Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Meaning of the hadeeth, “Faith retreats to Madeenah”

 

What is the meaning of the hadeeth of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), “Faith retreats to Madeenah like a snake returns to its hole”?

Praise be to Allaah. 

In
this hadeeth, the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “Faith retreats to
Madeenah like a snake returns to its hole.” The word “retreats to” means
to return and settle in Madeenah, just as a snake, when it goes out
from its hole, returns to it. Here the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was saying that this religion
will retreat to Madeenah after all other countries become corrupt, just
as a snake comes out of its hole and wanders about the land, then it
goes back to its hole. 

This
hadeeth also indicates that just as Islam spread from Madeenah, it will
return to it. Islam with its strength and authority spread from Madeenah,
although its roots stemmed from Makkah. Makkah was the place where the
first Revelation came down, but the Muslims did not have a state and
power, and engage in jihaad, until after they migrated to Madeenah.
Hence Islam with its power and authority spread from Madeenah and will
retreat to it at the end of time. 

Some
of the scholars said: this hadeeth refers to something that has already
happened, i.e., the people came in delegations to Madeenah and went
back there again to learn about sharee’ah and the teachings of Islam
from the Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). But the first meaning is
the apparent meaning of the hadeeth and is more correct. 

 

Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Rasaa’il Fadeelat al-Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen, vol. 1, p. 55

 

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