Visiting the Masjid of the Prophet

Visiting the Prophet’s Masjid is prescribed and recommended as it is one of the three mosques to which one may make an effort to travel to for the sake of praying and worshipping therein. Abu Hurayrah (radhiyAllahu ‘anhu) narrates from the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) that he said: “You should not undertake a special journey to visit any place other than the three Mosques: the Sacred Mosque of Makkah, this Mosque of mine, and Al-Aqsa Mosque (in Jerusalem).” [Reported by Bukhari and Muslim]. He also narrates that the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “One prayer in this Mosque of mine is better than a thousand prayers offered anywhere else except the Sacred Mosque.” [Reported by the group]. And in the narration of Abdullaah ibn az-Zubayr as reported by Ahmad, he (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “…and a prayer in the Sacred Mosque is better than a hundred prayers in this one.”

Abu Hurayrah (radhiyAllahu ‘anhu) also narrates that the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Between my house and my minbar is a garden (raudhah) from the gardens of paradise, and my minbar is on my haudh (cistern).” [Reported by Bukhari].

Therefore, it is sunnah for the pilgrim as well as others to visit the masjid of the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) either before or after Hajj in order to offer salah (prayers) in it. However, it is not a condition or a part of the Hajj; as a matter of fact, visiting the masjid of the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) has no connection with the Hajj itself.

When entering the masjid of the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) one should do so with the right foot (first) and say the prescribed du’aa for entering a masjid. Following is an example of one such du’aa: Bismillah wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillahi, Allahumma ighfir lee dhunubee wa iftah lee Abwaba Rahmatik, Allahumma Inni A’uthu Billahi Al-Adhim, Wa Wajhihi Al-Kareem, Wa Sultanihi Al-Qadim mina Shaitani rajim.

(In the Name of Allah, O Allah! Bless Mohammad, his family and his followers. O Allah! Forgive my sins, and open the doors of Your mercy for me. I seek refuge with Allah, the Supreme, with His Noble Face, and with His Eternal Dominion from the accursed devil.)

You should then pray two raka’ah tahiyyat al masjid as prescribed by the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam): “When one of you enters the masjid, let him not sit until he prays two raka’ahs.” [Reported by Bukhari and Muslim].

If possible, one should try and pray in the “raudhah” due to the virtue of the place. Note that if it is too busy and securing a place there means pushing, shoving and inconveniencing others, then one is better off praying elsewhere in the masjid. One also needs to pay attention to the fact that praying the fardh (obligatory) prayer in the first row is more meritorious than praying in the raudhah. Therefore, if you can pray in the front rows it is better than praying in the raudhah for the fardh. The Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “The best of rows for the men are the front row.” He also said: “If the people knew what (reward) there is in the call and the first row, and there was no other way to settle the matter than drawing lots, they would draw lots for it.” [Reported by Bukhari and Muslim]

Visiting the Grave of the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi was allam) and the graves of his two companions

After offering salah in the masjid, one may proceed to the graves and greet the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and his two companions, Abu Bakr and ‘Omar (radhiyAllahu ‘anhumaa).

Stand facing the grave of the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) with back towards the qiblah and say (for example): – as-salaamu ‘alayka ayyuhan- Nabiyyu wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuh (May the peace, blessings and mercy of Allah be upon you Oh Prophet). And if one were to add to that using some appropriate wordings it would be acceptable. Ibn ‘Omar (radhiyAllahu ‘anhu) used to go and say: – as-Salaamu ‘alayka yaa RasoolAllah, as-salaamu ‘alayka yaa Abaa Bakr, As-Salaamu ‘Alayka yaa Abati (Peace be upon you Oh Messenger of Allah, Peace be upon you Oh Abu Bakr, Peace be upon you Oh father… then he would leave).

Step towards the right so you are in line with the grave of Abu Bakr and while facing it say (for example): – As-Salaamu ‘Alayka yaa Abaa Bakr. As-Salaamu ‘Alayka yaa Khaleefata Rasoolillaah fee ummatihi. RadhiyAllahi ‘anka wa jazaaka ‘an ummati Muhammadin Khayran. (Peace be upon you Oh Abu Bakr. Peace be upon you Oh caliph of the Messenger of Allah. May Allah be please with you and reward you with good on behalf of the ummah of Muhammad).

Then right again so as to be in line with the grave of ‘Omar (radhiyAllahu ‘anhu) and say (for example): – As-Salaamu ‘Alayka yaa ‘Omar. As-Salaamu ‘Alayka yaa Ameera al Mumineen. RadhiyAllahu ‘anka wa jazaaka ‘an ummati Muhammadin Khayran. (Peace be upon you Oh ‘Omar. Peace be upon you Oh leader of the believers. May Allah be plased with you and reward with good on behalf of the ummah of Muhammad). One should say salaam to the prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and his two companions with good manners and while lowering the voice. It is not recommended that one stand for a long period of time before the grave of the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and the graves of his companions engaging in du’aa. This is not from the guidance of our pious predecessors. Note also that it is not required for one to go to the graves regularly (as some believe one needs to go after every salah). The companions of the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) did not do so and they were more knowledgeable of this deen than those who followed them and they loved the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) more than others. Note also that it is unlawful (haraam) to ask anything of the prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), including asking him (directly) to intercede on our behalf before Allah. Rather, we turn to Allah, begging of Him to grant the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) permission to intercede don our behalf on the Day of Judgement.

While in Madinah, it is also recommended that one goes to the baqee’ (graveyard next to the masjid) and greets the inhabitants of that graveyard using the duás from the sunnah. For example: - Assalaamu alaikum ahlad diyaar minal mumineena wal muslimeena. Wa innaa Inshaa'allahu bikum la-laahikoon. Nas alul laaha lanaa wala kumul ‘aafiyah. (May the Peace (of Allah) be upon you, O people of this land (the graveyard), who are among the Believers! Insha Allah, we too shall (soon) be joining you. We ask Allah protection for you and for ourselves.)

There is also no harm in one visiting sites such as Uhud in order to remember what transpired there and to greet and pray for the martyrs.

One should also make an effort to go to masjid Qubaa and offer salah in it as the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) used to visit it every Saturday. One who offers a salah in Masjid Qubaa attains the reward of performing an ‘umrah.