Janazah prayer was held in the sacred precinct of Al-Masjid an-Nabawi in Madinah — just a few meters away from the final resting place of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
This rare honour, reserved only for the most distinguished and devout of Muslims, underscored both his royal legacy and his unwavering Islamic faith.
Janazah prayers at Al-Masjid an-Nabawi are held multiple times daily for the deceased within the city. However, it is nearly unheard of for someone who passes away outside the country to be granted a state-sanctioned funeral prayer in the Prophet’s Mosque.
The sanctity of Al-Masjid an-Nabawi — the second holiest site in Islam after the Kaaba in Makkah — makes it a spiritual privilege of the highest degree. According to Islamic scholars, for a non-resident to be honoured posthumously with Janazah prayers in this location, the decision is typically sanctioned at the highest levels of the Saudi religious and royal authorities, often reflecting the individual’s piety, legacy, and diplomatic ties with the Kingdom.
Besides Muhammad Al-Badr, two other high-profile individuals have similarly received this unique honour, though historical documentation and public records of such ceremonies remain limited due to their sensitivity and rarity.
Saudi royal historians and long-serving imams of the Prophet’s Mosque have indicated that such decisions are made with extreme discretion, and are often preceded by consultations between the royal court, religious authorities, and the family of the deceased. These individuals are considered to have left behind not just wealth or political power, but a legacy of faith and devotion deserving of proximity to the Prophet’s Masjid even in death.
While Muhammad Al-Badr’s case is the most widely confirmed in contemporary Islamic history, records suggest that only two others — whose identities are typically protected out of religious and cultural respect — share this unique distinction.
The significance of having Janazah prayers conducted in Madinah is deeply rooted in the traditions of Islam. The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) once said, “Whoever dies in Madinah, I will intercede for him on the Day of Judgment.” Though this narration refers to those who die in the holy city, being brought to Madinah for burial or prayers has always carried immense spiritual weight.
For Al-Badr, the symbolism was profound. He was a ruler who lost his throne but not his dignity or faith. His burial in the holy land served as a final testament to his lifelong devotion to Islam and to the ideals of leadership anchored in religious values.
Following his Janazah prayer, Muhammad Al-Badr was laid to rest in the historic Al-Baqi Cemetery — also known as Jannatul Baqi — where generations of the Prophet’s family, companions, scholars, and saints lie buried.
Al-Baqi, adjacent to the Prophet’s Mosque, is considered one of the holiest cemeteries in the Islamic world. To be buried there is considered an immense honour, even among the most devout Muslims globally. Pilgrims who visit Madinah often stop by Al-Baqi to pray for the souls of those buried there — and now, Muhammad Al-Badr rests among them.
Though the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen no longer exists, and Muhammad Al-Badr died without reclaiming his throne, his memory lives on in Islamic history — not merely as a monarch but as a faithful servant of Islam who received in death what many believers pray for all their lives: to be prayed upon in Madinah and buried near the Messenger of Allah.
The honour of having Janazah at the Prophet’s Mosque remains a reserved and solemn tribute. It reflects a life lived with devotion and a legacy that transcends borders and thrones — a reminder that in the end, it is one’s faith, not power, that secures the most enduring place of honour.
Abdullahi Inuwa Social Commentator ainuwa303@gmail.com
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