“For the believer, Madinah is the best place. If only they could understand it’s virtue fully, they would never leave it, and whoever departs from Madinah, having become disenchanted with it, Allah will send someone better to replace him. And whoever bears patiently the ordeals of Madinah, for him shall I be an intercessor(or witness) on the Day of Qiyamah.”
Source: Sahih Muslim
Madinah al-Munawarrah. The City of the Prophet (saw). One cannot make mention of this city without stating its holiness and lofty position in Islam. The second holiest city in Islam happens to also be the city that welcomed the Prophet (saw) after his migration from Makkah.
Madinah wasn’t always known as Madinah. In fact its original name was Yathrib. It was a city with a relatively moderate climate located in an oasis. It’s known for its tasty “Ajwa” dates which even our beloved Prophet (saw) favored. Its history stretches back thousands of years to when the Romans were persecuting the Jews. As a result of the persecution, many Jews fled Palestine and migrated south to the areas of Yathrib and Khaybar. By the time the Prophet (saw) arrived in Madinah, there was a large Jewish population in the region.
The Jews were actually waiting for the arrival of a prophet, who according to all their scriptures would appear in Madinah. However, when the Jews realized that the final prophet would be from the Arabs rather than from the Jews, their pride got the better of them and they rejected him. Some Jews went on to accept Islam including the famous Rabbi, Hussain bin Salam, whose name the Prophet (saw) changed to Abdullah bin Salam.
“Madinah is like a furnace, it expels out the impurities (bad persons) and selects the good ones and makes them perfect.”
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari
The Prophet (saw) dearly loved the city. It is narrated in Bukhari, that whenever the Prophet (saw) returned from a journey and observed the walls of Madinah, he would make his animal go fast, if it happened to be a horse he would make it gallop, out of his love of the city. One of the special sites within Madinah is inside the Prophet’s Mosque. Within Masjid Nabawi there is a specific area which is a portion of Jannah. This area is known at the Rawdah. The Rawdah—garden in Arabic, is a green-carpeted area next to the Prophet’s (saw) grave. Supplications offered in the Rawdah are never rejected, making it highly important. In addition to the Prophet’s (saw) grave we also have the graves of our righteous companions, Abu Bakr (ra) and Umar (ra). On top of that, how can we forget the thousands of other companions and righteous people buried in Baqi al-Gharqad right next to Masjid Nabawi.
The Prophet (saw) said, “Madinah is a sanctuary from that place to that (pointing at two mountains). Its trees should not be cut, and no heresy should be innovated, nor any sin should be committed in it, and whoever innovates in it a heresy, or commits sins (bad deeds), he will incur the Curse of Allah, the Angels, and all the people.”
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari
According to an hadith, one salah offered in Masjid Nabawi is equal to 1,000 salah. This just goes to show the limitless gracefulness and mercifulness of the Creator, Allah (swt). The city, along with Makkah is also divinely protected by Allah (swt).
There will be no town which Ad-Dajjal (the anti-Christ) will not enter except Makkah and Madinah, and there will be no entrance (road) but the angels will be standing in rows guarding it against him, and then Madinah will shake with its inhabitants thrice and Allah will expel all the nonbelievers and the hypocrites from it.”
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari
Unique Facts about Madinah al-Munawarrah
- Madinah is home to the three oldest mosques including the Quba Mosque, Masjid an-Nabawi and Masjid al-Qiblatayn.
- During World War I, Madinah witnessed one of the longest siege (Click for more info) in history.
- Madinah is situated in the most fertile part of all the Hejaz region.
- In 1256, Madinah was threatened by lava flow from the last eruption of Harrat Rahat, one of the largest lava fields in the Arabian Peninsula.
- As of 1920, 139 varieties of dates were being grown in the area around Madinah.
- Originally Masjid an-Nabawi was an open-air building made with only palm trunks, beaten clay, and palm leaves
- Masjid an-Nabawi has an empty grave which is reportedly for Prophet Eesa (as).
May Allah (swt) allow all of us to repeatedly visit the radiant city of Madinah. Ameen.
My Daily Deen 