Ali said: "We wrote down nothing from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) except the Qur'an and what is in this document." He said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Medina is sacred from A'ir to Thawr. Whoever introduces an innovation in it or shelters an innovator, upon him is the curse of Allah, the angels, and all people collectively; no obligatory or supererogatory deed will be accepted from him. The protection granted by Muslims is one, which is striven for by the least of them. Whoever violates a Muslim's protection, upon him is the curse of Allah, the angels, and all people collectively; no obligatory or supererogatory deed will be accepted from him. Whoever attaches himself to people other than his own masters without their permission, upon him is the curse of Allah, the angels, and all people collectively; no obligatory or supererogatory deed will be accepted from him."
Hadith Commentary: The Sanctity of Madinah
This profound narration from Imam 'Ali ibn Abi Talib establishes three fundamental principles of Islamic law. First, the sacred boundaries of Madinah extend from Mount 'A'ir to Mount Thawr, making it a sanctuary like Makkah. Any innovation introduced within these boundaries or protection given to innovators incurs divine curse.
Scholarly Analysis: Three Prohibitions
The Prophet ﷺ emphasized three grave matters: Innovation in religion (bid'ah) within Madinah's sanctuary, violating the protection granted by any Muslim regardless of status, and falsely attributing one's manumission to others without proper authorization from masters.
Classical scholars explain that the sanctity of Madinah requires preserving its purity from religious innovations, as it was the city where revelation descended and Islamic law was established.
Legal Implications
The unity of Muslim protection means the asylum granted by the humblest Muslim must be honored by all. This establishes the collective responsibility of the Muslim community.
Regarding manumission, scholars clarify that slaves cannot falsely claim freedom through unauthorized channels, preserving the rights of owners while encouraging proper Islamic manumission procedures.
Source Authentication
This narration is recorded in Sunan Abi Dawud 2034 from the chapter "The Rites of Hajj (Kitab Al-Manasik Wa'l-Hajj)" by Imam Abu Dawud, demonstrating how pilgrimage rites connect to broader Islamic legal principles including sanctuary rights and social contracts.