15/91. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1389b — Medina Will Be Abandoned
The Prophet saws foretold that the people will abandon Al-Madinah when it is the best it ever was
Hadith About Medina Being Abandoned
Sahih Muslim : 1389b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1389b
وَحَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ بْنُ شُعَيْبِ بْنِ اللَّيْثِ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ جَدِّي، حَدَّثَنِي عُقَيْلُ بْنُ، خَالِدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي سَعِيدُ بْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ، أَنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " يَتْرُكُونَ الْمَدِينَةَ عَلَى خَيْرِ مَا كَانَتْ لاَ يَغْشَاهَا إِلاَّ الْعَوَافِي - يُرِيدُ عَوَافِيَ السِّبَاعِ وَالطَّيْرِ - ثُمَّ يَخْرُجُ رَاعِيَانِ مِنْ مُزَيْنَةَ يُرِيدَانِ الْمَدِينَةَ يَنْعِقَانِ بِغَنَمِهِمَا فَيَجِدَانِهَا وَحْشًا حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَا ثَنِيَّةَ الْوَدَاعِ خَرَّا عَلَى وُجُوهِهِمَا " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
They (the residents of) Medina will abandon Medina whereas it is good for them and it will be haunted by beasts and birds, and two shepherds will come out from Muzainah intending (to go) towards Medina and tending their herd, and will find nothing but wilderness there until when they will reach the mountain path of Wada, they will fall down on their faces.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1389bIn-book reference : Book 15, Hadith 571USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 7, Hadith 3203
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1389b
This hadith about Medina being abandoned describes a future scene in clear and serious words. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that people will leave Medina while it is still in a good state. After that, it will be visited only by beasts and birds. The narration then mentions two shepherds from Muzainah who will come toward Medina with their herd. They will find it like a wilderness, and when they reach the mountain path of Wada, they will fall on their faces. The core message is not to make guesses about exact dates or hidden details. It simply shows that Medina has a special place in the Sunnah, and that future events are known to Allah.
What we learn from this hadith
- Medina has a special status even when people leave it.
- The hadith teaches belief in what the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم truthfully informed about the future.
- A believer should avoid adding details that are not stated in the narration.
- Worldly cities and conditions can change, even when they once had goodness.
