The Virtues of Madīnah

Some of the virtues of Madīnah. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) asked Allah to make them love Madīnah. He said, Allāhumma ḥabbib ilaynā al-Madīnata kamā ḥabbabta ilaynā Makkata aw ashadd — O Allah, make us love Madīnah like we love Makkah, or more. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) made duʿāʾ that Allah (swt) gives Madīnah barakah: Allāhumma ijʿal bi-l-Madīnati ḍiʿfay mā jaʿalta bi-Makkata min al-barakah. This hadith is in Bukhārī. O Allah, double the barakah, double the blessings, of Madīnah compared to what You have given Makkah — because it was the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) himself who made duʿāʾ to Allah (swt) to bless Makkah, following Ibrāhīm (peace be upon him). So the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is asking Allah (swt) to double that blessing when it comes to Madīnah.

Madīnah is protected from al-Dajjāl. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) says that there are angels on every entrance to Madīnah protecting it from al-Dajjāl. There is a special reward for being patient on the hardship of Madīnah, because it was difficult to live in Madīnah at that time — it was very hot, and the environment was harsh. Lā yathbutu aḥadun ʿalā laʾwāʾihā illā kuntu lahu shafīʿan yawma al-qiyāmah, reported by Muslim: on the hardships of Madīnah, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) will be an intercessor on the Day of Judgment — he will intercede on behalf of whoever is patient. There is a special blessing of dying in Madīnah. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) says, man istaṭāʿa an yamūta bi-l-Madīnati fal-yamut bihā fa-innī ashfaʿu li-man yamūtu bihā — whoever is able to die in Madīnah, then let it be so, because the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) will intercede for whoever dies there. This hadith is in the Musnad of Imam Aḥmad.