The Prophetic Constitution of Madinah by Dr Muhammad Al-Massari

The inviolable sanctity of Al-Madinah also came stated in Sahih Muslim upon the lips of Rafi’ bin Khadij:

“Abdullah bin Maslamah related from Sulaiman bin Bilal, from ‘Utbah bin Muslim, from Nafi' bin Jubair who reported that Marwan bin al- Hakam addressed the people and made mention of Makkah, its inhabitants and its sacredness, but he made no mention of Al- Madinah, its inhabitants and its sacredness. Rafi' bin Khadij called out to him and said: “What is this? I hear you making mention of Makkah, its inhabitants and its sacredness, but you not mentioning Al- Madinah, its inhabitants and its sacredness. That is while the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) has declared sacred (the area) between its two mountainous areas? And we have it (recorded) with us written on Khawlani parchment. If you like, I will read it out to you”. Thereupon Marwan became silent, and then said: “I too have heard some part of it”. .

I say: It may be that the Khawlani parchment had within it a copy of the previously mentioned Sahifah of Al-Madinah. This is very conceivable as an important document such as this would be expected to have numerous copies: The original copy kept by the Prophet (peace be upon him) and thereafter came to be in the possession of ‘Ali bin Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him). Then some copies in the hands of some of the Ansar and in the possession of the Jews etc.

The inviolable sanctuary (Hurmah) of Al-Madinah is a firmly established Mutawatir (decisively reported) matter from various paths. We will suffice by mentioning the following:

- Imam Al-Bukhari recorded the following in his Sahih (2/661/1768):

“Abu An-Nu’man related from Thabit bin Yazid, from ‘Asim bin Abdur Rahman Al-Ahwal, from Anas bin Malik that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Madinah is an inviolable sanctuary from this place to that place. Its trees should not be cut and no crime should be perpetrated in it and whoever perpetrates a crime in it, then he will incur the curse of Allah, the angels, and all the people”.

- Just as it came exemplified in “As-Sunan Al-Kubra” of Al-Baihaqi as related by Sa’id Al-Kudhri:

“Hammad bin Isma’il bin Ibrahim related from Ubayy, from Wuhaib, from Yahya bin Abu Ishaq, from Abu Sa’id the Mawla of Al-Mahri that Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri said: “We went out with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and he said: “O Allah, verily Ibrahim declared Makkah to be sacredly inviolable and made it an inviolable sanctuary and I have declared Al-Madinah to be an inviolable sanctuary; what lies between the two mountains (i.e. of ‘Aer and Uhud). That no blood be shed in it, no weapons for fighting carried in it and no tree will be struck except for the purpose of fodder (i.e. to feed animals). O Allah, bless us in this Madinah of ours. O Allah make alongside this blessing two (additional blessings). And by the one in whose hand is my soul, there is no ravine or mountain path of Al-Madinah except that there are two angels standing guard over them”.

I say: This Isnad (chain of transmission) is Sahih upon the conditionality of Muslim.