Visiting Madinah: A Pilgrim's Guide to Nabi's City

Visiting Madinah is not a pillar or requirement of Haji, but it is highly sunnah (mustahab) and deeply rewarding. Most jamaah haji itineraries include 3-7 days in Madinah either before or after the Haji days in Mekkah. There is no Ihram required for visiting Madinah, and no specific rituals beyond the sunnah shalat and visits. Nabi (shallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said, 'Do not set out on a journey except for three masjids: al-Masjidil Haram, the masjid of Allah's Messenger, and al-Masjid al-Aqsa' (Bukhari and Muslim). He also said, 'A shalat in my masjid is better than a thousand shalat elsewhere, except al-Masjidil Haram' (Bukhari).

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

The Rawdah (lit. 'garden') is the area between Nabi'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 masjid's red carpeting elsewhere). Due to its small size and immense demand, access to the Rawdah is managed through timed appointments, especially during Haji and Umrah seasons. Praying in the Rawdah is highly sought after but not wajib. Nabi's grave, along with the graves of Abu Bakr and Umar ibn al-Khattab, is located within the masjid behind a protective screen. Pilgrims may send greetings (salam) to Nabi 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 Nabi's Masjid, was the first masjid built in Islam, and Nabi 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 Nabi's Masjid, contains the graves of many companions, family members of Nabi, and scholars. Masjid al-Qiblatayn (Masjid of the Two Qiblas) is where the command to change the shalat direction from Jerusalem to Mekkah was received. The Seven Masjids area marks positions associated with the Battle of the Trench (Khandaq).