بِسْمِ ٱللّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Can we refer to Madina as Yathrib? Doesn’t the Holy Quraan use this name for Madina?
To call Madina Shareef Yathrib is impermissible and one who knowingly does so severely transgresses the command of Shariah. Yes, the word Yathrib appears in the Holy Quraan but it was used Hikaayatan (as a literal quotation) of the Munaafiqoon (hypocrites). Allah ta’aala states,
“And when a party of them (the hypocrites) said, ‘O people of Yathrib, you cannot stay for much longer…” (Surah Ahzaab, Verse 13)
The pronoun ‘them’ refers to hypocrites as apparent from the verse preceding this.
Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (peace be upon him) states,
“Tauba is obligatory on one who calls Madina Yathrib.”
(Faidhul Qadeer, Vol. 8, pg. 140, Published by Darul Hadeeth, Cairo)
Allama Manaawi (Allah be pleased with him) states in the annotation of the above Hadeeth,
“To call Madina Yathrib is Haraam because Istighfaar has been commanded to be made if one does so and Istighfaar is made for transgression.” (ibid)
Allama Mulla Ali Qaari (Allah be pleased with him) states,
“It has been narrated from pious scholars of the past that to call Madina Yathrib is Haraam…” He further states, “Imaam Nawawi (Allah be pleased with him) narrates from Esa ibn Dinaar (Allah be pleased with him) that one who calls Madina Yathrib accumulates sin. With regards to the Quraan using the word Yathrib, it merely quoted the statement of hypocrites who are evil at heart.”
(Mirqaat, Vol. 5, pg. 622, Published by Maktaba Haqqania, Multan)
Hazrat Sheikh Abdul Haqq Muhadith Dehlwi (Allah be pleased with him) states, “Rasoolullah (peace be upon him) kept the name (of Yathrib) Madina…and prohibited calling Madina Yathrib.” (Ashi’atulamaat, Vol. 1, pg. 183, Hadeeth no. 2737)
Allah and His Rasool know best.
Darul Iftaa
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