Virtues of Madinah - Sahih al-Bukhari 1880

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "There are angels guarding the entrances (or roads) of Medina, neither plague nor Ad-Dajjal will be able to enter it."

Commentary on the Divine Protection

This noble hadith establishes Madinah's unique status as a sanctified city under divine guardianship. The angels stationed at its entrances serve as celestial sentinels, preventing spiritual and physical corruption from penetrating its boundaries.

The protection from plague demonstrates Allah's mercy upon the inhabitants, while the exclusion of Ad-Dajjal—the great deceiver—signifies Madinah's role as a fortress of pure faith and authentic Islamic tradition until the Final Hour.

Scholarly Interpretation

Imam al-Qurtubi explains that this divine protection extends to both apparent and hidden dangers. The angels prevent physical afflictions like epidemics while also guarding against spiritual corruption and false doctrines.

Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani notes in Fath al-Bari that this honor was granted to Madinah specifically due to it being the city of Hijrah and the establishment of the Islamic state, making it the spiritual capital of the Muslim Ummah.

Practical Implications

This protection does not absolve residents from taking reasonable precautions, as the Shari'ah encourages both reliance on Allah and utilizing means. Rather, it signifies Allah's special care for this blessed city.

The hadith inspires Muslims to respect Madinah's sanctity, maintain its purity, and recognize its distinguished position in Islamic tradition as a protected sanctuary of faith.