‘Ali said “We wrote down nothing on the authority of the Apostle of Allaah(ﷺ) but the Qur’an and what this document contains.”. He reported the Apostle of Allaah(ﷺ) as saying “ Madeenah is sacred from A’ir to Thawr so if anyone produces an innovation (in it) or gives protection to an innovator the curse of Allaah, angels and all men will fall upon him and no repentance or ransom will be accepted from him. The protection granted by Muslim is one (even if) the humblest of them grants it. So if anyone breaks a covenant made by a Muslim the curse of Allaah, angels and all men will fall upon him and no repentance or ransom will be accepted from him. If anyone attributes his manumission to people without the permission of his masters the curse of Allaah, angels and all men will fall upon him and no repentance or ransom 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.