Visiting Madinah

What the visit is — and is not

The trip to Madinah is to visit the Prophet's Mosque (Masjid an-Nabawī), not the grave. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Do not undertake a journey except to three mosques: the Sacred Mosque, this mosque of mine, and Masjid al-Aqṣā." (Bukhari 1189; Muslim 1397.) The journey's destination is the mosque itself. Once you arrive, sending salutations upon the Prophet ﷺ from beside his grave is part of the etiquette, but the trip is for the mosque.

What to do when you arrive

1. 1. Enter Masjid an-Nabawī with the right foot. Recite the standard du'a of entering a mosque: "Allāhumma-ftaḥ lī abwāba raḥmatik" (O Allah, open for me the doors of Your mercy).
2. 2. Pray two rakʿat of taḥiyyat al-masjid (greeting the mosque) anywhere in the prayer hall, preferably in the Rawḍah (the area between the Prophet's ﷺ pulpit and his grave). The Rawḍah is marked by the green carpet inside the mosque; the Saudi authorities operate a free booking system on the Nusuk app to manage access.
3. 3. Approach the chamber containing the graves of the Prophet ﷺ and his two companions, Abū Bakr (RA) and ʿUmar (RA). Stand respectfully facing the Prophet ﷺ and offer salutations:

   السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهAssalāmu ʿalayka yā rasūla-Llāh wa-raḥmatu-Llāhi wa-barakātuh.Peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allah, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.

   Then step one pace to your right and greet Abū Bakr (RA) similarly. Step another pace to greet ʿUmar (RA). Then leave — do not linger making du'a TO the Prophet ﷺ; address your du'a to Allah alone, asking Him directly.
4. 4. Pray as many of the obligatory and supererogatory prayers in the mosque as you can while you are in Madinah. The Prophet ﷺ said: "A prayer in this mosque of mine is better than one thousand prayers elsewhere, except the Sacred Mosque." (Bukhari 1190; Muslim 1394.)

Other places worth visiting in Madinah

• Masjid Qubāʾ — the first mosque founded by the Prophet ﷺ on his arrival in Madinah. He said: "Whoever purifies himself at home, then comes and prays in Masjid Qubāʾ, has the reward of an ʿumrah." (Ibn Mājah 1411 — saḥīḥ.) The Prophet ﷺ used to visit it every Saturday, walking or riding.
• Al-Baqīʿ — the cemetery of Madinah, on the eastern side of the mosque. Many companions are buried there. The Prophet ﷺ taught a du'a to recite upon entering:"Assalāmu ʿalaykum dāra qawmin muʾminīn, wa innā in-shāʾ Allāhu bikum lāḥiqūn"(Peace be upon you, dwelling of a believing people; we — in shāʾ Allāh — will follow).
• Uhud — the site of the battle of Uhud and the resting place of Ḥamzah (RA) and the other martyrs. Visit, greet the martyrs with the same du'a, reflect, and leave.
• The Seven Mosques (commonly visited, but their identification with specific events of the Battle of the Trench is not authentically established; no fiqh obligation to visit).

Common mistakes to avoid

• Directing du'a to the Prophet ﷺ instead of to Allah. Greet the Prophet ﷺ. Then make du'a TO Allah, not THROUGH or TO the Prophet ﷺ. Seeking anything from any created being — alive or dead — is the door of shirk al-akbar. The Prophet ﷺ himself directed all du'a to Allah alone.
• Wiping the walls of the chamber, kissing the bars, seeking baraka from physical objects. The Companions did none of this. The walls and the grilles are not means of mercy.
• Women visiting Al-Baqīʿ at times of crowding. The Prophet ﷺ permitted visiting graves for both men and women (Muslim 977), provided no impermissible behavior occurs (wailing, mixing). In modern Madinah the cemetery opens at specific hours and is managed for the safety of all visitors — follow the posted signs.
• Believing the trip to Madinah is part of Hajj. It is not. Your Hajj is complete without it. The trip is a great opportunity for spiritual benefit, but missing it does not affect the validity of your Hajj.
• Treating Madinah as another miqāt for Umrah. If you are visiting Madinah after Hajj and intend a follow-up Umrah, you enter ihram from Dhul Hulayfah (the miqāt for Madinah-bound pilgrims) — not from inside the city.

Etiquette inside Masjid an-Nabawī

• · Maintain ritual purity. Renew your wudu often.
• · Lower your voice. The Qur'an forbids raising the voice in the Prophet's ﷺ presence (49:2-3) and the prohibition continues at the place of his burial.
• · Do not take photos of others praying without permission. The Saudi authorities ask pilgrims to refrain from any photos near the chamber.
• · Do not bring food into the prayer hall. Eat in designated areas.
• · The mosque is also a place of rest — do not disturb sleepers or readers.