The Book of Pilgrimage (Kitab Al-Hajj)

Muslim :: Book 7 : Hadith 3189

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (way peace be upon him) as saying: I have been commanded (to migrate) to a town (Medina) which would overpower other towns. They (the people) call it Yathrib; its correct name is (in fact) Medina. It eliminates (bad) people just as a furnace removes the alloy of iron.