Visiting Madinah
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It is the Prophet’s town to which early Muslims immigrated. It is the first Muslim state out of which the light (guidance) reached the east and the west. Its inhabitants received the prophet (S.A.S.) and the Muslim immigrants very generously. Allah says “and those who before them, had homes (in Madinah) and had adopted the faith, show their affection to such as came to them for refugee and entertain no desire in their hearts for things given to the (latter), but give them preference over themselves, even though poverty was their (own lot)”. The prophet (S.A.S.) commend them saying “loving Al-ansar is part of faith, and hating them is hypocrisy”.
Also the prophet (S.A.S.) said about Madinah “let those who can die die in Madinah as I will either witness or intercede on the day of resurrection for those who die in Madinah”. Umar used to say in his supplication “O, Allah! Bestow upon me martyrdom in your cause and cause my demise in your prophet’s mosque”.
In Madinah lies the prophet’s mosque which is one of the three mosques to which people travel. Also prayer in the prophet’s mosque has great reward. The prophet (S.A.S.) said “prayer in my mosque is better than one thousand prayers in any other place except the holy mosque, is better than a hundred thousand prayers in any other place”. The prophet’s mosque includes Rawda Sharifah. The prophet (S.A.S.) said, “There is a garden from paradise between my pulpit and home”.
In spite of the honour of Madinah, visiting the prophet’s mosque has nothing to do with hajj. All the hadiths that state that visiting Madinah and the prophet’s mosque is part of hajj are weakened not confirmed. Imam ibn taimiayh finds them invalid.
Rules of visiting Madinah and the Prophet’s mosque
On reaching Madinah, it is better to start with visiting the Prophet’s mosque entering with the right leg first and saying “In the name of Allah, blessings and peace be upon Allah’s messenger, I seek refugee in Allah the greatest, His noble face and His eternal suzerainty against the cursed devil”. O, Allah! Bestow upon me your mercy”. Then he prays two rak’ahs as greeting the mosque in rawdah if possible. If not, then in any place in the mosque.
After that he goes to the graves of the prophet (S.A.S.) and Abu Bakr and Umar. He stands in front of the prophet’s grave and says “peace blessings and mercy of Allah be upon you”. The prophet (S.A.S.) said “When anyone greets me, Allah will bring my soul back in my body to reply”. Allah says “O, you who believe! Send your salat on him (Mohammed) and greet him in the islam way of greetings”. Then he greets Abu Bakr and Umar. It is sunnah for the visitor to pray the five times in the prophet’s mosque and make a lot of supplications and remembrance of Allah and salat on the prophet. It is forbidden to circumambulate around the grave and raise the voice.
It is recommended to offer a lot of the voluntary prayers as well as visiting qiba’a mosque about which Allah says “verily, the mosque whose foundation was laid from the first day on piety is more worthy that you stand therein (in prayer), in it are men who love to clean and to purify themselves, and Allah loves those who makes themselves clean and pure”. The prophet (S.A.S.) said “whoever purifies himself at home, then goes to qiba’a mosque and offer a prayer will have the reward of umrah”.
Also in Madinah one visits al-baqi’a where many of the companions and the followers and Hamza are buried. The prophet (S.A.S.) used to visit them. He said, “visit the graves as they remind you of the hereafter”. The prophet (S.A.S.) taught the companions when visiting the graves to say “peace be upon you, people of the graves! The faithful and Muslims, we will catch up with you, if Allah will, upon me and them safety”.
This is the lawful visit. Be careful brothers and sisters, the prophet (S.A.S.) said, “if anyone innovates anything in our religion it is invalid”.
Parent page: Pilgrimage
