Who forbade Makkah and al-Madinah?

The questioner : Yes. Who determines his dealings?

The Shaykh : Yes, first, who forbade Makkah and who forbade al-Madinah? We say that the One who forbade Makkah and al-Madinah is Allah, for Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) is the One in whose hand is the prohibition. However, He manifested the sanctity of Makkah through Ibrahim al-Khalil, and He manifested the sanctity of al-Madinah through his second close friend, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, is the close friend of Allah, as it is authentically reported from him that he said: “Indeed, Allah has taken me as a close friend, just as He took Ibrahim as a close friend.”