Book Name:Madine Ki Barkatain
who enter it, leaving them completely pure.
صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد
A hadith in al-Bukhārī narrated from the Companion Abū Hurayrah رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ states how the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, اِنَّ الْاِيمَانَ لَيَاْرِزُ اِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ كَمَا تَاْرِزُ الْحَيَّةُاِلَى جُحْرِهَا, “Faith certainly returns to Medina as a snake does to its hole.”[1]
This hadith truly is faith-enhancing. Explaining it, scholars say that the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم drew resemblance between faith returning to Medina and a snake. Just as a snake returns to its hole, so too will faith go to Medina. Think carefully about how a snake leaves its hole to look for food and the things it needs. During its travels, sunlight falls upon the snake, dust falls upon it, and the hot temperature affects it too. This causes its skin to wear and become old. It then spends part of the year hidden in its hole and does not come out. After emerging, one will see its skin is new. The old skin will have shredded.
This is what this hadith speaks of. When a person lives in various cities, Satan attacks him, his nafs causes him to sin, and his heart becomes inclined towards worldly matters. This causes his faith to become weak and require enhancement. However, where will this enhancement take place? The Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم informed us اِنَّ الْاِيمَانَ لَيَاْرِزُ اِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ, faith certainly returns to Medina. Meaning, when a Muslim lives in this world, deals with worldly people, becomes tempted by Satan’s traps, and is harmed by the nafs and its carnal desires—which then causes faith to weaken—they then come to Medina. This city’s environment is