The Sacred Territory of Medina. May God most high protect it - Section 1

‘Ali said :

We wrote down nothing on the authority of God’s messenger but the Qur’an and what this document contains. He reported God’s messenger as saying, “Medina is sacred from ‘Air to Thaur, ( This phrase has been much discussed. ‘Air is known as a hill at Medina and Thaur at Mecca. Because of the difficulty some have suggested that Uhud should be read instead of Thaur, but others feel that that is unjustifiable.) so if anyone produces an innovation in it, or gives protection to an innovator, the curse of God, the angels, and all men will rest upon him, and no repentance or ransom (Lane in his Lexicon gives a variety of meanings for this phrase, <i>la yuqbal minhu sarf wald 'adl</i>. The one used above seems the most suitable here) will be accepted from him. The protection granted by Muslims is one and must be respected by the humblest of them, so if anyone breaks a covenant made by a Muslim the curse of God, the angels, and all men will rest upon him and no repentance or ransom will be accepted from him. If anyone gives the rights of inheritance to people without the permission of his masters, (This is explained in relation to a slave who has been set free, for the rights of inheritance still belong to his master who set him free. Cf. Book 12, ch. 6, third tradition) the curse of God, the angels, and all men will rest upon him, and no repentance or ransom will be accepted from him.’’ Bukhari and Muslim. A version given by both of them says, “ If anyone makes a false claim to paternity or to being a client, the curse of God, the angels and all men will rest upon him, and no repentance or ransom will be accepted from him.”

عَنْ عَلِيٍّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: مَا كَتَبْنَا عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِلَّا الْقُرْآنَ وَمَا فِي هَذِهِ الصَّحِيفَةِ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسلم: «الْمَدِينَةُ حَرَامٌ مَا بَيْنَ عَيْرٍ إِلَى ثَوْرٍ فمنْ أحدَثَ فِيهَا حَدَثًا أَوْ آوَى مُحْدِثًا فَعَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ لَا يُقْبَلُ مِنْهُ صَرْفٌ وَلَا عَدْلٌ ذمَّةُ المسلمينَ واحدةٌ يَسْعَى بِهَا أَدْنَاهُمْ فَمَنْ أَخْفَرَ مُسْلِمًا فَعَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ لَا يُقْبَلُ مِنْهُ صَرْفٌ وَلَا عَدْلٌ وَمَنْ وَالَى قَوْمًا بِغَيْرِ إِذْنِ مَوَالِيهِ فَعَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ لَا يُقْبَلُ مِنْهُ صَرْفٌ وَلَا عدل» وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ لَهُمَا: «مَنِ ادَّعَى إِلَى غَيْرِ أَبِيهِ أَوْ تَوَلَّى غَيْرَ مَوَالِيهِ فَعَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ لَا يُقْبَلُ مِنْهُ صرف وَلَا عدل»

Sa‘d reported God’s messenger as saying, “I declare sacred the territory between the two lava plains of Medina, so that its large thorn trees may not be cut down, or its game killed.” He also said, “Medina is best for them if they only knew. No one leaves it through dislike of it without God putting in it someone better than he in place of him, and no one will remain there in spite of its hardship and distress without my being an intercessor (or witness) on his behalf on the day of resurrection." Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ سَعْدٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:

إِنِّي أُحَرِّمُ مَا بَيْنَ لَابَتَيِ الْمَدِينَةِ: أَنْ يُقْطَعَ عِضَاهُهَا أَوْ يُقْتَلَ صَيْدُهَا

وَقَالَ: «الْمَدِينَةُ خَيْرٌ لَهُمْ لَوْ كَانُوا يعلَمونَ لَا يَدَعُهَا أَحَدٌ رَغْبَةً عَنْهَا إِلَّا أَبْدَلَ اللَّهُ فِيهَا مَنْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِنْهُ وَلَا يَثْبُتُ أَحَدٌ عَلَى لَأْوَائِهَا وَجَهْدِهَا إِلَّا كُنْتُ لَهُ شَفِيعًا أَو شَهِيدا يَوْم الْقِيَامَة» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, "No one from among my people will endure the hardship and rigour of Medina without my being an intercessor on his behalf on the day of resurrection." Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «لَا يَصْبِرُ عَلَى لَأْوَاءِ الْمَدِينَةِ وَشِدَّتِهَا أَحَدٌ مِنْ أُمَّتِي إِلَّا كُنْتُ لَهُ شَفِيعًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ» . رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ

He told that when the people saw the first fruits they brought them to the Prophet, and when he received them he said, "O God, bless us in our fruits; bless us in our city; bless us in our sa‘; and bless us in our mudd. O God, Abraham was Your servant, friend and prophet, and I am Your servant and prophet. He made supplication to You on behalf of Mecca, and I make on behalf of Medina the same supplication as he made on behalf of Mecca and as much again." He would then call to him the youngest child and give him those fruits. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: كَانَ النَّاسُ إِذَا رَأَوْا أَوَّلَ الثَّمَرَةِ جَاءُوا بِهِ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَإِذَا أَخَذَهُ قَالَ: «اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِي ثَمَرِنَا وَبَارِكْ لَنَا فِي مَدِينَتِنَا وَبَارِكْ لَنَا فِي صَاعِنَا وَبَارِكْ لَنَا فِي مُدِّنَا اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَبْدُكَ وَخَلِيلُكَ وَنَبِيُّكَ وَإِنِّي عَبْدُكَ وَنَبِيُّكَ وَإِنَّهُ دَعَاكَ لِمَكَّةَ وَأَنَا أدعوكَ للمدينةِ بمثلِ مَا دعَاكَ لمكةَ ومِثْلِهِ مَعَهُ» . ثُمَّ قَالَ: يَدْعُو أَصْغَرَ وَلِيدٍ لَهُ فيعطيهِ ذَلِك الثَّمر. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Abu Sa'id reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, "Abraham declared Mecca sacred and made it a sacred area, and I declare Medina to be sacred throughout the area between its two mountain paths, so that no blood may be shed in it, weapons may not be carried in it for fighting, and leaves may not be beaten off trees in it except for fodder." Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَرَّمَ مَكَّةَ فَجَعَلَهَا حَرَامًا وَإِنِّي حَرَّمْتُ الْمَدِينَةَ حَرَامًا مَا بَيْنَ مَأْزِمَيْهَا أَنْ لَا يُهْرَاقَ فِيهَا دَمٌ وَلَا يُحْمَلَ فِيهَا سلاحٌ لقتالٍ وَلَا تُخبَطَ فِيهَا شجرةٌ إِلَّا لعلف» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

‘Amir b. Sa'd said that Sa‘d rode to his castle in al-'Aqiq and found a salve cutting down trees, or beating off their leaves, so he took what was on him. When Sa'd returned, the slave’s people came to him and asked him to return to their servant or to them what he had taken from their servant, but he replied, "God forbid that I should return anything which God’s messenger has given me as spoil;" and he refused to return it to them. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَامِرِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ: أَنَّ سَعْدًا رَكِبَ إِلَى قَصْرِهِ بِالْعَقِيقِ فَوَجَدَ عَبْدًا يَقْطَعُ شَجَرًا أَوْ يَخْبِطُهُ فَسَلَبَهُ فَلَمَّا رَجَعَ سَعْدٌ جَاءَهُ أَهْلُ الْعَبْدِ فَكَلَّمُوهُ أَنْ يَرُدَّ عَلَى غُلَامِهِمْ أَوْ عَلَيْهِمْ مَا أَخَذَ مِنْ غُلَامِهِمْ فَقَالَ: مَعَاذَ اللَّهِ أَنْ أَرُدَّ شَيْئًا نَفَّلَنِيهِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَأَبِي أَنْ يرد عَلَيْهِم. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

‘A'isha said:

When God’s messenger came to Medina Abu Bakr and Bilal were prostrated with fever and when I went to God’s messenger and told him he said, "O God, make Medina as dear to us as Mecca, or more so, make it healthy, bless us in its sa' and its mudd, and transfer its fever and put it in al-Juhfa." Bukhari and Muslim.

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: لَمَّا قَدِمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الْمَدِينَةَ وُعِكَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَبِلَالٌ فَجِئْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ فَقَالَ: «اللَّهُمَّ حَبِّبْ إِلَيْنَا الْمَدِينَةَ كَحُبِّنَا مَكَّةَ أَوْ أَشَدَّ وَصَحِّحْهَا وَبَارِكْ لَنَا فِي صاعها ومدها وانقل حماها فاجعلها بِالْجُحْفَةِ»

'Abdallah b. ‘Umar told of the vision the Prophet (ﷺ) had about Medina. He said, “I saw a black woman with dishevelled hair go out of Medina and settle at Mahya'a, and interpreted it as meaning that the pestilence of Medina had been transferred to Mahya'a, which is al-Juhfa.” Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ فِي رُؤْيَا النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ:

رَأَيْتُ امْرَأَةً سَوْدَاءَ ثَائِرَةَ الرَّأْسِ خَرَجَتْ مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ حَتَّى نَزَلَتْ مَهْيَعَةَ فَتَأَوَّلْتُهَا: أَنَّ وَبَاءَ الْمَدِينَةِ نُقِلَ إِلَى مَهْيَعَةَ وَهِيَ الْجُحْفَةُ

. رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Sufyan b. Abu Zuhair told of hearing God’s messenger say, "The Yemen will be conquered and- people will come driving their camels gently, removing their families and those who are under their authority, but Medina would be best for them if they only knew. Syria will be conquered and people will come driving their camels gently, removing their families and those who are under their authority, but Medina would be best for them if they only knew. ‘Iraq will be conquered and people will come driving their camels gently, removing their families and those who are under their authority, but Medina would be best for them if they only knew.” Bukhari and Muslim.

وَعَنْ سُفْيَانَ بْنِ أَبِي زُهَيْرٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «يُفْتَحُ الْيَمَنُ فَيَأْتِي قومٌ يبُسُّونَ فيَتَحمَّلونَ بأهليهم وَمن أطاعهم وَالْمَدِينَةُ خَيْرٌ لَهُمْ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ وَيُفْتَحُ الشَّامُ فَيَأْتِي قَوْمٌ يَبُسُّونَ فَيَتَحَمَّلُونَ بِأَهْلِيهِمْ وَمَنْ أَطَاعَهُمْ وَالْمَدِينَةُ خَيْرٌ لَهُمْ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ وَيُفْتَحُ الْعِرَاقُ فَيَأْتِي قَوْمٌ يَبُسُّونَ فَيَتَحَمَّلُونَ بِأَهْلِيهِمْ وَمَنْ أَطَاعَهُمْ وَالْمَدِينَةُ خَيْرٌ لَهُمْ لَوْ كَانُوا يعلمُونَ»

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, " I have been commanded to go to a town which will devour all towns. People call it Yathrib, but it is Medina. It drives away people as the bellows drives away the impurity of iron.” Bukhari and Muslim.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:

أُمِرْتُ بِقَرْيَةٍ تَأْكُلُ الْقُرَى. يَقُولُونَ: يَثْرِبَ وَهِيَ الْمَدِينَةُ تَنْفِي النَّاسَ كَمَا يَنْفِي الْكِيرُ خَبَثَ الْحَدِيدِ

Jabir b. Samura told that he heard God’s messenger say, “God called Medina Taba.”( Taj al-'Arus says the objection to the name Yathrib was owing to the fact that the root from which this name comes has the meaning of corruption. Therefore Taba, which comes from a root meaning to be good, sweet, or pure, was considered better. Other forms which have been used are Taiba, al-Mutayyaba (or al-Mutayyiba)) Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ سَمُرَةَ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «إِنَّ الله سمى الْمَدِينَة طابة» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Jabir b. ‘Abdallah told of a desert Arab who had sworn allegiance to God’s messenger, but who, when he suffered from a bout of fever in Medina, came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said, "Cancel my oath of allegiance, Muhammad;” but God’s messenger refused. He came again with the same request and again he refused. He came once more with the same request, and when he again refused, the desert Arab went off. God’s messenger then said, "Medina is like bellows which drives away its impurity and purifies what is good in it.” Bukhari and Muslim.

وَعَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ: أَنَّ أَعْرَابِيًّا بَايَعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَأَصَابَ الْأَعْرَابِيَّ وَعَكٌ بِالْمَدِينَةِ فَأَتَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ: يَا مُحَمَّدُ أَقِلْنِي بَيْعَتِي فَأَبَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ فَقَالَ: أَقِلْنِي بَيْعَتِي فَأَبَى ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ فَقَالَ: أَقِلْنِي بَيْعَتِي فَأَبَى فَخَرَجَ الْأَعْرَابِيُّ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّمَا الْمَدِينَةُ كَالْكِيرِ تَنْفِي خبثها وتنصع طيبها»

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, “The last hour will not come before Medina drives away its wicked people as the bellows drives away the impurity of iron." Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ حَتَّى تَنْفِيَ الْمَدِينَةُ شِرَارَهَا كَمَا يَنْفِي الْكِيرُ خَبَثَ الْحَدِيد» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “There are angels on the mountain roads of Medina, so neither plague nor the dajjal can enter it.” Bukhari and Muslim.

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «عَلَى أَنْقَابِ الْمَدِينَةِ مَلَائِكَةٌ لَا يَدْخُلُهَا الطَّاعُونُ وَلَا الدَّجَّالُ»

Anas reported God’s messenger as saying, “There is no town on which the dajjal will not tread, with the exception of Mecca and Medina. There is none of its mountain paths which does not have angels in it drawn up in rows and guarding it. He will then go down to the marshy land, and Medina will put its people into commotion three times; then every infidel and hypocrite will go out to him.” Bukhari and Muslim.

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَيْسَ مِنْ بلدٍ إِلا سَيَطَؤهُ الدَّجَّالُ إِلَّا مَكَّةَ وَالْمَدِينَةَ لَيْسَ نَقْبٌ مِنْ أَنِقَابِهَا إِلَّا عَلَيْهِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ صَافِّينَ يَحْرُسُونَهَا فَيَنْزِلُ السَّبِخَةَ فَتَرْجُفُ الْمَدِينَةُ بِأَهْلِهَا ثَلَاثَ رَجَفَاتٍ فَيَخْرُجُ إِلَيْهِ كُلُّ كَافِرٍ وَمُنَافِقٍ»

Sa'd reported God’s messenger as saying, “No one will act deceitfully towards the inhabitants of Medina without being dissolved as salt is dissolved in water.” Bukhari and Muslim.

وَعَنْ سَعْدٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا يَكِيدُ أَهْلَ الْمَدِينَةِ أَحَدٌ إِلَّا انْمَاعَ كَمَا يَنْمَاعُ الْملح فِي المَاء»

Anas said that when the Prophet (ﷺ) returned from a journey and looked at the walls of Medina he made his camel hasten, and if he was on a horse (Dabba. This word is used for either a horse or a mule, and although it is feminine it is used for either male or female) he urged it on through love of Medina. Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ: أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ إِذَا قَدِمَ مِنْ سَفَرٍ فَنَظَرَ إِلى جُدُراتِ الْمَدِينَةِ أَوْضَعَ رَاحِلَتَهُ وَإِنْ كَانَ عَلَى دَابَّةٍ حركها من حبها. رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

He told of the Prophet (ﷺ) coming in sight of Uhud and saying, “This is a mountain which loves us and which we love. O God, Abraham declared Mecca sacred, and I declare the land between its (Medina's) two lava plains to be sacred.” Bukhari and Muslim.

وَعَنْهُ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ طَلَعَ لَهُ أُحُدٌ فَقَالَ: «هَذَا جَبَلٌ يُحِبُّنَا وَنُحِبُّهُ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَرَّمَ مَكَّةَ وَإِنِّي أحرم مَا بَين لابتيها»

Sahl b. Sa'd reported God’s messenger as saying, “Uhud is a mountain which loves us and which we love.” Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أُحُدٌ جَبَلٌ يُحِبُّنَا ونحبُّه» . رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Sulaiman b. Abu ‘Abdallah said he saw Sa'd b. Abu Waqqas seize a man who was hunting in the sacred territory of Medina which God’s messenger had declared to be sacred and take away his clothes from him. His patrons came to him and spoke to him about it, but he replied, “God’s messenger declared this sacred territory to be sacred, saying that if anyone caught someone hunting in it he should take from him what he had, so I will not return to you a provision which God’s messenger has given me; but if you wish I shall pay you its value.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ: رَأَيْتُ سَعْدَ بْنَ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ أَخَذَ رَجُلًا يَصِيدُ فِي حَرَمِ الْمَدِينَةِ الَّذِي حَرَّمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَسَلَبَهُ ثِيَابَهُ فَجَاءَهُ مَوَالِيهِ فَكَلَّمُوهُ فِيهِ فَقَالَ: إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حَرَّمَ هَذَا الْحَرَمَ وَقَالَ: «مَنْ أَخَذَ أَحَدًا يَصِيدُ فِيهِ فَلْيَسْلُبْهُ» . فَلَا أَرُدُّ عَلَيْكُمْ طُعْمَةً أَطْعَمَنِيهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَلَكِنْ إِنْ شِئْتُمْ دفعتُ إِليكم ثمنَه. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Salih, a client of Sa'd, said that Sa'd found some of the slaves of Medina cutting down some of the trees of Medina and took away their equipment. He then said, i.e. to their owners, that he had heard God's messenger prohibiting the cutting of any of the trees of Medina and saying, “If anyone cuts any of them, what is taken from him goes to the one who seizes him." Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ صَالِحٍ مَوْلًى لِسَعْدٍ أَنَّ سَعْدًا وَجَدَ عَبِيدًا مِنْ عَبِيدِ الْمَدِينَةِ يَقْطَعُونَ مِنْ شَجَرِ الْمَدِينَةِ فَأَخَذَ مَتَاعَهُمْ وَقَالَ يَعْنِي لِمَوَالِيهِمْ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ينْهَى أَنْ يُقْطَعَ مِنْ شَجَرِ الْمَدِينَةِ شَيْءٌ وَقَالَ: «مَنْ قَطَعَ مِنْهُ شَيْئًا فَلِمَنْ أَخَذَهُ سَلَبُهُ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Az-Zubair reported God’s messenger as saying, “The game and large thorn trees of Wajj are sacred being declared a sacred belonging of God." Abu Dawud transmitted it. Muhyi as-Sunna said Wajj was mentioned by some as being in the neighbourhood of at-Ta’if. (There is another sentence here which cannot easily be fitted in with the translation. It says that al-Khattabi used <i>annahu</i> in place of <i>annaha</i>. In the preceding phrase <i>annaha</i> is used with reference to Wajj. The point of the extra sentence is that al-Khattabi used the masculine pronominal suffix in place of the feminine)

وَعَنِ الزُّبَيْرِ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّ صَيْدَ وَجٍّ وَعِضَاهَهُ حِرْمٌ مُحَرَّمٌ لِلَّهِ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَقَالَ مُحْيِي السُّنَّةِ: «وَجٌّ» ذَكَرُوا أَنَّهَا مِنْ نَاحِيَةِ الطَّائِف وَقَالَ الْخطابِيّ: «إِنَّه» بدل «إِنَّهَا»

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s messenger as saying, “Let him who can die in Medina, for I shall intercede for those who die in it." Ahmad and Tirmidhi transmitted it, the latter saying this is a <i>hasan</i> <i>sahih</i> tradition whose <i>isnad</i> is gharib.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ أَنْ يَمُوت بالمدية فليمت لَهَا فَإِنِّي أَشْفَعُ لِمَنْ يَمُوتُ بِهَا» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَقَالَ: هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيح غَرِيب إِسْنَادًا

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “The last of the towns of Islam to become a ruin will be Medina," Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a <i>hasan gharib</i> tradition.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «آخِرُ قَرْيَةٍ مِنْ قُرَى الْإِسْلَامِ خَرَابًا الْمَدِينَةُ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَقَالَ: هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ

Jarir b. ‘Abdallah reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, “God revealed to me that whichever of these three I settled in, it would be the abode of my emigration:

Medina, al-Bahrain, (In eastern Arabia, on the Persian Gulf)* or Qinnasrin."(In Syria) Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَنْ جَرِيرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ أَوْحَى إِلَيَّ: أَيَّ هَؤُلَاءِ الثَّلَاثَةِ نَزَلْتَ فَهِيَ دَارُ هِجْرَتِكَ الْمَدِينَةِ أَوِ الْبَحْرَيْنِ أَوْ قِنَّسْرِينَ

. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ