The plague and the Dajjal do not enter Madinah: Are these the current boundaries of Madinah, or the boundaries at that time?
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The questioner : The plague and the Dajjal do not enter Madinah. Are the boundaries of Madinah known, meaning from here to there?
The Shaykh : It appears that Madinah is whatever falls under the name of Madinah at that time, not the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). At the time of the emergence of the Dajjal, Madinah may expand beyond its current size, or it may contract; we do not know. The extent is not known to us. It is currently much larger than it was in the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would ride out to Quba, and the distance between it and Madinah is now within the same city. So we do not know if Madinah will shrink in the future or expand further. The important point is that whatever falls under the name of Madinah at that time, neither the plague nor the Dajjal will enter it.
The questioner : Meaning, we rely on custom.
The Shaykh : On custom.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : No, no, it is not the Haram. Yes.
The questioner : Can it be taken from the hadith that Madinah is surrounded by angels now, because the plague is possible...
The Shaykh : Allah knows best. We cannot say for certain. It may be said, as I mentioned, that there are angels on the passes of Madinah who do not allow the plague or the Dajjal to enter. It may also be said that if the plague occurs in a land near Madinah and there is a fear that it will spread to it, then there are angels [protecting it]. Allah knows best.
The Shaykh : It appears that Madinah is whatever falls under the name of Madinah at that time, not the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). At the time of the emergence of the Dajjal, Madinah may expand beyond its current size, or it may contract; we do not know. The extent is not known to us. It is currently much larger than it was in the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would ride out to Quba, and the distance between it and Madinah is now within the same city. So we do not know if Madinah will shrink in the future or expand further. The important point is that whatever falls under the name of Madinah at that time, neither the plague nor the Dajjal will enter it.
The questioner : Meaning, we rely on custom.
The Shaykh : On custom.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : No, no, it is not the Haram. Yes.
The questioner : Can it be taken from the hadith that Madinah is surrounded by angels now, because the plague is possible...
The Shaykh : Allah knows best. We cannot say for certain. It may be said, as I mentioned, that there are angels on the passes of Madinah who do not allow the plague or the Dajjal to enter. It may also be said that if the plague occurs in a land near Madinah and there is a fear that it will spread to it, then there are angels [protecting it]. Allah knows best.