Virtues and Etiquettes of Madinah Munawwarah

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Beneficient

 

 

 

In a Hadeeth that is famous amongst the lovers of Madinah Munawwarah, Rasulullah ﷺ states: ‘And Madinah is better for them, if only they knew’. Although this Hadeeth refers to the Muslim empire expanding and lands being conquered, and people leaving Madinah Munawwarah for these new places, this one line, from the blessed lips of the best of creation ﷺ, echoes within the hearts of millions.

 

 

The heart and soul of every single Muslim is connected to the blessed city of Madinah, the resting place of the beloved of Allah Ta’ala, Rasulullah ﷺ. It is such a place that every single Muslim, male and female, aspires to one day travel to. To walk the streets that Rasulullah ﷺ walked, see the mountains and hills that He would’ve seen, breathe the fragrant and cool air of a city that’s love is second nature in the heart of a believer. Most of all, every Muslim wants to go himself and greet Rasulullah ﷺ, as this is amongst the highest honours for him. So many people travel from far and wide, and when they lay their eyes upon the blessed grave of Rasulullah ﷺ, and in the most humble manner, deliver their Salaam, they break down as the emotions that consume them are too much. This is the love of the Ummati for its leader.

 

 

This article serves to stoke the fire that burns in the heart of every Mu’min, to yearn to see Madinah Munawwarah, to visit and spend time in the blessed city of Rasulullah ﷺ. Not just for shopping, or as a holiday, but because this city was chosen from all other cities to be the home and resting place of our Nabi ﷺ.

 

No matter how much we love our hometowns, and we feel it’s the best place to be, understand well that every city envies Madinah Munawwarah, as its rich soil holds the body of Rasulullah ﷺ. Not only did Allah Ta’ala choose this place for his Nabi to finally rest in, He also chose it for his Hijrat (Migration), as well as the city from where Islam would dominate the world. On top of that, this was the city where the greatest people after the Ambiyaa, the Sahaabah Radhiyallahu Anhum, left all they knew behind, and followed Rasulullah ﷺ to the city that Allah Ta’ala Himself named Taabah (the pure one).

 

 

In a Hadeeth, Rasulullah ﷺ states:

Therefore, my respected readers, Madinah Munawwarah is blessed and brilliant in every way. Be it the water, the air, the soil, everything part of it is blessed.

Look at the Dua that Rasulullah ﷺ makes for Madinah Munawwarah:

 

 

“O Allah! Grant Madinah Munawwarah double the blessings You granted Makkah Mukarramah.” (Saheeh
Bukhari 1885)

And finally, a glad tidings to the people of Madinah Munawwarah, who take all the difficulties that life has to throw at them in this Mubaarak city in their stride. Know well that a most blessed reward has been prepared for you:

Understanding these few virtues mentioned should open our eyes to the reality of Madinah Munawwarah. Why it is so special to us as Muslims. How much love Rasulullah ﷺ had for this blessed land and its people. This was the city that took him in when his own family put him out. These were the people that provided love, support, shelter, and food for people they barely knew. They put their Muslim brothers needs above their own. The Ansaar, a people chosen by Allah Ta’ala to welcome his last and final messenger, to help him in His spreading of the Kalimah. This was their home that they opened up to the world. Oh Muslim, understand the land of your host. Understand the love of your Rasul ﷺ for these great people. Each and every one of us should take out some time to learn the Seerah, the blessed life of Rasulullah ﷺ, so that when Allah Ta’ala allows us to visit Madinah Munawwarah, we understand what sacrifices were made for us to have the Kalimah in our hearts.

Visiting the blessed city of Rasulullah ﷺ is an enormous bounty from the side of Allah Ta’ala. it is only right that if we are granted this bounty, we respect and honour it, showing proper etiquette when visiting.Firstly, each person has to have the right intention. In this way, by correcting one’s intention before undertaking the journey and every day whilst in Madinah Munawwarah, one keeps the level of respect and Adab high, and doesn’t start slacking or showing any disrespect.

One’s intention should be to visit Nabi ﷺ and to present salaam directly to him.

 

Who wouldn’t love the intercession of Rasulullah ﷺ? This is that same person who’s every Dua was for his Ummat. He cried for us, loved us yet never knew our names. A person whose sole Fikr was for every single person to be blessed with Imaan and be saved from the fire of Jahannam. Is it not only fair, that out of respect, we reciprocate the immense love and devotion of Rasulullah ﷺ by instilling his teachings and Sunnat in our lives? Not only is inculcating the Sunnah an etiquette of Madinah Munawwarah, but it is most beloved to Rasulullah ﷺ, and it is hoped, In Sha Allah, that if a person enlivens the Sunnah in the blessed city of our Nabi ﷺ, he will stick to the Sunnah for the rest of his life. This all boils down to having the correct intention. If a person goes out solely due to love for Rasulullah ﷺ, then this great impact will strike his heart. However if the intention is spoilt by other things, then this will erase the effect.

We should seek to treat the inhabitants of Madinah Munawwarah with utmost respect and kindness, showing our good character.

Therefore, adopt the cloak of patience. The inhabitants of the blessed city of Rasulullah ﷺ might have different temperaments, it in incumbent upon us to deal with them in the best of manners, so as not to harm them in any way.Ensure that each and every Salaah is performed with Jama’at in the Masjid. Such an amazing virtue for this has been mentioned in a Hadeeth.

Surely we will be from the losers if, without a valid excuse, we miss the oppurtunity of performing Salaah in Masjidun Nabawi.A person should take out time to visit the grave of Rasulullah ﷺ. Special virtues have been mentioned regarding this:

Rasulullah ﷺ said:

 

My intercession becomes necessary for the one who visits my grave.” (Sunan Daaraqutni 2695/Shu`abul Imaan 3862)

 

Rasulullah ﷺ said:

These great virtues should spur us on, helping us shrug off any difficulties that might come our way, knowing full well that we are about to present ourselves in the court of Rasulullah ﷺ.

 

 

Mulla `Ali Qari (Rahimahullah) – the great Qari, Mufassir, Muhaddith and Faqeeh –writes:

It is truly a miracle, and a person will feel an amazing effect settle over him. The sweet taste, the coolness and calmness, the love entering the heart, all of this will start affecting a person. This is part of spending one’s time wisely in the blessed city of Rasulullah ﷺ. Not a moment should be wasted in futility, as to sin in such a great place is surely weightier than other towns and cities.

Hadhrat also mentioned that we should understand that we are in a piece of land which Rasulullah ﷺ has called a garden from Jannah. Allah Ta’ala is so generous that when he gives you something, He does not take it back. So now that you have entered Jannah make intention and plead to Allah Ta’ala, “O Allah just as You have given us the opportunity to be in Jannah in this world, don’t deprive us of Jannah in the Akhirah.”

In closing, each and every one of us should have the burning desire to pass away in the Mubaarak city of Rasulullah ﷺ. As Hadhrat Umar رضي الله عنه made Dua: “O Allah, grant me martyrdom in Your path and grant me death in the city of Your beloved ﷺ.” (SaheehBukhari 1890)

May Allah Ta’ala grant us death in the blessed city of Rasulullah ﷺ, and may He raise us with Rasulullah ﷺ and the honourable Sahaabah رضي الله عنهم، Ameen.