DAMASCUS, Syria: Terrorists on Thursday Jamady Al-aakherah 21, May 2, attacked and severely damaged the holy shrine of great illustrious companion of Prophet Muhammad (S) Hajar bin Adi (R) in a town of Syria.

They then dug his holy grave bringing his sacred body out there from and thus had taken it to an unknown place, according to Non and Buratha news agencies.

Reports said the holy body of the great companion of Prophet (s) was as tender as if he was laid to rest just today.

Hajr ibn Adi Al Kindi (died 660 CE) was a companion of the Prophet Muhammad.Sunni scholar Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi in his book Caliphs and Kings writes:"Hajar ibn Adiy was a pious companion of the Prophet (saws) and played a vital role in the correction of the Ummah. During Muawiyah's reign when the custom of cursing Ali from the pulpit's of Mosques began, hearts of the Muslims were being bled dry but people bit their tongues fearing death. In Kufa Hajar ibn Adiy could not remain silent and he began to praise Ali (ra) and condemn Muawiyah. Until Mughira remained the Governor of Kufa, he adopted a lenient attitude towards this, but when Ziyad's Governorship of Basra was extended to include Kufa, serious altercations arose. He would curse Ali (ra) during the khutbah and Hajar would refute him.

On one occasion he (Hajar) warned Ziyad for being late for Jummah prayers. Ziyad then arrested him along with twelve of his companions on false accusations of forming an opposition group to overthrow the Khalifa and was cursing the Khalifa. He also gathered witnesses to testify against them alleging that they claimed that khilafath was the exclusive right of the lineage of `Ali ibne Abi Talib and further accused them of creating an uproar, throwing out the commander and of supporting `Abu Turab Ali, of sending blessings upon him and hating his enemies. From amongst these witnesses, Qadi Shudhri's testimony was used. He later wrote to Muawiyah that the blood and property of people who said they offered Salaah, paid zakaat, and performed Hajj and Umrah, preached right and declared that evil was haram, however if you want to kill them so be it, otherwise forgive them.

The accused were sent to Muawiyah and he sentenced them to death. A condition was placed that if they cursed `Ali (ra) and showed their hatred to him they would be pardoned. They refused and Hajar ibn Adiy said `I will not say that thing that will displease Allah'.

Finally Hajar ibn Adiy, his son Humaan ibn Hajar and his seven companions were murdered. From amongst them Abdur Rahman bin Hasan was sent back to return with a written instruction that he be murdered in the worst possible manner, Ziyad buried him alive." chapter 4: "The elimination of freedom of speech"

His mausoleum is in Adra with his son Humaam ibn Hajar' - a small town just north of Damascus, Syria. A mosque has been built around his grave and is a pilgrimage site. His mausoleum was demolished on May 2nd 2013 by the Free Syrian Army.

Hajar or Hijir ia an old Arabic name meaning wisdom (like 'Aqal'). The name is sometimes incorrectly spelt as; Hajr which means stone or Hujr which means chamber or Hijr which means to migrate. The correct name of the companion of Imam Ali was Hajar or Hijir ibn Adiy.