Muslim

Hadith Commentary:
Benefits and Issues:
From this hadith, it is understood that for acts of worship, it is better to take a different route when leaving one's city or village and when returning. In this way, it is preferable for the path to the place of worship to be different for going and coming. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam used to practice this for Hajj and the two Eids. However, if it is not possible to do so, then there is no sin in it.

Hadith Commentary:
From these hadiths, it is understood that in Makkah Sharif, it is recommended (mustahabb) to enter by one route and depart by another.

In the printed Egyptian edition, the following additional passage appears here:
Abu Abdullah said: It used to be said that he (Musaddad) was like his name. Abu Abdullah said: I heard Yahya ibn Ma'in say: I heard Yahya ibn Sa'id al-Qattan say: If Musaddad were to come to me in my house and I narrated hadith to him for Ishaq, I would not mind whether my books were with me or with Musaddad.

That is, Imam al-Bukhari, radi Allahu anhu, said that Musaddad was aptly named, meaning that in the Arabic language, "Musaddad" means strong and correct, and he was strong in the narration of hadith. And I heard from Yahya ibn Ma'in, who said: I heard from Yahya al-Qattan, who used to say: If I went to Musaddad's house and narrated hadith to him, he was worthy of that, and whether my hadith books remained with me or with Musaddad, I would not care.

It is as if Yahya al-Qattan praised Musaddad exceedingly.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
Some people say that when the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) left Makkah secretly, he took the route of Thaniyyah ‘Ulya, and for this reason, he intended to enter Makkah openly from the same direction.
In our view, changing the route, as is done on Eid, is a good omen, so that a person’s state changes from a lower to a higher state, and both routes bear witness.
And Allah knows best.

(2)
Imam Bukhari (rahimahullah) narrated this hadith from Hazrat Musaddad bin Musarhad.
While affirming his reliability, Imam Bukhari (rahimahullah) said:
“My teacher Hazrat Musaddad is, just like his name, extremely firm and trustworthy, because Musaddad means ‘firm’, that is, strong.” Then, he mentioned the affirmation of reliability from Imam Yahya bin Ma‘in, who is an authority in the science of al-jarh wa al-ta‘dil (criticism and accreditation of narrators).
Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) did not write anything about this statement in his commentary.
Perhaps these words were not present in his copy.

Hadith Commentary:
Shajarah was a tree near Dhul-Hulayfah.
The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) used to come and go by this route.
Now, a mosque has been built at that place.
Nowadays, the name of this place is Bi’r Ali. This "Ali" is not Ali (radi Allahu anhu) ibn Abi Talib, but rather another Ali to whom this place and its well are attributed.
"Mu’arris" in Arabic refers to the place where travelers stop for the night and set up camp.
The aforementioned mu’arris is located beneath the mosque of Dhul-Hulayfah, and from here, Madinah is very close.
May Allah grant every Muslim the opportunity to visit these sacred places again and again.
Ameen.
You (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) used to enter Madinah during daylight.
Thus, this is the Sunnah.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
Shajarah and Mu'arris are two locations situated at a distance of six miles from Madinah Munawwarah; however, Mu'arris is somewhat closer. It is also called Batha’ Dhi al-Hulayfah. When the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would depart from Makkah Mukarramah, he would rest and perform prayer here. This act of performing prayer was not incidental, but rather he did so deliberately, because it had been shown to him in a dream that this valley is blessed. Upon returning from Makkah as well, he would stay here so that no one would suddenly arrive at their home during the night, as there is a prohibition regarding this in the hadith.

(2)
Ibn Battal has said that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) exiting by one route and entering by another was similar to the practice for the Eid prayer, i.e., he would go to the Eid ground by one route and return by another. Likewise, during Hajj, upon departure and after completion, he would do the same. (Fath al-Bari: 3/493)

Hadith Commentary:
Imam Bukhari rahimahullah has also narrated this report in detail, stating that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam entered Makkah Mukarramah from the elevated mountain pass of Kada’, which is in Batha.
Regarding this, the hadith scholars have mentioned several wisdoms.
In our view, the best explanation is that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, when going for Hajj, entered from one route as is done on Eid, and after completing (the rites), exited from another route so that both paths would bear witness.
And Allah knows best.

1867. Commentary: The relevance of this hadith to the chapter is as follows: Imam Muslim rahimahullah has narrated this hadith and the one above it from Abdullah bin Numayr with the same chain of transmission as a single narration. Whereas Imam Abu Dawud rahimahullah or his teacher Uthman have separated it, making them into two narrations. (Badh al-Majhud)

Benefits and Issues:
➊ "Thaniyyah" refers to a mountain pass or a path between mountains.

➋ "Thaniyyah 'Ulya" (the upper pass) refers to the elevated mountain pass which is on the northern side of Makkah, towards Jannat al-Mu'alla. Its name is Kada' and Hajun.

➌ "Thaniyyah Sufla" (the lower pass) refers to the mountain path which is towards Jabal Qaiqan. It is also called Kadi. (Fath al-Bari, Book of Hajj, Chapter: 41) This gate is towards Banu Shaybah.

(1) It is not necessary to enter or exit from any specific place, but entering or exiting from the place where the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) entered or exited is a virtuous act. The high pass is near the cemetery of Makkah Mukarramah, approximately on the northern side. It is also called Kada’. Since Madinah Munawwarah is in that direction, it was appropriate to enter from that place. Opposite to it is the lower pass, which is also called Kadi’. Nowadays, the area of the high pass is called Ma‘la. Ma‘la is the elevated area, and the lower pass is between Ma‘la and Misfalah. A pilgrim (haji) or one performing ‘umrah (mu‘tamir) may enter or exit from any direction.