The desire to die in either of the sanctuaries in Makkah and Madinah is commendable. Bukhari has reported on the authority of Hafsah that ‘Umar said: “O Allah ! Grant me martyrdom in Your cause, and cause me to die in the city of Your Prophet, peace be upon him.” Thereupon Hafsa asked him: “Why do you pray for such a thing?” He said: “Allah willing, I shall get what I have prayed for.”
At-Tabarani reported on the authority of Jabir that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “He who dies in one of the two sanctuaries will be raised in peace on the Day of Resurrection.” Among the narrators of this hadith are Musa ibn Abdul al-Rahman, who is mentioned as trustworthy by Ibn Hibban and Abdullah ibn al-Mu’amil. Ahmad regards the hadith as weak, while Ibn Hibban considers it sound.