Al-Madeenah 'Al-Munawwarah' or 'An-Nabawiyyah'

Al-Madeenah 'Al-Munawwarah' or 'An-Nabawiyyah'

Ash Shaykh Al-‘Allaamah Hammaad bin Muhammad Al-Ansaaree

Shaykh ‘Abdul-Baree said that he heard his father, the Muhaddith of Madeenah, Al-‘Allaamah Hammaad bin Muhammad Al-Ansaaree[1] may Allaah have mercy upon him saying:

I investigated the reason why people refer to Al-Madeenah as Al-Madeenah Al-Munawwarah, i.e. [The illuminated city] in this period of time. I discovered that the very first ones that referred to ‘Al-Madeenah’ as ‘Al-Madeenah Al-Munawwarah’ were the Ottomans [2] .

However, the companions of the Messenger of Allaah, may Allaah be pleased with them all, their successors & those who came after them for many centuries would say Al-Madeenah An-Nabawiyyah, i.e. [The Prophetic city].

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[1] He is Al-'Allaamah Hammaad bin Muhammad Al-Ansaaree As’sadee Al-Khazrajee, born in the year 1343 or 1344 AH [1924 CE] in Mali, West Africa. He died on Wednesday morning 21st Jamaaduth-Thanee 1418 AH corresponding to 22nd October 1997.

For a detailed biography of the Muhadeeth of Madeenah in English refer to fatwa-online.com:

http://www.fatwa-online.com/scholarsbiographies/15thcentury/hammaadalansaaree.htm

[2] The Ottoman Sultans & Caliphs ruled for 634 years, from the year 1290 CE till 1924 CE. Their empire spanned from; parts of North Africa, The Middle East, Anatolia (modern day Turkey), and South Eastern Europe, up to the Caucasus. Their first ruler was Osmanli Oghullarï also known as Osman I, he ruled from the year 1290 CE-1326 CE. Their last ruler was the Caliph 'Abdül-Mejîd II, he ruled from the year 1922 CE-1924 CE. [TN]

‘Almajmoo’ the biography of Al-‘Allaamah Hammaad bin Muhammad Al-Ansaaree, Volume 2, page 548, saying no: 434.

Translated by: Zulfiker Ibrahim Almemoni Alatharee.

I know many of us are used to calling the city of Madeenah as al-Madeenah al-Munawwarah.

But as can be seen here, what is authentic and was practised by our pious predecessors is to call it al-Madeenah an-Nabawiyyah.

Hence, we should go with what is authentic in accordance to the practice of our pious predecessors (referring to the Companions, Taabi'een and Taabi'ut-Taabi'een ridwaanullaahi 'alayhim, otherwise known as the Salaf as-Saalih].

Wallaahu a'lam bi as-Sawab.