Is it permitted to call the city of Medina by its old name Yathrib?

In a nutshell: It is prohibited to call Medina by its old name Yathrib - the Prophet (saw) ordered it be called Medina. Calling Medina by its old name Yathrib Medina was previously called Yathrib, however the Prophet (saw) ordered it should be called Medina. The Prophet (saw) said "Whoever calls Medina 'Yathrib,' he should do Istighfar (ask Allah for forgiveness)." The word Yathrib يثرب comes from Tathreeb تثريب, meaning "to blame" and "to place guilt upon someone." It appears in the Qur'an once, the hypocrites of Madina having betrayed the Muslims at the Battle of Al-Ahzab saying: وَإِذْ قَالَت طَّائِفَةٌ مِّنْهُمْ يَا أَهْلَ يَثْرِبَ لَا مُقَامَ لَكُمْ فَارْجِعُوا "And if a group from among them (the munafiqeen) said 'Oh people of Yathrib, there is no place for you here today so turn back.'" The Prophet (saw) changed the name of the city to "The city that is filled with light" (al-Madina al-Munawwara) and it has been known as such since. It is also called Medina al-Nabawiyya or Medina al-Nabi and Madina Rasool Allah. Scholarly Opinion on calling Medina by its old name Yathrib The issue of referring to Medina by its pre-Islamic name "Yathrib" has been addressed by numerous Islamic scholars and jurists throughout history. The general consensus among the classical scholars is that it is impermissible and discouraged to call Medina by its former name, as it goes against the explicit instruction of the Prophet (saw). One of the earliest and most authoritative sources on this matter is the collection of hadith compiled by Imam al-Bukhari (810-870 CE) in his seminal work, "Sahih al-Bukhari." In this work, al-Bukhari narrates a hadith from Abu Hurayrah, where the Prophet (saw) is reported to have said: "Whoever calls it (Medina) 'Yathrib,' may Allah curse him." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Manners) This hadith is also recorded in other major hadith collections, such as those of Imam Muslim (817-875 CE) and Imam al-Tirmidhi (824-892 CE), further reinforcing its authenticity and significance. Classical scholars like Imam al-Nawawi (1233-1277 CE) and Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (1372-1449 CE) have elaborated on the reasoning behind this prohibition. They explain that the name "Yathrib" carried negative connotations and was associated with the pre-Islamic era of ignorance (Jahiliyyah), when the city was plagued by conflicts and disunity. By changing the name to "Medina" (literally meaning "the city"), the Prophet (saw) sought to establish a new identity for the city as a center of Islamic teachings and values. Imam al-Nawawi, in his commentary on Sahih Muslim, states: "The prohibition against calling Medina 'Yathrib' is due to the dislike of using names that carry negative implications or associations with the pre-Islamic era of ignorance." (Sharh Sahih Muslim, Book of Merits of the Companions) Similarly, Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, in his authoritative work "Fath al-Bari," explains: "The Prophet (peace be upon him) changed the name from 'Yathrib' to 'Medina' to signify the transformation of the city from a place of conflict and turmoil to a place of guidance, peace, and unity under the banner of Islam." (Fath al-Bari, Book of Manners) It is important to note that while the classical scholars unanimously discouraged the use of the name "Yathrib" for Medina, some contemporary scholars have adopted a more lenient approach, acknowledging that the term may be used in certain contexts, such as historical references or academic discussions. However, the general consensus remains that it is preferable to refer to the city by its Islamic name, "Medina," out of respect for the Prophet's guidance and the city's sacred status in Islamic tradition.