Visiting Madinah: A Pilgrim's Guide to the Prophet's City

Visiting Madinah is not a pillar or requirement of Hajj, but it is highly recommended (mustahab) and deeply rewarding. Most pilgrim itineraries include 3-7 days in Madinah either before or after the Hajj days in Makkah. There is no Ihram required for visiting Madinah, and no specific rituals beyond the recommended prayers and visits. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'Do not set out on a journey except for three mosques: al-Masjid al-Haram, the mosque of Allah's Messenger, and al-Masjid al-Aqsa' (Bukhari and Muslim). He also said, 'A prayer in my mosque is better than a thousand prayers elsewhere, except al-Masjid al-Haram' (Bukhari).

Masjid al-Nabawi is the second holiest mosque in Islam, originally built by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) upon his arrival in Madinah in 622 CE. The current mosque 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 the Prophet's burial chamber. The mosque is open 24 hours and features air-conditioned prayer halls, the famous retractable umbrella canopies in the courtyard, and multi-level prayer areas. Pilgrims should pray in the mosque as much as possible during their stay, as each prayer carries the reward of 1,000 prayers elsewhere.

The Rawdah (lit. 'garden') is the area between the Prophet'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 mosque's red carpeting elsewhere). Due to its small size and immense demand, access to the Rawdah is managed through timed appointments, especially during Hajj and Umrah seasons. Praying in the Rawdah is highly sought after but not obligatory. The Prophet's grave, along with the graves of Abu Bakr and Umar ibn al-Khattab, is located within the mosque behind a protective screen. Pilgrims may send greetings (salam) to the Prophet when passing the grave, following the etiquette taught by the scholars.

Madinah offers numerous sites of historical and spiritual significance. Masjid Quba, approximately 5 kilometers south of the Prophet's Mosque, was the first mosque built in Islam, and the Prophet said that praying there is equivalent to performing Umrah (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 the Prophet's Mosque, contains the graves of many companions, family members of the Prophet, and scholars. Masjid al-Qiblatayn (Mosque of the Two Qiblas) is where the command to change the prayer direction from Jerusalem to Makkah was received. The Seven Mosques area marks positions associated with the Battle of the Trench (Khandaq).