This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Hafiz Mubashir Hussain Lahori's book Signs of the Day of Judgment in the Light of Authentic Ahadith.
Sign of the Day of Judgment: Madinah will become desolate
عن سفيان بن أبى زهير رضى الله عنه أنه قال : سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول : تفتح اليمن فيأتي قوم يبسون فيتحملون بأهليهم ومن أطاعهم والمدينة خير لهم لو كانوا يعلمون ، وتفتح الشام فيأتي قوم يبسون فيتحملون بأهليهم ومن أطاعهم والمدينة خير لهم لو كانوا يعلمون وتفتح العراق فيأتي قوم يبسون فيتحملون بأهليهم ومن أطاعهم والمدينة خير لهم لو كانوا يعلمون
Hazrat Sufyan bin Abi Zuhair (RA) narrates that I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: Yemen will be conquered, then some people will bring their mounts running and will take their families and those who obey them, riding, back to Yemen from Medina. I wish they knew that Medina was better for them. Then Sham (Syria) will be conquered, and some people will bring their mounts running fast and will take their families and those who obey them back to Sham. I wish they knew that Medina was better for them. Then Iraq will be conquered, and some people will bring their mounts running fast and will take their families and those who obey them riding back to Iraq. I wish they knew that Medina was better for them.
Reference: Bukhari: Book of the Virtues of Medina: Chapter: Whoever turns away from Medina (1875) Muslim (1388)
Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: A time will come upon the people when a man will say to his uncle, cousin, and close relatives, "Come, let us go to a prosperous land, come, let us go to a prosperous land," while if they knew, Medina was better for them. By the One in Whose hand is my soul, whoever leaves Medina unwillingly, Allah will replace him with a better person in Medina. Beware! Medina is like a furnace that expels the impure person. The Day of Judgment will not be established until Medina expels its evil people just as fire removes the impurities from iron.
Reference: Muslim: Book of Hajj: Chapter on Medina expelling its impurity and being called Taba and Tayyiba (1381 - 3352)
Hazrat Jabir (RA) narrates that a villager came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and pledged allegiance to Islam. The next day he came with a fever and said, "Break my pledge (I leave Islam)." The Prophet (ﷺ) refused. He came back three times repeatedly asking for his pledge to be broken. Then he left Medina. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Medina is like a furnace that removes impurities and refines the pure essence.
Reference: Muslim: Book of Hajj: Also (1381 - 3352)
Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: By the One in Whose hand is my soul, some people will leave Medina unwillingly, while if they knew, Medina was better for them.
Reference: Ahmad (398/2)
Hazrat Anas bin Malik (RA) narrates that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: No city other than Medina and Makkah will be safe from the Dajjal's oppression. On every path of these two cities, angels will stand in ranks to protect them. Then the earth of Medina will shake three times, by which Allah will expel every disbeliever and hypocrite from Makkah and Medina.
Reference: Bukhari: Book of the Virtues of Medina: Chapter: The Dajjal will not enter Medina (1881) Muslim (2943)
Hazrat Anas (RA) says that the Banu Salama wanted to leave their distant houses and settle near the Prophet's Mosque, but the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did not like that any part of Medina be abandoned. He said: O Banu Salama! Do you not want the reward of your footsteps? So Banu Salama kept their residence in their distant place.
Reference: Bukhari: Book of the Virtues of Medina: Chapter: The Prophet disliked the city of Medina being stripped (1887)
Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: You will leave Medina in a better state, and it will become so desolate that wild animals, beasts, and birds will settle there. In the end, two shepherds from Muzaina will come to Medina to herd their goats, but they will see only wild animals. When they reach Thaniyat al-Wada', they will fall on their faces.
Reference: Bukhari: Book of the Virtues of Medina: Chapter: Whoever desires Medina (1874) Muslim (1389)
In one narration, it is said that the people of Medina will leave the city in a good condition for the beasts.
Reference: Muslim: Book of Hajj: Chapter: The news about people leaving Medina in the best condition (1389)
In one narration, the Prophet (ﷺ) said: The people of Medina will leave Medina in such an excellent state that fruits will be ripe everywhere. It was asked, "Who will eat these fruits?" He said: Birds and beasts.
Reference: Ahmad (514/2)
Hazrat Auf bin Malik (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: O people of Medina! By Allah, you will leave Medina to the beasts for forty years.
Reference: Ahmad (3/6) Fath al-Bari (90/4)
Hazrat Hudhaifa (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) informed me about all the events until the Day of Judgment, and I asked him about every trial to be reassured, but I could not ask him what would cause the people of Medina to be driven out of Medina.
Reference: Muslim: Book of Trials: Chapter: The Prophet's news about what will happen until the Day of Judgment (2891) Ahmad (479/5)
Benefits:
➊ It is established from the mentioned hadiths that the desolation of Madinah is a sign of the Day of Judgment.
➋ The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ preferred to reside in Madinah and to develop it.
➌ Those who leave Madinah, Allah will replace them with better people.
➍ As the conquests of Yemen, Sham, Iraq, Rome, and Iran took place, people, driven by greed for wealth and prosperity, bid farewell to Madinah and moved towards these mentioned places.
➎ Residence outside Madinah can be chosen out of necessity, as many noble companions (may Allah be pleased with them), such as Muadh ibn Jabal, Abu Ubaidah, Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, Hazrat Ali, Zubair, Ammar (may Allah be pleased with them), settled in other areas due to necessity.
➏ There are several gradual stages of Madinah's desolation. For example:
◈ After the conquests of Sham and Iraq, people migrated towards the conquered areas, and this situation has already occurred.
◈ The emergence of disbelievers and hypocrites, which will happen when the Dajjal appears, but even then Madinah will not be completely desolate.
◈ Near the Day of Judgment, people will collectively leave Madinah until no trace of any human remains there. It is possible that this situation will occur when the people of Islam, along with Hazrat Isa (Jesus) عليه السلام, take refuge by divine command on Mount Tur to escape from Ya'juj and Ma'juj. Then, when the earth is cleansed of Ya'juj and Ma'juj, people will return to Madinah, die there, and be buried there. After them, the aforementioned situation will manifest. (And Allah knows best)
Reference: For details see: Fath al-Bari (88/4), Sharh Muslim by An-Nawawi (154/9), Al-Isha'ah (56), At-Tadhkirah by Al-Qurtubi (506), An-Nihayah fi al-Fitan (94/1)
➐ Near the time of the Day of Judgment, Makkah, Madinah, and Sham will remain areas protected from trials, corruption, Ya'juj and Ma'juj, Dajjal, etc. Moreover, no trace of any disbeliever or hypocrite will remain there; only pure Muslims will be blessed to live there. O Allah, accept this prayer of ours as well.
اللهم ارزقنا شهادة فى سبيلك واجعل موتنا فى بلد رسولك آمين
