Among these is the report transmitted by ʿAmrah bint ʿAbd al-Rahmān from Rāfiʿ ibn Khadīj that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Medina is better than Mecca.” He said: “This explicitly establishes Medina’s superiority over Mecca.” Yet it is not explicit in this regard, as he claimed, for the Prophet did not say that it was “superior,” but only that it was “better.” In light of the clear evidence we have mentioned establishing Mecca’s superiority over Medina, this statement should be understood to mean that Medina is better in terms of abundant provision, with its plentiful crops and fruits and its opportunities for trade. For Allah, Mighty and Majestic, described Mecca as a place without cultivation when He related Abraham’s words, peace be upon him:

“Our Lord, I have settled some of my descendants in an uncultivated valley near Your Sacred House.” [Ibrāhīm: 37]

Thus, the meaning of the hadith—and Allah knows best—is that he wished to remind his Companions who had emigrated of Allah’s favour towards them: He had enabled them to emigrate from Mecca to a place with more abundant cultivation, so that they might give Allah the thanks He deserves.

Another example is his supplication, peace and blessings be upon him, asking for Medina the same blessings that Abraham, peace be upon him, had requested for Mecca, and as much again. This likewise provides no proof. The Prophet’s supplication, peace and blessings be upon him, that the people of Medina be blessed in their city and in their sāʿ and mudd measures, as related in the aforementioned hadith, does not indicate in any way that Medina is superior to Mecca.

Another example is his saying: “O Allah, just as they drove me out of the place most beloved to me, settle me in the place most beloved to You.” This hadith is not to be understood in an unrestricted sense. Its meaning is: “Settle me in the place most beloved to You after Mecca,” as shown by the explicit text already cited establishing Mecca’s superiority over Medina.

Another example is his saying, peace and blessings be upon him: “No one patiently endures its hardship and severity without my being an intercessor or a witness for him on the Day of Resurrection.” This likewise provides no proof. His declaration, peace and blessings be upon him, of the merit of patiently enduring Medina’s hardship and severity—during his lifetime, to remain with him and support him, and after his death, to pray in his mosque, given the reported superiority of prayer there over prayer in all other mosques except the Sacred Mosque—does not establish Medina’s superiority over Mecca. This is especially so since an explicit text states that prayer in the mosque of Mecca is a hundred times better than prayer in the mosque of Medina.