The City of Madinah
Madinah Munawwarah, often translated as ‘The Enlightened City,’ is the second holiest city in Islam, following Makkah. It served as a sanctuary for the Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings be upon him) and the early Muslims after their migration from Makkah. Additionally, it is the site of the Prophet’s burial.
Historically, the city was known as Yathrib, an oasis city dating back to the 6th century BCE. During the conflict between the Jews and Romans in the third century CE, many Jews fled from Jerusalem and settled in Yathrib, their ancestral home. In 213 CE, Nero dispatched a vast Roman army under Petra Lenidas to massacre the Jewish population in Madinah, though a remnant survived. By the time the Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) migrated, a considerable Jewish community was present around the city.
The Jews were eagerly anticipating the arrival of a prophet, as their scriptures predicted he would appear in Madinah. They would often taunt the local Arabs, claiming that when this prophet arrived, they would destroy the idolaters just as the ancient peoples of Aad and Thamud had been destroyed. However, when they realized that the final prophet was chosen from the Arabs rather than from among them, their pride led them to reject him, even though they recognized him as clearly as they recognized their own children, as mentioned in the Qur’an (2:146). Nevertheless, a few Jews, notably Hussain bin Salam, one of their most learned Rabbis, embraced Islam. The Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) renamed him Abdullah bin Salam.
When the Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) emigrated to Madinah, the city was not entirely unfamiliar to him. His father, Abdullah, was buried there, and at the age of six, the Prophet had traveled there with his mother, Aminah, and their devoted slave girl, Barakah (later known as Umme Ayman). In later life, he recalled how he learned to swim in a pool owned by his kinsmen and how he was taught to fly a kite by local boys. However, during their return journey, his mother fell seriously ill and passed away at Abwa, not far from Yathrib, where she was buried. Barakah consoled the young Prophet, now doubly orphaned, and brought him back to Makkah.
Approximately a year before the migration, the Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) sent Mus’ab bin Umair (May Allah be pleased with him) to propagate Islam among the people of Madinah, and many of the Ansar embraced Islam through his efforts.
Madinah is located 210 miles (340 km) north of Makkah. At the time of the Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him), the city’s size was roughly equivalent to the present Masjid and its surrounding white-tiled area.
Narrated by Anas (May Allah be pleased with him): “Whenever the Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) returned from a journey and observed the walls of Madinah, he would hasten his mount, or if he was on an animal, he would make it gallop, out of love for Madinah.” [Bukhari]
The Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) said: “For the believer, Madinah is the best place. If they could truly comprehend its virtue, they would never leave it. Whoever departs from Madinah in disillusionment, Allah will replace them with someone better. And whoever patiently endures the trials of Madinah, I will be an intercessor (or witness) for them on the Day of Qiyamah.” [Muslim]
Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her) narrated that when they arrived in Madinah, it was an unhealthy, unpleasant place. Abu Bakr and Bilal (May Allah be pleased with them) both fell ill. Observing his companions’ sickness, Allah’s Messenger (Peace and blessings be upon him) supplicated: “O Allah, make Madinah as beloved to us as You made Makkah beloved, or even more so; make it healthy for us, bless us in its Sa’ and Mudd’ (units of measurement), and transfer its fever to Juhfa.” [Bukhari]
In another hadith, it is stated: “There will be no town that Ad-Dajjal (the Anti-Christ) will not enter except Makkah and Madinah. All entrances will be guarded by angels standing in rows, and Madinah will shake with its inhabitants thrice. Allah will expel all nonbelievers and hypocrites from it.” [Bukhari]
Abu Huraira (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Verily, belief returns and goes back to Madinah just as a snake returns and goes back to its hole (when in danger).” [Bukhari]
