The Prophet’s Love
for His Homeland

When the Prophet of Islam was forced to migrate from Makkah to Madinah, he looked toward Makkah and said:

“By God, you are the best land of God and the most beloved land of God to me. Had I not been driven out from you, I would never have left you.” (Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith No. 3108)

Later, when Makkah was conquered, the Prophet had a full opportunity to make it his residence again. But he returned to Madinah and remained there for the rest of his life. After his passing, his grave was made in Madinah.

From this, it becomes clear that the statement he made about Makkah was not of a religious (shar‘i) nature. If it had been, then he certainly would have stayed in Makkah after its conquest. But his return to Madinah despite regaining control of Makkah proves that the statement was not a religious ruling; rather, it was a sentence that came from the emotion of love for one’s homeland. (Diary, 12 November 1996)

It is generally believed that the reason for this statement was that Makkah is a sacred city. But I believe that this statement came from the feeling of patriotism. It was an expression of the same emotion that arises in every human being when they are forced to leave their homeland.

In later times, the tradition of na‘t (poetry in praise of the Prophet) developed among Muslims. In these na‘ts, the greatness of Madinah is always described. I have never seen Makkah’s greatness described in these poems. If Makkah were absolutely and universally the sacred city, then the na‘ts should have praised Makkah, not Madinah. (Diary, 14 September 2006)