A Mawlidun Nabi (SAW) and book launch ‘Good Tidings for lovers visiting the final Messenger (SAW)’ by Shaykh Dr Muhammed bin Yahya Al Ninowy was held at Masjid Abubakr Siddique in Erasmia last Wednesday (Sept 24).
Book review
For many South African pilgrims, the journey from OR Tambo to the radiant city of Madina is more than a flight—it is a homecoming of the heart.
The 40 Hadith on the Virtues of Madina is a finely crafted companion for that journey, gathering concise prophetic narrations and gentle reflections that prepare the soul to enter the City of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) with reverence, gratitude, and love.
The book’s strength lies in its simplicity and sincerity. Each hadith is presented with clear translation and a short, accessible commentary that turns information into invocation—quietly inviting the reader to remember, to soften, and to aspire. Without assuming background in Islamic studies, the author opens a window onto why Madina has always been the city of mercy and why visiting the Prophet’s Mosque can feel like stepping into a living classroom of compassion. The tone is devotional but measured, making it ideal for a neutral, public readership.
One of the most moving touchstones the book evokes is the well-known report of a traveler who set out to visit a friend purely for the sake of God. An angel stopped him and asked his purpose. The traveler replied that he sought nothing worldly—no favor, no trade—only love for his friend for God’s sake. The angel then informed him that God loved him as he had loved his friend. If such a reward is promised for visiting a fellow believer out of sincere love, how much more might a pilgrim hope for when love for God draws him or her to visit the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) in Madina? This comparison, delicately suggested in the spirit of the book, crystallizes its message: love, when purified, becomes a path—one that leads naturally to reverence, good manners, and nearness.
Structurally, the forty-hadith format gives readers a steady rhythm—perfect for pre departure evenings, airport lounges, or the quiet minutes after prayers in the Prophet’s Mosque. Chapters are brief and uncluttered, making the book easy to share among spouses, grandparents, and madrasa-going youth traveling together. It is equally fitting as a
farewell gift at a Umrah send-off or a welcome-home present that helps returning pilgrims keep Madina’s light alive in daily life. Shaykh Dr Muhammed bin Yahya Al Ninowy offers only the gentlest of guidance, never overshadowing the source texts. His voice is that of a teacher who points, then steps aside so the reader can take in the horizon for themselves. A very brief note on the author: he is a respected contemporary scholar and teacher known for placing prophetic love and mercy at the center of spiritual practice. That emphasis is felt on every page.
Group itineraries can be full and fast, yet even five minutes with a single hadith can reset the heart before entering the Rawdah, walking the streets of Madina, or offering greetings at the Prophet’s Mosque. The language is gentle enough for newcomers and nourishing for seasoned students, which makes it a unifying text for families and travel groups who want to be “on the same page” spiritually.
In an age crowded with guides, The 40 Hadith on the Virtues of Madina distinguishes itself not by the weight of its pages but by the weight it lifts off the heart. It does not argue; it invites. It does not overwhelm; it orients. For anyone planning Umrah or longing to renew their bond with the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), this book is an outstanding choice quiet, luminous, and exactly what a pilgrim needs to remember why Madina is called the city of light.
