Literally "Al-Baqi" means a tree garden. It is also known as "Jannat Al-Baqi" due to its sanctity, since in it are buried many of our Prophet's relatives and companions.

The site of the burial ground at Al-Baqi was gradually extended. Nearly seven thousand companions of the Holy Prophet (saw) were buried there, not to mention those of the Ahlul Bayt (as). Imam Hasan bin Ali (as), Imam Ali bin Hussain (as), Imam Muhammad bin Ali (as), and Imam Ja'far bin Muhammad (as) were all buried there.

Among other relatives of the Prophet (saw) who were buried at Al-Baqi are: his aunts Safiya and Aatika, and his Aunt Fatima bint al-Asad, the mother of Imam Ali (as). The third caliph Uthman was buried outside Al-Baqi, but with later extensions, his grave was included in the area. In later years, great Muslim scholars like Malik bin Anas and many others, were buried there too. Thus, did Al-Baqi become a well-known place of great historic significance to all Muslims.