Permanent Residence in Makkah Mukarramah

Hazrat Ibn Abbaas (RA) reports that Rasulullah (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) said to Makkah: “What a wonderful city you are and how I love you. Had my people not forced me out of you, I would never have settled in any other city save you.” (Tirmidhi)

As a result of the contents of this hadith as well as those expounding the increased reward for righteous deeds in Makkah, the majority of ulama believe that Makkah is the most virtuous (afdhal) of all towns, and to stay there permanently or in a temporary as capacity, is most virtuous. Who would not like to be able to settle there when one salaat is rewarded one hundred thousand times? Yet in spite of all this many of our saintly elders did not advocate residence in Makkah (for longer than necessary).

Hazrat Mullah Ali Qari (RA) wrote that according to Hazrat Imaam Muhammad (RA) and Hazrat Imaam Abu Yousuf (RA) it is Mustahab to accept permanent residence in Makkah. This is also the Hanafi fatwa, and coincides with the religious decree of some Sahfi’ee and Hambali Imaams. However Hazrat Imaam Abu Hanifa (RA) and Hazrat Imaam Maalik (RA) considered permanent residence Makrooh. This view is upheld by many who have a careful attitude, fearing that one may become used to the place that he becomes bored, losing the conception of the dignity and honor or Makkah. This would lead to indifference, which would also lead to sin. And as already said; in the same way as good deeds are magnified, so also sins are magnified.

As for those sincere ones, avoiding sins, there can be no better place on the surface of the globe than Makkah. Unfortunately those ones are few in number today. They are few in number as the kings among men. Many are the ones who claim to be able to uphold the dignity and honor of Makkah. It is very easy to claim but very difficult to fulfil.

Mullah Ali Qari says that: ‘Hazrat Imaam Abu Hanifa (RA) disliked permanent residence in Makkah, having considered the religious condition of the people of his time. If he should be alive today he would say it is haraam.” This Mulla Ali Qari is one of the greatest Ulama of Islam and he passed away in the year 1014 Hijri. He wrote in the above quotation about his time. We are now in the 14th century after the Hijrat. So much more has condition deteriorated that the condition in which we find ourselves today needs no comment. What would he say today?

Hazrat Imaam Ghazali (RA) explains the three reasons why some Ulama calls it makrooh to reside permanently in Makkah.

1. They fear that through excess contact and familiarity, this great desire, enthusiasm and zeal for the Ka’ba will decrease (and familiarity may breed contempt).
2. They fear that the sad occasion of parting with the Ka’ba and the zeal for returning to it will be lost. Hence some elders have said that it is so much better that you should stay in another place while the heart desires to be in Makkah, then that you should stay in Makkah, with a heart longing for another place. It has been related from pious persons, that there are many people of Kharasaan who have stronger attachment with Makkah than those who are performing tawaaf in Makkah itself.
3. They fear that sin will be committed, which is a great crime calling for Allah’s anger. It is a fact that Makkah is a blessed city. Every inch and every rock or bit of sand is blessed.

We have already mentioned those places of special blessing. Now there are a few more to which attention should be drawn.

1. Firstly there is a place where the house of Hazrat Khadija (RA) used to be; and where Hazrat Fatima Zahraa (RA) was born; and where all the children of Rasulullah (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) were born except Hazrat Ibrahim A.S. up to the Hijrat Rasulullah (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) live here. The Ulama are of the opinion that second to the Holy Masjid, this place is the most virtuous in Makkah.
2. Then there is the spot known as Mowlidun Nabi. Where our Rasulullah (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) was born.
3. The houses of Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) known as the Darul Hijrat from where the flight to Madinah took place. Before the Hijrat Rasulullah (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) used to come here everyday. There were two stones there; one called ‘Mutakallim’, which made salaam to the Holy Prophet (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) and the other called ‘Muttaka’, against which Rasulullah (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) used to lean while sitting down.
4. The Mowlid Ali. Where Hazrat Ali (RA) was born.
5. Dar-e-Arqam, also known as Dar-e-Kharasaan, the house where hazrat Umar (RA) accepted Islam, near the hill of Safa. Here the first forty men had joined the fold of Islam. And here the following verse was revealed: “O Prophet, Allah is sufficient for you; and for those who follow you among the believers”. This is the house where Rasulullah (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) used to conceal himself in the early days of Islam.
6. The cave of Thowr where Rasulullah (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) and Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) did themselves for some time during the flight to Madinah. This was the cave where the verse was revealed calling Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) “the second of the two” companions while they were in the cave.
7. Cave of Hiraa on the Mount of Light (Jabal an Noor) where before Prophethood descended upon him, Rasulullah (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) used to spend days and days in complete solitude until the very first verse of the Qur’an (Iqra) was revealed to him there. Here he became a Prophet.
8. Masjidur Raya near Ma’laa in Makkah where Rasulullah (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) used to pray.
9. Masjidul Jinn, the place where the Jinns used to gather to listen to a lecture by Rasulullah (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam). Once Rasulullah (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) took Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ood (RA) with him towards them, left Hazrat Abdullah (RA) at some distance away and alone proceeded to give instructions to the Jinns at this spot. There he read the Qur’an to them.
10. Masjidul Shajarah, which is opposite Masjidul Jinn, the mosque in which there grew a tree. Rasulullah (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) once called the tree which splitting the ground came to him. He then sent it back and it went back.
11. Masjidul Ghanam, also known as Masjidul Ijaabah; where after the conquest of Makkah, Rasulullah (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) took the oath of allegiance.
12. Masfid-e-Ajyaad.
13. Masjid of Mount Abu Qubays. This masjid can be seen from the Haram. The story about eating goat’s broth at this place is incorrect.
14. Masjid-e-Tuwaa, which lies on the route to Tan’eem, where Rasulullah (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) came to Haj or umrah, he used to stay and rest.
15. Masjid-e-Aa’isha at Tan’eem, from where one puts on ihraam to proceed to Makkah for umrah.
16. Masjidul Aqba, where before the Hijrat the Ansaar for the first time pledged themselves to the service of Rasulullah (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) and Islam. Going from Makkah to Mina, this mosque lies on the right hand side of the road a little distance away from the road.
17. Masjidul Ju’raana, the place where Rasulullah (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) put on his ihraam for umrah after having come from Ta’if after the conquest of Makkah.
18. Masjidul Kabsh. This is sometimes also called the slaughtering place of Hazrat Ibrahim A.S, where the faithful prophet came to sacrifice his only son Hazrat Ismail A.S.
19. Masjidul Khaif, the famous mosque at Mina, where it is said seventy prophets lie buried.
20. The Mursalaat Cave where Surat Al Mursalaat was revealed to Rasulullah (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam). It is not far from Masjidul Khaif.
21. Jannatul Mu’laa, the ancient graveyard of Makkah, where Hazrat Khadija (RA) lies buried. The virtues of this graveyard have been explained in various Hadith.

Apart from these there are many other places of blessings and great historical and spiritual significance. And what place in Makkah cannot be blessed when the Holy feet of Rasulullah (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) and the Sahaaba-e-Kiraam had trod there? Hazrat Mullah Ali Qari Rah has specially mentioned the foregoing.

[commentary by Hadhrat Shaikhul Hadith Zakariyya from 'Fazail-e-Hajj']

Filed under: 2. Fiqh, 6. History & Biographies, Sunnah & Hadith