It is said that al-Madinah al-Munawwarah expels its impurity, but we find impurity in it. What is the answer? {The Shaykh’s note that the correct term is al-Madinah al-Nabawiyyah}
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The questioner : The questioner says: I read the questions, O Shaykh, with all their flaws and imperfections.
The Shaykh : Read them with all their flaws and imperfections.
The questioner : He says: I know well that al-Madinah al-Munawwarah expels the impure, and yet I also know well that some people who commit impure deeds are present there. May Allah reward you with good?
The Shaykh : First, the description of al-Madinah al-Munawwarah has become common among people, both officially and socially, but I have not seen this in the books of the early scholars. Rather, the city is described as al-Nabawiyyah, and this is its most specific description: al-Nabawiyyah, because it is the place of the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) migration, and because he was buried there (may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him). As for al-Munawwarah, every city into which Islam has entered has been entered by light, so it is illuminated. Which is more appropriate: to describe the city with a description that does not apply to others, or with a general description?
The student: The first one.
The Shaykh : The first option is to describe it with what does not describe others. The fact that something is widespread among people does not mean it is the best description. As long as we have minds and we know the linguistic meanings of words, we say al-Madinah al-Nabawiyyah. As for al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, we know that if the city were in the farthest part of Iraq, or the farthest part of Sham, or the farthest part of Yemen, or the farthest part of the Maghreb, and Islam entered it, what would it be? Illuminated, without doubt.[An-Nisa 4:174] So whenever Islam is found in a place, it is illuminated. But al-Madinah al-Nabawiyyah, even Makkah does not share in this. Makkah, although the Messenger was sent from there and it is the place of his mission (peace and blessings be upon him), but his final abode is what? It is in al-Madinah.
So we say, in correcting the questioner’s question, it is al-Madinah al-Nabawiyyah. And this is part of the flaws and imperfections, as the brother said.
But the second point is that it expels impurity and expels hypocrisy. However, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not specify when this expulsion takes place. It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that the Dajjal will not enter al-Madinah, and that he will be in one of its marshes, then it will tremble three times, and whoever is a hypocrite will be expelled from it, or something similar to that. I forgot the exact wording of the hadith. Yes.
The Shaykh : Read them with all their flaws and imperfections.
The questioner : He says: I know well that al-Madinah al-Munawwarah expels the impure, and yet I also know well that some people who commit impure deeds are present there. May Allah reward you with good?
The Shaykh : First, the description of al-Madinah al-Munawwarah has become common among people, both officially and socially, but I have not seen this in the books of the early scholars. Rather, the city is described as al-Nabawiyyah, and this is its most specific description: al-Nabawiyyah, because it is the place of the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) migration, and because he was buried there (may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him). As for al-Munawwarah, every city into which Islam has entered has been entered by light, so it is illuminated. Which is more appropriate: to describe the city with a description that does not apply to others, or with a general description?
The student: The first one.
The Shaykh : The first option is to describe it with what does not describe others. The fact that something is widespread among people does not mean it is the best description. As long as we have minds and we know the linguistic meanings of words, we say al-Madinah al-Nabawiyyah. As for al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, we know that if the city were in the farthest part of Iraq, or the farthest part of Sham, or the farthest part of Yemen, or the farthest part of the Maghreb, and Islam entered it, what would it be? Illuminated, without doubt.
O mankind, there has come to you a conclusive proof from your Lord, and We have sent down to you a clear light.
يا أيها الناس قد جاءكم برهان من ربكم وأنزلنا إليكم نورا مبيناSo we say, in correcting the questioner’s question, it is al-Madinah al-Nabawiyyah. And this is part of the flaws and imperfections, as the brother said.
But the second point is that it expels impurity and expels hypocrisy. However, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not specify when this expulsion takes place. It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that the Dajjal will not enter al-Madinah, and that he will be in one of its marshes, then it will tremble three times, and whoever is a hypocrite will be expelled from it, or something similar to that. I forgot the exact wording of the hadith. Yes.