Al-Haram Al- Madani

Al-Haram Al- Madani

General Information
Place	Saudi Arabia, Medina
Religious Aspect
Religious Affiliation	ّIslam

Al-Ḥaram Al-Madanī is an area of the city of Medina in the Hijaz that, in Islam, holds sanctity and has special etiquettes and rulings. This area extends from the east and west between the eastern lava field (al-Ḥarra al-Sharqiyya) and the western lava field (al-Ḥarra al-Gharbiyya), and from the north and south, from Mount Thawr to Mount ʿAyr. Al- Haram Al-Madani has rulings and etiquettes, such as the recommended act of performing ghusl and purification when entering it, and these are similar to the rulings and Manners of the Al-Haram Al-Makki. Some have considered the reason for Medina being made a sanctuary to be the granting of protection to Medina and its inhabitants, while others have attributed it to the presence of Prophet Muhammad(s).

Boundaries

The Al-Haram Al- Madani is an area within Medina in the Hijaz. This sanctuary lies, from the east and west, between al-Ḥarra al-Sharqiyya (the eastern lava field) and al-Ḥarra al-Gharbiyya (the western lava field). And according to one narration, it extends from the north and south, from Mount Thawr to Mount ‘Ayr.

In the narrations, other various expressions have also been mentioned for determining its northern and southern boundaries.

Why it became a Haram

Various reasons have been mentioned for why the city of Medina was made a Haram (sanctuary). Some of them are as follows:

• Providing protection to Medina and its inhabitants;
• Showing reverence to Prophet Muhammad(s);
• The witnessing of divine lights by the Prophet (s) within this area;
• The descent of the angels who guarded the Prophet (s) in this area;
• The sanctity of the place where the Prophet (s) is buried.

Etiquettes and Rules

The Manners of the Haramayn According to Shia hadith sources, the Al-Haram Al-Madani has etiquettes and rulings similar to the Al-Haram Al-Makki; such as the virtue of performing ghusl (ritual purification) and maintaining cleanliness upon entering Medina and when visiting the Prophet’s Haram. Some Sunni jurists have also issued rulings recommending ghusl upon entering the Al-Haram Al-Madani. In Shia narrations, regarding hunting and cutting trees, there are narrations permitting. And narrations indicating non-permissibility. They indicate this. In narrations from the Sunni tradition, cutting the trees of the Medina Haram has been deemed forbidden.

Related topics

• Haramayn
• Al-Haram Al-Makki

Reference

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