Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News, 2014-02-24

As part of the ongoing Haram expansion plans in Makkah in Saudi Arabia, Saudi authorities are planning to demolish a site believed by scholars to be the birthplace of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

Currently a library which was built in 1950s is situated right above the site.

The Saudi Binladin Group who are in charge of the development, propose that it be razed to the ground and replaced with the imam’s residence and an adjacent presidential palace, The Independent reported.

“The last remaining historical site in the kingdom is the birthplace of the Prophet Mohammad, probably the most important site to the Muslim and Shiite community around the world,” Dr Irfan al-Alawi, a historian and executive director of the UK-based Islamic Heritage Research Foundation, told the Independent.

“Most people are not even aware there are plans now to destroy it.”

In 2013, the Kingdom's royal family rejected earlier plans to replace the historical site with a metro rail station that would serve pilgrims or new library dedicated to King Abdul Aziz.

The kingdom’s rulers, who deny that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was born in what is known as the House of Mawlid, are opposed to preserving relics of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

According to many scholars, this would encourage shirk, the sin of worshipping idols other than Allah.

Over the past decade, the Haram has undergone a huge transformation, and this has resulted in dividing the opinion of Muslims all over the world.

Some Arabs are even comparing their city to Las Vegas.

The latest expansion, approved by King Abdullah bin Abdel Aziz, would cover an area of 400,000 sq. meters to accommodate 1.2 million worshippers.

The total area of the existing Haram Masjid is 356,000 sq. meters accommodating 770,000 worshippers.

Around the masjid, the city now soars above its surroundings with a glittering array of skyscrapers, shopping malls and luxury hotels.

(Twitter: @Faizie143)