Visiting Medine: A Pilgrim's Guide to Hz. Peygamber's City

Visiting Medine is not a pillar or requirement of Hac, but it is highly sunnet (mustahab) and deeply rewarding. Most haci itineraries include 3-7 days in Medine either before or after the Hac days in Mekke. There is no Ihram required for visiting Medine, and no specific rituals beyond the sunnet namazs and visits. Hz. Peygamber (sallallahu aleyhi ve sellem) said, 'Do not set out on a journey except for three camis: al-Mescid-i Haram, the cami of Allah's Messenger, and al-Masjid al-Aqsa' (Bukhari and Muslim). He also said, 'A namaz in my cami is better than a thousand namazs elsewhere, except al-Mescid-i Haram' (Bukhari).

Masjid al-Nabawi is the second holiest cami in Islam, originally built by Hz. Peygamber Muhammad (sallallahu aleyhi ve sellem) upon his arrival in Medine in 622 CE. The current cami 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 Hz. Peygamber's burial chamber. The cami is open 24 hours and features air-conditioned namaz halls, the famous retractable umbrella canopies in the courtyard, and multi-level namaz areas. Pilgrims should pray in the cami as much as possible during their stay, as each namaz carries the reward of 1,000 namazs elsewhere.

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

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