Volume 3 – 90 – The Sanctification of Mecca
Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
Allah Almighty facilitated the conquest of Mecca for the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him), so he rose among his companions, praised Allah, and proclaimed [the takbir]. Then he said: "Indeed, Allah forbade the army of elephants from entering Mecca, but He has made His Messenger and the believers victorious in entering it. Allah Almighty permitted Mecca to me for a single hour of the day, after which it is forbidden until the Day of Judgment. Its trees are not to be pruned, its game is not to be frightened, and that which is lost [there] is not lawful except to one who announces it and makes it known."
Abbas said: (Or it was transmitted with the definite article – al-Abbas.) "O Messenger of Allah, is not 'izhar' [a type of grass] an exception? For we use it in our graves and homes.” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said, “’Izhar’ is an exception."
Abu Dawud says: Ibn Mufaddah narrated from Walid, adding: "A man from the people of Yemen stood up and said, 'O Messenger of Allah, write it for me.' The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said, ‘Write it for Abu Shah.’ I asked Hisham, ‘What does the command to “write it for Abu Shah” mean?’ He said: He wanted him to write down this sermon which the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) delivered.” [61]
EXPLANATION
*Layu’zadu:* It is not to be added to or pruned.
*Yuneffar:* It is not to be frightened, attacked, or driven away.
*Izhar:* This is a fragrant grass known as broad-leaved Mecca straw. It is placed on the ceilings and in graves between the shroud and the deceased.
According to a narration from Ibn Abbas, in the preceding account (hadith), the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “The grasses of the sacred precinct of Mecca may not be plucked.” [62]
EXPLANATION
*Yuhlau:* *Yukta-u*: To be cut. When used in the negative, it means "cannot be cut" or "cannot be uprooted."
*Hala:* This refers to summer grasses. The Hanafi scholars distinguish between grasses that grow spontaneously and those cultivated by people. They say there is no prohibition against plucking crops like alfalfa which are planted by humans, but plucking naturally growing grasses incurs punishment.
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) related:
I said to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, "O Messenger of Allah, would it not be permissible for us to build a house or structure for you in Mina that would shade you from the sun?"
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, replied, “It is not permissible. Indeed, Mina is a place where those who arrive first will let their camels collapse.” [63]
Note: *Muna* means a place where camels are allowed to kneel. Since Mina is a place where everyone gathers to perform the rites of Hajj during the season of pilgrimage, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, did not find it appropriate for him to have a designated property there.
Ya’la bin Umayya (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said, “Hoarding foodstuffs within the sacred boundaries is transgression.”