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The 40 authentic Hadith of the Prophet (PBUH) on the virtues of Madinah. By Shaykh Muhammad bin Yahya al-Ninowy. Madina Institute
‘Oh Allah make Madinah beloved to us as you’ve made Makkah beloved to us’. (Bukhari)
‘Oh Allah put in Madinah double the number of blessings You put in Makkah’. (Bukhari)
‘Oh Allah Ibrahim had made Makkah sacred, and I make Madinah sacred’. (Muslim)
These were the prayers Prophet Muhammad (SAW) made for the city of Madinah after migrating to it from his native city of Makkah where he was born and bred. And despite conquering Makkah eight years later, he did not return to it, stating instead that ‘Madinah is better for them if only they knew’ (Muslim), ‘If all the people were in one valley and the people of Madinah were in one valley I would be in the valley of the people of Madinah’ (Muslim) and ‘Whosever can die in Madinah, then let him die there, for I shall intercede for whoever dies in it’ (Tirmidhi). Such was his love for Madinah, the city Allah Himself chose for his migration and his final resting place, that it was aptly titled as ‘al-Munawwarah’ (the Illuminated City) and ‘Taybah’ (the Purified City).
Subsequently, Islamic scholars have authored numerous works on the history and merits of the blessed city of Madinah since the earliest period of Muslim history. Some prominent names that come to mind are: al-Kinani (1st Century), Ibn-Zabalah (2nd Century), al-Aqiqi (2nd Century), Ibn-Shabbah (3rd Century), al-Jundi (3rd Century), Ibn-al-Najjar (5th Century), Ibn-Farhun (7th Century), al-Matari (7th Century), al-Aquli (7th Century), al-Marjani (7th Century), al-Fayruzabadi (8th Century), al-Sakhawi (8th Century AH), al-Samhudi (9th Century), al-Nahrawali (9th Century), al-Abbasi (10th Century), Kibrit al-Husayni (10th Century), al-Uskudrai (11th Century), al-Barzanji (12th Century AH), al-Ansari (13th Century), al-Khiyari (13th Century), al-Shinqiti (13th Century), al-Ayyashi (13th Century), Mullah Khatir (14th Century), al-Nadwi (14th Century), al-Maliki (14th Century), al-Qari (14th Century), Abd-al-Ghani (14th Century) and many more.
Not to mention that nearly all Hadith collections have special sections on the merits of Madinah and the virtues of praying in its sacred Mosque of the Prophet (SAW).
Yet, despite the abundance of such works in Arabic, there was a dearth of any serious work on this pivotal topic in the English language. The honourable Shaykh Sayyid Muhammad bin Yahya al-Ninowy has filled that void with this book.
Shaykh Ninowy is an accomplished scholar of Hadith and Prophetic studies from Syria and is based in the USA where he is the founder and director of Madina Institute. He has authored many Hadith-based works such as The Book of Love, 40 Hadith on Mercy and those who show Mercy, Expressing Delight in the birth of the Light, Deterring the Ignorant Aggressor from Transgressing Against Our Lady Fatima, and others.
His current work, The Forty Hadith on the Virtues of al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, is a brilliant compendium of meticulously selected authentic sayings of the Prophet (SAW) about the merits and virtues of Madinah.
In the foreword the author states: ‘After a thousand and four hundred years, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)’s city glows with his light and is permeated by his benevolent musk and love… Al-Madinah al-Munawwarah has been inscribed with the most heavenly memories and the most beautiful stories.’
This is followed by an introduction entitled ‘Pathway to Madina’ which explores in great detail the historical motivations and spiritual inspirations behind the Prophetic Migration (Hijrah) to Madinah. To quote the author: ‘The Prophetic migration represented the dividing line between Makkan and Madinan phases of the call of Islam. Therefore, scholars agreed to record the history of Muslims starting from when the Prophet (PBUH) arrived in Al-Madinah’.
In Chapter one, the author deals with the honorific ‘Names of al-Madinah’, discussing its most famous ones amongst a total of 94!
The second chapter covers some of the Quranic verses in praise of Madinah and its people, with succinct explanations.
What follows thereafter is the core section on the ‘40 authentic Hadith of the Prophet (PBUH) on the virtues of Madinah’. As an accomplished muhaddith, Shaykh Ninowy provides the full reference of each Hadith as well as a brief explanation. This section – over 65 pages – is the crux of the book.
The next section – also over 65 pages – is entitled ‘Glad Tidings to the Lovers visiting the Master of Messengers’. This is an absolutely heart-warming and spiritually illuminating read where the learned author – also a spiritual master in his own right – provides 16 profound spiritual ‘hints’ to the visitors of Madinah, each based on Quran and Sunnah.
The following section contains quotes by various great scholars of Islam on visiting the Prophet (PBUH)’s blessed grave. This is followed by a chapter on ‘Some of the Etiquettes of visiting Sayyiduna Rasul-Allah (SAW)’. This chapter contains 24 spiritual ‘tips’ for visitors of the blessed Tomb. The following chapter contains eight practical ‘suggestions’ for ‘What comes after the First Visit’. I found this section to be very beneficial for first time visitors to Madinah. The final chapter is aptly dedicated to the ‘Desirability of sending Greetings and Salutations on the Prophet (PBUH)’.
The book is published by Madina Institute and is available from the Baitul Hikmah, Iqra Agencies, Daral Latif Networks and Crystal Bowtique in South Africa.
It is printed in a compact size with a beautiful hardcover, making it both easy and light to carry. The font used is also easy on the reader’s eyes. Every ayah and hadith quoted is provided in the original Arabic as well. I noticed, however, unlike other books on the topic, the work is devoid of any illustrations and pictures of Madinah. Nevertheless, the content is so rich that one can visualise Madinah and its blessed ambience while reading it.
On the whole, the book is very well-written, and I found it to be the most comprehensive and scholarly work on this topic in the English language. Shaykh Ninowy concluded its writing in the Haram of Madinah, and I strongly recommend it for anyone intending to visit Madinah.
- This unique compilation of forty authentic hadith, along with ‘Good tidings for lovers visiting the Final Messenger’ was originally published in Arabic. The Arabic book will be available in South Africa in the upcoming months.
Review by SHAYKH FAKHRUDDIN OWAISI AL-MADANI
Shaykh Fakhruddin Owaisi al-Madani is a native of Madinah and currently a senior lecturer in Prophetic Studies and Islamic History at the Madina Institute South Africa and the International Peace College South Africa (IPSA).
