Is it better to visit মদীনা মুনাওয়ারা before or after performing হজ্জ?

Visiting মদীনা মুনাওয়ারা and praying in নবী করীম's Mosque is highly মুস্তাহাব and is one of the most virtuous acts a Muslim can perform. However, it is essential to understand that visiting মদীনা মুনাওয়ারা is not part of the হজ্জ rites — it is a separate, independent act of worship. A হাজী may visit মদীনা মুনাওয়ারা before হজ্জ, after হজ্জ, or even at a completely different time. Both timings are equally valid and there is no scholarly preference for one over the other.

Sheikh Ibn Baz stated that the purpose of visiting মদীনা মুনাওয়ারা is to pray in নবী করীম's Mosque, where one সালাত equals one thousand সালাতs in other মসজিদs (except মসজিদুল হারাম). The হাজী should also send salam upon নবী করীম and his two companions, pray in the Rawdah if possible, and visit Baqi cemetery and the graves of the Uhud martyrs. He emphasized that the trip to মদীনা মুনাওয়ারা is for the sake of praying in the মসজিদ, not 'visiting the grave' as a হজ্জ destination — this is an important theological distinction.

Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen confirmed that there is no connection between হজ্জ and visiting মদীনা মুনাওয়ারা in terms of Islamic law. Some হাজীগণ mistakenly believe that visiting মদীনা মুনাওয়ারা is part of হজ্জ or that their হজ্জ is incomplete without it. This is incorrect. হজ্জ is complete with its own rites performed in মক্কা মুকাররমা, আরাফাত, মুযদালিফা, and মিনা. Visiting মদীনা মুনাওয়ারা is a separate recommendation that can be done at any time. He advised হাজীগণ to plan their মদীনা মুনাওয়ারা visit based on practical considerations — flight routes, hotel availability, and group schedule — rather than believing one timing is religiously superior.