Visiting মদীনা মুনাওয়ারা is highly মুস্তাহাব (though not a হজ্জ requirement). নবী করীম said, 'A সালাত in my মসজিদ is better than a thousand সালাতs elsewhere, except মসজিদুল হারাম' (Bukhari). Key sites include Masjid al-Nabawi, the Rawdah, নবী করীম's grave, Baqi cemetery, Masjid Quba, Mount Uhud, and Masjid al-Qiblatayn.
Visiting মদীনা মুনাওয়ারা is not a pillar or requirement of হজ্জ, but it is highly মুস্তাহাব (mustahab) and deeply rewarding. Most হাজী itineraries include 3-7 days in মদীনা মুনাওয়ারা either before or after the হজ্জ days in মক্কা মুকাররমা. There is no ইহরাম required for visiting মদীনা মুনাওয়ারা, and no specific rituals beyond the মুস্তাহাব সালাতs and visits. নবী করীম (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) said, 'Do not set out on a journey except for three মসজিদs: al-মসজিদুল হারাম, the মসজিদ of Allah's Messenger, and al-Masjid al-Aqsa' (Bukhari and Muslim). He also said, 'A সালাত in my মসজিদ is better than a thousand সালাতs elsewhere, except al-মসজিদুল হারাম' (Bukhari).
Masjid al-Nabawi is the second holiest মসজিদ in Islam, originally built by নবী করীম Muhammad (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) upon his arrival in মদীনা মুনাওয়ারা in 622 CE. The current মসজিদ is a vast, magnificent structure that has been expanded multiple times, most recently by the Saudi government to accommodate over one million worshippers. Its iconic green dome marks the location of নবী করীম's burial chamber. The মসজিদ is open 24 hours and features air-conditioned সালাত halls, the famous retractable umbrella canopies in the courtyard, and multi-level সালাত areas. Pilgrims should pray in the মসজিদ as much as possible during their stay, as each সালাত carries the reward of 1,000 সালাতs elsewhere.
The Rawdah (lit. 'garden') is the area between নবী করীম's pulpit (minbar) and his burial chamber, which he described as 'one of the gardens of Paradise' (Bukhari). It is distinguished by its green carpeting (versus the মসজিদ's red carpeting elsewhere). Due to its small size and immense demand, access to the Rawdah is managed through timed appointments, especially during হজ্জ and উমরাহ seasons. Praying in the Rawdah is highly sought after but not ওয়াজিব. নবী করীম's grave, along with the graves of Abu Bakr and Umar ibn al-Khattab, is located within the মসজিদ behind a protective screen. Pilgrims may send greetings (salam) to নবী করীম when passing the grave, following the etiquette taught by the scholars.
মদীনা মুনাওয়ারা offers numerous sites of historical and spiritual significance. Masjid Quba, approximately 5 kilometers south of নবী করীম's Mosque, was the first মসজিদ built in Islam, and নবী করীম said that praying there is equivalent to performing উমরাহ (Tirmidhi). Mount Uhud, the site of the Battle of Uhud (625 CE), is located 5 kilometers north of the city center. Al-Baqi cemetery, adjacent to নবী করীম's Mosque, contains the graves of many companions, family members of নবী করীম, and scholars. Masjid al-Qiblatayn (Mosque of the Two Qiblas) is where the command to change the সালাত direction from Jerusalem to মক্কা মুকাররমা was received. The Seven Mosques area marks positions associated with the Battle of the Trench (Khandaq).