People in Saudi Arabia are usually curious about the gravediggers' job. ‘Do they hear voices from graves or have they witnessed something unusual or supernatural?' are common topics of discussion. Naif Mansour Al-Alwani is a Saudi who has been working in a graveyard for more than three decades. His job is to supervise workers who wash and bury the dead. Al-Alwani said that the upcoming generation of Saudis is not very interested in this profession. Therefore municipalities have no option but hire foreign workers. “When I started working 40 years back, all grave diggers were Saudis, including those who prepared and shrouded the dead,” Alwani said. “The profession was eventually taken over by Yemenis, and now it is being dominated by Bengalis. Saudis merely act as supervisors.” He believes it is an honorable job and that he will be rewarded by Allah for it, according to a report in Al-Madina newspaper. “It reminds me of the Hereafter. No matter how long a person lives, we all eventually have to return to Allah,” he added. Recalling a past incident, Alwani said: “Some pallbearers argue and insist on taking charge and laying down the dead in the grave. But we do not allow that.” “Every grave has a special record indicating its serial number and burial date. There is no more paperwork, as everything has been computerized. The graves are opened once in every five years. We collect the remnants and place them in a corner to make the grave available for another burial. This procedure is applied to all graves,” he said. Yahyia Al-Gamash, who has been supervising for over 35 years, said: “In my 35-year career, I have never heard any voices or witnessed anything strange. I walk between the graves late at night but even then I have never heard or seen anything strange. I strongly believe that such stories are nothing but rumors. I usually sit on the edge of the graves in the middle of night as if I were sitting with my children, but still I haven't heard or seen anything.” Al-Gamash says the graveyard doesn't frighten him. On the contrary, it revives his belief as he remembers Allah in secret. Esam Khaled Gabori, an official in charge of graveyards at the Makkah Mayoralty, said he descends from a tribe that practices this profession. His family name Gabori comes from the Arabic word “Gabr” which means grave. He said that though his family have stopped digging, they are now engaged in supervision and administrative work.
