The sanctity of Makkah and the sanctity of its game, grasses, trees and lost property, except for the one who announces it, is forever Sahih Muslim 1353 a

Sahih Muslim 1353a
Arabic hadith text
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْحَنْظَلِيُّ، أَخْبَرَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ، عَنْ طَاوُسٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَوْمَ الْفَتْحِ فَتْحِ مَكَّةَ ‏"‏لاَ هِجْرَةَ وَلَكِنْ جِهَادٌ وَنِيَّةٌ وَإِذَا اسْتُنْفِرْتُمْ فَانْفِرُوا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ وَقَالَ يَوْمَ الْفَتْحِ فَتْحِ مَكَّةَ ‏"‏ إِنَّ هَذَا الْبَلَدَ حَرَّمَهُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ فَهُوَ حَرَامٌ بِحُرْمَةِ اللَّهِ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ وَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَحِلَّ الْقِتَالُ فِيهِ لأَحَدٍ قَبْلِي وَلَمْ يَحِلَّ لِي إِلاَّ سَاعَةً مِنْ نَهَارٍ فَهُوَ حَرَامٌ بِحُرْمَةِ اللَّهِ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ لاَ يُعْضَدُ شَوْكُهُ وَلاَ يُنَفَّرُ صَيْدُهُ وَلاَ يَلْتَقِطُ إِلاَّ مَنْ عَرَّفَهَا وَلاَ يُخْتَلَى خَلاَهَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ الْعَبَّاسُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِلاَّ الإِذْخِرَ فَإِنَّهُ لِقَيْنِهِمْ وَلِبُيُوتِهِمْ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ إِلاَّ الإِذْخِرَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏
Translation
Ibn 'Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying on the Day of Victory over Mecca

There is no Hijra (emigration) but only Jihad and good intention; and when you are called to battle, then go forth. He also said on the Day of Victory over Mecca: Allah made this town sacred on the day He created the earth and the heavens; so it is -sacred by the sacred- ness conferred on it by Allah until the Day of Resurrection and fighting in it was not lawful to anyone before me, and it was made lawful for me only during an hour on one day, for it is sacred by the sacredness conferred on it by Allah until the Day of Resurrection. Its thorns are not to be cut, its game is not to be molested, and the things dropped are to be picked up only by one who makes a public announcement of it, and its fresh herbage is not to be cut. Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) said: Messenger of Allah, exception may be made in case of rush, for it is useful for their blacksmiths and for their houses. He (the Holy Prophet) conceding the suggestion of 'Abbas) said: Except rush.

Commentary

Overview & Central Theme

This profound hadith, recorded in Sahih Muslim (1353 a) within The Book of Pilgrimage, encapsulates two pivotal teachings of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. The first addresses the cessation of the formal emigration (Hijrah) to Madinah after its conquest, redirecting the believer's striving toward perpetual Jihad (struggle in Allah's cause) and sincere intention (niyyah). The second establishes the eternal sacredness of Makkah, ordained by Allah from the creation of the heavens and the earth, detailing its inviolable sanctity—its thorns, game, and fresh herbage are protected, and lost items may only be picked up for public announcement. This dual focus weaves together the themes of spiritual continuity beyond specific historical acts and the absolute, divinely instituted reverence of the sacred sanctuary, offering timeless guidance for the Ummah.

Context & Linguistic Insights

The first statement was uttered after the Conquest of Makkah, when the Prophet ﷺ clarified that the specific Hijrah to Madinah was no longer obligatory, yet the universal call to Jihad and righteous intention remained ever-relevant. The second was delivered on the Day of Victory, emphasizing Makkah's primordial sacredness. The Arabic term "Hijrah" derives from "hajara" (to abandon), signifying both physical migration and spiritual detachment from sin. "Jihad" (struggle) here encompasses both martial defense and the greater internal struggle. The word "haram" (sacred) conveys a divinely protected boundary, while "rush" (idhkhir) refers to a fragrant grass, an exception granted by the Prophet ﷺ upon the suggestion of Al-Abbas, illustrating the principle of necessity (darurah) in Islamic jurisprudence. The phrase "an hour on one day" underscores the temporary, exceptional permission for fighting in Makkah, which was then abrogated, restoring its perpetual sanctity.

Key Scholarly Insights & Legal Benefits

  • The abrogation of the obligation of Hijrah to Madinah after its conquest, while affirming that Jihad and sincere intention remain perpetual acts of worship, as clarified by Imam An-Nawawi in his commentary on Sahih Muslim.
  • The inviolability of Makkah's sanctity is eternal and divinely ordained, not subject to human alteration; this establishes a consensus (ijma') that fighting within the Sanctuary is prohibited except in cases of immediate self-defense, as derived from the Prophet's exception.
  • The permissibility of picking up lost items (luqatah) in the Haram only for the purpose of public announcement, and the allowance to cut rush (idhkhir) due to public benefit, demonstrating the jurisprudential principle of balancing sacred prohibitions with communal necessity.
"The sanctity of Makkah is established by Allah's decree, not by human action, and it remains inviolate until the Day of Resurrection. The exception of rush was a specific concession for the people's livelihood, showing that even in sacred precincts, mercy and practicality are woven into the law." — Imam An-Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim

Daily Life & Spiritual Application

In our daily lives, this hadith teaches us that while specific historical obligations may cease, the essence of devotion—sincere intention and relentless striving in Allah's path—never expires. We are called to transform our homes, workplaces, and communities into arenas of Jihad against our lower selves, injustice, and ignorance, always anchoring our actions in pure niyyah. The sanctity of Makkah reminds us to revere the symbols of Allah, to uphold the rights of sacred spaces, and to treat creation with care—avoiding harm to nature, respecting public property, and ensuring honesty in returning lost items. By embodying these principles, we internalize the eternal values of the Prophet's ﷺ message, living with heightened consciousness of Allah's boundaries and a commitment to excellence (Ihsan) in every endeavor.