In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

The Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: ‘”Verily Eemaan returns to Madinah as a snake returns to its hole”. (1)

Imam Muhammad Ibn Salih Al-Uthaymin, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: In this hadith, the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “Verily Iman returns to Madinah as a snake returns to its hole”. The word [ يَأرِزُ -Yarizo] with a kasrah on the letter Raa can also have a Fatha or a Dammah on the Raa. The meaning of [يَأرِزُ – Yarizo] is that (Islam) will return and will be established in Madinah, just as a snake returns to its hole after exiting it. This demonstrates that this religion will return to Madinah after the other lands become corrupted, just as a snake goes out and roams about in the earth, and then returns to its hole thereafter.

Also in this Hadith, there is an indication that just as Islam did spread from Madinah, it will also return to it because Islam’s strength and authority did not spread except from Madinah, even though its origin was in Makkah. Makkah was the first place where the revelation came down, but the Muslims were not able to establish a state, authority and Jihad except after migrating to Madinah. Due to this reason, Islam’s authority, enforcement and strength spread from Madinah, and it will return to it in the end of time. Some of the people of knowledge say that this [hadith] demonstrates an affair that has already taken place, which is that people did come to Madinah and return to it in order to acquire the knowledge of the Shariah and to study Islam. However, the first meaning is what is apparent from the hadith. [2]

[1]Saheeh Bukhaari: Summarized Version: Hadeeth Number: 909

An Excerpt from “Fataawaa Fadeelatus Shaikh Al-Allaamah Muhammad Bin Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen Fil Aqeedah 1/ 84-85