Performing Hajj and Umrah

It is permissible to delay the Tawafal-Ifada until the days spent at Mina are over, going to Makkah for this tawaf after all three Pillars have been stoned. After performing your Tawaf al-Ifadah on the Day of Sacrifice, return to Mina and spend the nights preceding the 11th, 12th, and 13th days of Dhul-Hijjah (the […]

It is permissible to delay the Tawafal-Ifada until the days spent at Mina are over, going to Makkah for this tawaf after all three Pillars have been stoned.
After performing your Tawaf al-Ifadah on the Day of Sacrifice, return to Mina and spend the nights preceding the 11th, 12th, and 13th days of Dhul-Hijjah (the three days following the Day of Sacrifice which are known as ayyamu-tashreeq).
It is however, permissible to spend only two nights in Mina instead of three.
At any time in the afternoon of each of the two or three days of your stay in Mina, stone each of the three Pillars, starting with the first Pillar (i.e. the one which is farthest from Makkah), followed by the middle pillar and lastly, the Pillar of ‘Aqbah. Throw seven pebbles, one by one, at each of these Pillars, saying ‘Allahu akbar” at each throw.
If you stay in Mina for only two days, you must leave before sunset on the second day. If the sun should set before you are able to depart, then remain in Mina for the third night and throw pebbles again the next day. In any, case, it is preferable to remain in Mina for three nights.
It is permissible for the sick and the weak to appoint a proxy to throw their pebbles. The proxy first throws his own pebbles, followed by the pebbles of the person he represents while at the same pillar.
If you decide to return to your country after completing the rites of hajj, you perform the Farewell Tawaf (Tawaf al-Wida) before leaving Makkah. No one is excused from this except women who are menstruating or in the period of discharge following childbirth.
Visitation of the Prophet’s Mosque
Going to Madinah at any-time 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 emphasised 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 (PBUH) 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-shaitani-rajeem. Allahumma, iftah li abwaba Rahmatik. (Meaning: I seek refuge in Allah the Almighty, and in His noble countenance and in His eternal power, from Satan the Rejected. O Allah, open to me the doors of your mercy).
Perform two rak’ats of tahiyyat al-masjid (the salat of greeting of the mosque) after entering the mosque, preferably in the Rawdah, otherwise anywhere else in the mosque. Then go to the grave of the Prophet (PBUH), and standing in front of it, say in a respectful and hushed voice: Assalamu-alaika, ayyuhan-nabiyya wa rahmatul-lahi Wa barakatuhu. (Meaning: Peace be on you, O Prophet and the mercy and blessings of Allah.”
And call for the blessings of Allah on him.  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. (Meaning “O Lord, give him the right (of intercession) and the favour, and raise him to the praiseworthy 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 (AS). 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 (AS), and greet him and make supplication for him.
It sunnah to have (Tahara), and visit the mosque of Quba and offer salat in it, as the Prophet (PBUH) prayed there and encouraged others to do the same.
It is sunnah to visit the grave of al-Baqe’e cemetry, and the grave of Uthman (AS) and the martyrs of Uhud, and the ‘grave of Hamza (AS) to greet them and to pray for the mercy of Allah upon them. The Prophet (PBUH) used to visit all these graves and pray for the souls of those who are 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. (Meaning “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 these mosques and other places mentioned above, there are no other mosques or places in Madinah, which are to be visited. Therefore, do not bother 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.
Concluded
Being a translation by: DSP Ahmad Kutubi, Imam, Zone 7 Police Hqtrs, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja