Hajj: Visitation of the Prophet’s Mosque

Going to Madina at anytime with the intention of visiting the Prophet’s Mosque is a Sunnah, as is performing salah in it. According to a hadith of the Prophet’s (pbuh), a salah performed in the Prophet’s Mosque is better than a thousand salats in any other place except the Sacred Mosque (Masjid al-Haram) in Makkah. […]

Going to Madina at anytime with the intention of visiting the Prophet’s Mosque is a Sunnah, as is performing salah in it.
According to a hadith of the Prophet’s (pbuh), a salah performed in the Prophet’s Mosque is better than a thousand salats in any other place except the Sacred Mosque (Masjid al-Haram) in Makkah.
There is no ihram nor talbiyah for the visit to the Prophet’s Mosque, and it should be emphasized that there is no connection whatsoever between this visit and the Hajj.
When you enter the Prophet’s Mosque, enter with your right foot first, saying the name of Allah the most High, and evoking blessings on His Prophet (may His peace and blessings be on him) and ‘ask Allah to open the gates of His mercy for you The recommended words for entering any mosque, including the Prophet’s Mosque are: – “A’udhu billahil-adheem wa wajil-kareem wa sultanihil-qadeem mina-shai tani-rajeem. Allahumma, iftah li abwaba Rahmatik. (I seek refuge in Allah the Al-mighty, and in His noble countenance and in His enternal power, from Satan the Rejected. O Allah, open to me the doors of your mercy.)
4. Perform two rak’ats of tahiyyat al-masjid (the salat of “greeting of the Mosque) after entering the Mosque preferably in the Rawdah or otherwise anywhere else in the Mosque
5. Then go to the grave of the prophet (may the peace and blessing of Allah. be on him), and standing in front of it, say in a respectful and hushed voice:-    “Assalamu-alaika, ayyuhan-nabiyya wa rahmatul-lahi Wa barakatuhu.”  (Peace be on you, O prophet and the mercy and blessings of Allah.)
There is no harm if you add: Allahumma, atihil-waseelata wal-fadeelata wab-athu-maqamun Mahmoudal-ladhee wa-adtahu. Allahuma, ajizhu an ummatihi afdala-jaza’a. (O Lord, give him the right (of intercession) and the favour, and raise him to the praise worthy station which you promised to him).
“O Allah, reward him on behalf of his ummah people) with the best rewards”.
Then move a little to the right to stand before the grave of    Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him). Greet him and    supplicate Allah to bestow his mercy and forgiveness on him.
Again move a little to the right to stand before the grave of Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), and greet him and make supplication for him.
6. It is Sunnah to have (Tahara), and visit the mosque of Quba and offer salat in it, as the prophet (peace be upon him)
Prayed there and encouraged others to do the same.
7. It is Sunnah to visit the grave of al-Baqe’e cemetery, and the grave of Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) and the martyrs of Uhud, and the ‘grave of Harnza (may Allah be pleased with them); to greet them and to pray for the mercy of Allah upon them. The prophet (peace be upon him) used to visit all these graves and pray for the souls of those who were burried there.
He taught his companions when visiting graves to say: Assalamu ‘alaikum, ahlal-diar minal-mu’mineen, wal-muslimeen, wa inna insha-Allahu bikum lahiqoon. Nas’alul-laha lana walakumul-afiyah. (Peace’ be on you, O dwellers of this place from among the believers and the Muslims, and we will insha-Allah join you. We ask for security (from the fire of hell) for ourselves and for you). Reported by Muslim.
According to the Shari’ah, besides the Mosques and other places mentioned above, there are no other Mosques or places in Madinah, which are to be visited. Therefore, do not border yourself by visiting places for which there is no reward or for which, in fact, there might be some blame for doing so. And Allah is the source of guidance.

Kutubi (ASP) is the Zonal Imam, Police Zone 7, Wuse Division, Abuja