Takeaways from the two hadiths:
1 – The one who declared Mecca inviolable was Prophet Abraham, while the one who declared Medina inviolable was Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Al-Bukhari 189 and Muslim 1353 record the statement: “This city—Mecca—Allah declared it inviolable on the day He created the heavens and the earth.” This shows that Mecca’s sanctity is ancient, part of a previous and continuously valid dispensation. In another report the sanctity is ascribed to Abraham; that is because he was the messenger who conveyed the ruling. The ultimate Law-Giver is Allah, and the prophets merely transmit His rulings. Thus the prohibition may be attributed to Allah as the One who legislated it and to the messenger as the one who conveyed it.
2 – Declaring the two cities sacred means that they are places of security: within their sanctuaries no trees may be cut, no game may be hunted, and no animals may be driven away.
3 – Abraham prayed that the people of Mecca be granted blessing and abundant provision, as Allah relates: “And when Abraham said, ‘My Lord…’” (Q. 2:126).
4 – Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed that the people of Medina be granted blessing and abundant provision, just as Abraham had prayed for Mecca; indeed, he asked that the blessing in Medina be twice that of Mecca.
5 – According to the hadith, the southern boundary of the Medinan sanctuary is Mount ʿAyr, and its northern boundary is Mount Thawr.
6 – Its eastern and western limits are the two lava fields (al-ḥarratān) of Medina, as stated in Al-Bukhari 1869 and Muslim 1372 on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him): “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) declared the area between the two lava fields of Medina inviolable and designated twelve miles as a protected zone.”
The majority of scholars—including the imams Malik, al-Shafiʿi, and Ahmad—affirm the inviolability of the Medinan sanctuary in light of the sound texts that follow, whereas Abu Hanifah does not consider