VISITS TO PROPHET MUHAMMAD (SAW) AND THE MASJID AL-NABAWI

Although it is not obligatory, believers go to Madina and visit the tomb of Prophet Muhammad (saw) either before their hajj commences or after they fulfilled their hajj duty, prior to their return trip to their home countries.

The city of Madina is the home of hijrah. Prophet Muhammad (saw) and his companions migrated here as a result of the oppression of polytheists in Mecca. These lands are where Allah's Messenger (saw) spent his last decade, the major part of the Holy Qur'an was revealed, the unmatched brotherhood and sisterhood between the ansar and the muhajireen was observed. Prophet Muhammad (saw) passed away and was buried here. 

On the occasion of hajj, Muslims who long for Madina enjoy the opportunity to visit the Masjid al-Nabawi, the grave of the Prophet (saw), the Baqi’ (eternal) cemetery -where the tombs of many of Prophet's family and friends- the Martyrs' Cemetery of Uhud and many other places that are important in Islamic history.

Prophet Muhammad (saw), himself, encouraged people to visit the Masjid al-Nabawi (Bukhari, Sawm, 67), and he remarked that one prayer offered there is better than a thousand prayers offered elsewhere, except the Masjid of the Ka’bah. (Nasai, Masajid, 4) Again he stated that, after his death, those who visited his grave would be considered as if they had visited him while he was alive and heralded those who visited him with his intercession. (Bayhaqi, al-Sunan al-Kubra, V, 402-403)

Our messenger (saw) died in the room of our mother, Aisha, and was buried there. The graves of Abu Bakr and Omar are also right beside his grave and are in the Masjid. One should visit the graves of Prophet Muhammad (saw) and the two companions of him with a respectful greeting, and without scrimmage and careless conduct against morals. If possible, believers establish two rak’ahs of prayer in the area called "Rawdah al-Mutahharah, where Prophet Muhammad (saw) mentioned as follows: “The area between my house and minbar (the pulpit) there is a garden of the gardens of Paradise.”  If there is no space available for establishing prayer, then believers are advised to establish prayer and make du'a in any other place available in the said masjid.(Bukhari, Fadl al-Salat fi Masjid al-Mecca, 5)

A Pilgrim should consider himself as a wayfarer of immigration when as he travels to Madinah,   and should consider immigration as leaving the prohibitions of Allah (swt) (Bukhari, Iman, 4)as Prophet Muhammad (saw) stated. He should try to benefit from the spiritual atmosphere of Madinah, and whenever possible, establish the daily prayers in congregation at Masjid al-Nabawi.

Believers should remember the exemplary life of Prophet Muhammad's (saw) companions, strive to understand the brotherhood between the ansar and the muhajireen, and carry this great spirit of brotherhood to their relations with other people. They should take the good attributions of the companions as a guide to themselves such as patience, persistence, contentment, generosity and therefore the loyalty of Abu Bakr, the justice of Omar, the modesty of Osman, the taqwa of Ali and the wisdom of Aisha.

Every pilgrim must assimilate the meaning that makes Madinah a city of light and return to his home country by taking the Qur'an and the sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) as a light for his life.