The Superiority of Makkah

There are many Ahadith which describe the virtues of Makkah and its high status before Allah and His Messenger(ﷺ).One of these Ahadith is the Hadith of’Abdullah bin ‘Adi bin Al-Hamra’, who said that he heard Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) saying in Makkah, whilst he was on his camel in Al-Hazwarah [10]

“By Allah, you are the best land of Allah, the most beloved land of Allah to Allah. Had I not      been driven out of you, I would not have left you.”[11]

This -the Hadith of Ibn Al-Hamra’ -is the most authentic of the Ahadith narrated on this topic. It is the evidence cited by those who say that Makkah is superior to other places.

To explain the superiority of Makkah, it is sufficient to note that the reward for prayer in Al-Masjid Al-Haram is multiplied many times. It was reported that Jabir bin ‘Abdullah( رضی اللہ عنہ) narrated that Allah’s Messenger(ﷺ) said:

“A prayer in this mosque of mine is better than one thousand prayers anywhere else, except for Al-Masjid”

AI-Haram. A prayer in Al-Masjid Al-Haram is better than one hundred thousand prayers (anywhere else).[12]

If we calculate the superiority of one prayer in Al-Masjid Al-Haram according to the Hadith which says that one prayer there is one hundred thousand times better than prayer elsewhere, then one prayer in Al-Masjid Al-Haram is equivalent to the five daily prayers offered over a period of fifty-five years, six months and twenty days, and the five prayers offered over a single twenty-four hour period are equivalent to the five daily prayers offered over a period of two hundred and seventy-seven years, nine months and ten days.

[10: Al-Hazwarah was a market in Makkah in the courtyard of Umm Hani, which was incorporated into Ai-Masjid Al-Haram. For more details on this topic see zadul-Ma’ad by Ibn Al-Qaiyim (2/420-425), published by Matba’ah Ansar As-Sunnah Al-Muhammadiyah in Cairo.]

[11: The source of this Hadith has been described above, in the section on the importance ofMakkah.]

[12: Ahmad (3/342,397).]

The Hadith which says that the reward for prayer is multiplied,also indicates that the reward for every good deed is multiplied one hundred thousand times. Al-Muhibb At-Tabari said: “The Ahadith quoted above which say that the reward for prayer and fasting is multiplied, also apply by analogy to the multiplication of the reward for all good deeds.”[13]

Al-Basri said: “Fasting for one day in Makkah is equivalent to fasting one hundred thousand days, and giving one dirham in charity is like giving one hundred thousand; every good deed is equivalent to one hundred thousand.”[14]

Two conditions must be met in order for the reward to be multiplied by one hundred thousand: the act must be done sincerely for the sake of Allah alone, and it must be done following the sunnah of His Messenger(ﷺ) .

The Muslim must avoid committing sin in Makkah, for just as the reward for good deeds is multiplied, so too the burden of bad deeds is also multiplied. Mujahid said: “The burden of bad deeds is multiplied in Makkah just as the reward for good deeds is multiplied”[15]

Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal was asked: “Is more than one Sayi’ah recorded for a bad deed?” He said: “No, except in Makkah, because of the sanctity of the land.” Ibn Mas’ud( رضی اللہ عنہ) likewise said: “If a man resolves at the Ka’bah to kill a believer who is far away in ‘Aden, Allah will cause him to taste a painful torment in this world.[16]

[13: Mana’ihul-Karam (1/234). See also Manasik An-Nawawi(p. 407);.Al-Qira by Al-Muhibb At-Tabari (p.658)]

[14: Fada ‘il Makkah by Al-Hasan Al-Basri (p. 21).]

[15: Muthir Al-Gharam (P. 234).]

[16: Ahmad(1/227,310]).

 Living in Makkah

Living in Makkah is Mustahab (desirable) because of the multiplied reward for good deeds and acts of worship.Uncountable numbers of those who are examples to be followed, among the earlier and later generations of the Ummah, have lived there. One of the greatest signs that it is Mustahab to live there is the fact that the Prophet(ﷺ) wished to live there, and Bilal( رضی اللہ عنہ) expressed in his poetry the wish to return to Makkah.[17]

One of the most eloquent things that have been said regarding emigration to Makkah and living there is what was said by Az-Zamakhshari in Al-Kashshaf. “We have tried and people before us have tried, and we have not found any place that is more conducive to subduing the self, resisting desires,focusing the mind, concentrating one’s resolve, making one content with one’s lot, repelling the Shaytan (Satan), keeping away from temptation and better for one’s religious commitment in general, than living in the sanctuary of Allah,close to the House of Allah. To Allah is the praise for having made that easy, blessing us with patience and inspiring us with gratitude.[18]

[17:See Al-Bukhari (3926).]

[18:Al-Kashshaf(3/464).]

Book: “History of Makkah”

Prepared by a Group of Scholars under the Supervision of Shaikh Saifur -Rahman Mubarakpuri.

Translated by: Nasiruddin al- khattab.