Preservation of Cultural Heritage

PRESERVATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE through research is accepted as correct. This applies to fields ranging from agriculture and horticulture to engineering, history, and similar disciplines. The preservation of cultural heritage or historical monuments also falls within this category of matters that are subject to research, not to faith. In summary, both in principle and in practical precedent, it is established that Islam’s position regarding the preservation of cultural heritage or historical monuments is the same as that adopted in other traditions and academic disciplines. If, for any reason, a monument located in a Muslim country is considered unsuitable to be retained there, it should not be destroyed. Rather, it should be transferred to interested countries or institutions so that it may be preserved in museums. The destruction of the Buddha statues in Bamiyan, Afghanistan, in 2001 had no basis in Islam. It was an act of extremism, and according to the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet , extremism has no place in Islam. (Al-Risala, April 2007)