Meaning of the Hadeeth, “Faith retreats to Madeenah”

In this
hadeeth, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Faith
retreats to Madeenah like a snake returns to its hole.” The word “retreats
to” means to return and settle in Madeenah, just as a snake, when it goes
out from its hole, returns to it. Here the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allah be upon him) was saying that this religion will retreat to Madeenah
after all other countries become corrupt, just as a snake comes out of its
hole and wanders about the land, then it goes back to its hole. 

This
hadeeth also indicates that just as Islam spread from Madeenah, it will
return to it. Islam with its strength and authority spread from Madeenah,
although its roots stemmed from Makkah. Makkah was the place where the first
Revelation came down, but the Muslims did not have a state and power, and
engage in jihad (battle), until after they migrated to Madeenah. Hence Islam
with its power and authority, spread from Madeenah and will retreat to it at
the end of time. 

Some of
the scholars said: this hadeeth refers to something that has already
happened, i.e., the people came in delegations to Madeenah and went back
there again to learn about sharee’ah (Islamic law) and the teachings of
Islam from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon
him). But the first meaning is the apparent meaning of the hadeeth and is
more correct.