A shalat in my masjid is better than a thousand shalat in any other masjid, except Masjidil Haram.
A shalat in my masjid is better than a thousand shalat in any other masjid, except Masjidil Haram.
Visiting Madinah is not required for Haji or Umrah validity, but it is highly sunnah due to the virtue of praying in Nabi's Masjid.
Visiting Madinah is not a pillar or requirement of either Haji or Umrah. Your ibadah haji is completely valid without visiting Madinah. However, all four schools agree that visiting Nabi's Masjid is highly sunnah and carries tremendous reward. Nabi said: 'A shalat in my masjid is better than a thousand shalat in any other masjid, except Masjidil Haram.'
Most jamaah haji include Madinah in their itinerary, typically spending three to five days. Visiting before Haji allows gradual acclimatization in a less crowded city. Visiting after provides a peaceful conclusion. During your stay, you can pray in Nabi's Masjid, visit the Rawdah, send salawat at Nabi's grave, visit Baqi cemetery, and pray at Masjid Quba.
The journey to Madinah is specifically for visiting Nabi's Masjid, not the grave itself. Scholars emphasize that the intention should be to pray in the masjid. Most Haji packages include Madinah as standard.
A shalat in my masjid is better than a thousand shalat in any other masjid, except Masjidil Haram.
A shalat in my masjid is better than a thousand shalat in any other masjid, except Masjidil Haram.
Source: Imam al-Nawawi, Al-Majmu'; Ibn Qudamah, Al-Mughni
A shalat in my masjid is better than a thousand shalat in any other masjid, except Masjidil Haram.
Sahih al-Bukhari #1190 (sahih)