prayer in the Messenger’s mosque, peace be upon him, over all other mosques concerns only the degree of superiority, not superiority itself. It is as though he said, peace and blessings be upon him: ‘A prayer in this mosque of mine is better than a thousand prayers in any other mosque, except the Sacred Mosque, over which its superiority is less than a thousandfold, because the mosque in Mecca is superior to other mosques.’ The Sacred Mosque thus has an advantage over all other mosques, just as the Messenger’s mosque, peace and blessings be upon him, has an advantage over the Sacred Mosque. Thus Medina’s superiority over Mecca becomes clear.”
This is the meaning of his statement, but it is incorrect, for we have already explained the weakness of the arguments he advanced for Medina’s superiority over Mecca. Moreover, an explicit report from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, states that “prayer in the Sacred Mosque in Mecca is superior to prayer in the Messenger’s mosque in Medina.” The exception in this hadith therefore bears its apparent meaning: it excludes the Sacred Mosque from the entire declaration of superiority. It is as though he said, peace and blessings be upon him: “A prayer in this mosque of mine is better than a thousand prayers in any other mosque, except the Sacred Mosque, over which it has no superiority. Rather, the Sacred Mosque is superior to it,” as stated in the hadith we have cited.
Some who hold Medina to be superior to Mecca have cited the Prophet’s saying, peace and blessings be upon him: “There is no place on earth where I would rather have my grave—meaning Medina.” This provides no proof. Once he had emigrated from Mecca, he could not return there; and since Medina was the place most beloved to Allah after Mecca, he preferred not to leave it, so that he would die there and his grave would be there. Allah alone grants success.
Chapter
The Authority of the Consensus of the People of Medina, Giving Preference to Mālik’s School—May Allah Be Pleased with Him—and His Merit and Eminent Rank in Knowledge
The consensus of the people of Medina on rulings known through transmission is authoritative proof that must be accepted and adhered to, and given precedence over solitary reports and analogical reasoning. Examples include their consensus on the permissibility of charitable trusts and endowments; the form of the call to prayer and the call announcing its commencement; the capacity of the Prophet’s sā‘ and mudd measures, peace and blessings be upon him; the exemption of vegetables from zakat; and similar matters. All these were transmitted by later generations