certain horses, by the decree of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and His prior ordainment, as He has informed us in His Noble Book:
“No calamity befalls the earth or yourselves but is recorded in a Book before We bring it into being.” [al-Hadīd: 22]
In the case of a horse, this may involve riding it for an improper purpose or suffering a misfortune while riding it—not because any of these things transmits anything to another or exerts any influence upon it.
Thus, by saying, “There is no contagion,” the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, did not deny the actual existence of conditions that are transmitted. Rather, he denied that anything transmits contagion in the manner believed by the people of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance and those ignorant of Allah. Consider his words in the authentic hadith:
“There is no contagion, no hāma, and no Safar. The sick must not lodge with the healthy, but the healthy may lodge with the sick wherever they wish.”
They asked, “O Messenger of Allah, why is that?” He, peace and blessings be upon him, replied that, while denying that anything could transmit contagion, he prohibited the sick from lodging with the healthy because the latter might suffer harm thereby, in accordance with the customary course of events under Allah’s decree and prior ordainment. What we have explained is clarified by the hadith of Abū Hurayra, who reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“There is no contagion, no hāma, and no Safar.” A Bedouin stood up and said, “O Messenger of Allah, camels may be out on the sands, looking like gazelles, then a mangy camel comes among them and they all develop mange.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Then what infected the first one?”
Success comes from Allah, who has no partner, besides whom there is no Lord, and other than whom none is worshipped.
Section
The Merits of Mecca and Medina and Their Relative Excellence
The scholars agree on the merit of Mecca and Medina and that they are the finest places on earth. They differ only as to which is superior. A group of Mālikī scholars held that Medina is superior to Mecca, while Abū Hanīfa, al-Shāfiʿī, and other scholars held that Mecca is superior to Medina. The latter view is more evident, for Allah, Mighty and Majestic, made Mecca sacred, magnified its sanctity, and made His House there the direction of prayer. He said:
“We have certainly seen you turning your face towards heaven, so We will surely turn you towards a direction of prayer that pleases you. Turn your face towards the Sacred Mosque; and wherever you are, turn your faces towards it. And indeed” [al-Baqarah: 144]
He also said:
“and the Sacred Mosque, which We have made for all people, residents and visitors alike.” [al-Hajj: 25]