Visiting the Masjid of the Prophet, , is one of the recommended acts of worship that is valid under Sharee‘ah (Islamic legislation). It is the second of the three mosques, to which mounts are saddled to  journey for prayer and religious service. It is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, from the Messenger of Allah, , that he said: “No mounts should be saddled for a journey (for religious service) except to three masjids: Al-Masjid Al-Haraam, this masjid of mine, and Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] It is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: the Messenger of Allah, , said: “Verily, a prayer performed in this masjid of mine is better than one thousand prayers performed in any other Masjid, except for Al-Masjid Al-Haraam.” [Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Daawood, At-Tirmithi, Ibn Maajah, An-Nasaa’i and Ahmad]

In the narration of Imaam Ahmad, there is the following addition on the authority of ‘Abdullaah ibn Az-Zubayr, may Allah be pleased with him: “…and a prayer in Al-Masjid Al-Haraam is superior to one hundred prayers in this (masjid of mine).” It is narrated on the authority of Maymoonah, may Allah be pleased with her, the wife of the Messenger of Allah, , that she said: I heard the Messenger of Allah, , saying: “No doubt, a prayer to be performed in this, i.e. the Masjid of the Messenger of Allah is better than one thousand prayers to be performed in any other masjid, except for the Masjid of the Ka‘bah.” [Muslim]

 It is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: the Messenger of Allah, , said: “In (the area) between my house and my pulpit (in the mosque), there is a garden (Rawdhah) of the gardens of Paradise; and my pulpit lies on my fountain tank.” [Al-Bukhari]

So, it is a part of the Sunnah (tradition) for the pilgrim or anyone else, to visit the Masjid of the Messenger of Allah, , and pray there, before or after Hajj. But this visit is neither a condition of validity, nor a pillar, nor an obligation of Hajj, nor is it related to it.

If one enters the mosque, let him move forward with his right foot and say: “Bismillaah, was-salaatu was-salaamu ‘ala rasoolillaah. Allahumma ighfir li thunoobi, waftah li abwaaba rahmatik. A‘oothu billaahi al-‘atheem, wa bi wajhihi al-kareem, wa bi sultaanihi al-qadeem min ash-shaytaan ar-rajeem” (In the Name of Allah, and may Allah Send blessings and peace upon the Messenger of Allah, . O Allah! Forgive for me my sins, and open for me the gates of Your mercy. I seek refuge with Allah, The Great, His honored countenance and eternal authority from Satan, the expelled [from themercy of Allah]."

Then, let him offer a two-Rak‘ah prayer, by way of greeting the mosque, in response to the statement of the Messenger of Allah, : “If anyone of you enters the mosque, let him not sit down before he offers a two-Rak‘ah prayer.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] It is narrated on the authority of Ka‘b ibn Maalik, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said, “In the morning, the Messenger of Allah arrived (in Madeenah), and it was the habit of the Messenger of Allah that whenever he returned from a journey, he would start with the mosque to offer a two-Rak‘ah prayer.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] It is narrated on the authority of Jaabir, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: I was with the Messenger of Allah, , on journey, and when we arrived in Madeenah, he said to me: “Enter (the mosque) and offer a two-Rak‘ah prayer.” [Al-Bukhari]

It is due on anyone to seek to pray in Ar-Rawdhah if it is available to him, in view of its superiority. But if it is not available, then, let him pray anywhere that is available to him in the mosque. This applies to the individual prayer. But in case of the congregational prayer, let him seek to be in the first row behind the Imaam, since it is the best of rows (for men), in view of the statement of the Messenger of Allah, : “The first row is the best of men’s rows (in prayer).” The Messenger of Allah, , further said: “If the people knew the reward for pronouncing the Athaan and for standing in the first row (in congregational prayers) and found no other way to get that except by drawing lots, they would draw lots." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Visiting the grave of the Messenger of Allah, , and the graves of his two Companions, may Allah be pleased with them

After one prays in the masjid of the Prophet, , on his arrival as much as he likes, he should go to greet the Messenger of Allah, , and his two Companions, Abu Bakr and ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with them.

1-   He should stand in front of the grave of the Messenger of Allah, , facing the grave with his back to the Qiblah (direction of prayer), and say: “As-salaamu ‘alayka ayyuha an-nabiyyu wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh.” There is no blame to say more if he likes, if it is relevant, such as to say: “As-salaamu ‘alayka ya khaleelallaahi wa ameenahu ‘ala wahyihi wa kheeratahu min khalqih. Ash-hadu annaka qad ballaghta ar-risaalah, wa addayta al-amaanah, wa nasahta al-ummah, wa jaahadta fillaah haqqa jihaadih” (As-salaamu ‘alayka, the intimate friend of Allah, His trustworthy person on His revelation, and the best one from among His creation. I testify that you conveyed the message, fulfilled the trust, advised the Ummah (Muslim nation) sincerely, and strove in (the religion of) Allah as much as due). But if he is satisfied only with the former supplication, that will be sufficient. The salutation of Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with them, was as follows: “As-salaamu ‘alayka O Messenger of Allah! As-salaamu ‘alayka O Abu Bakr! As-salaamu ‘alayka O my father.” Then, he would turn away.

2-   He should take a step to the right to be in front of the grave of Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, and then say: “As-salaamu ‘alayka ya aba Bakr! As-salaamu ‘alayka yaa khaleefata rasoolillaah fee ummatihi: radhiya Allahu ‘anka wa jazaaka ‘an ummati Muhammad khayran” (As-salaamu ‘alayka O Abu Bakr! As-salaamu ‘alayka O the successor of the Messenger of Allah, , in his Ummah: may Allah be pleased with you, and reward you with the best reward on behalf of the Ummah of Muhammad).

Visiting the Masjid of the Prophet – II

Visiting the Masjid of the Prophet - III