What Is the Ruling on Visiting Medina and Is It a Ritual of Hajj?
ما حكم زيارة المدينة المنورة وهل هي من مناسك الحج؟
Visiting Medina is not a ritual of pilgrimage. However, it is desirable for a Muslim to visit the Prophet's Mosque in Medina. So if he does go there, it is advisable to send his greetings of Peace to the Messenger (peace be upon him) at his grave, and to his two Companions.
Sa’id ibn al-Musayyib reported from Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: (Do not set out on a journey except to three mosques: the Sacred Mosque, this mosque of mine, and the Aqsa Mosque) [Bukhari and Muslim]
ليست من مناسك الحج. ولكن يستحب للمسلم زيارة المسجد النبوي في المدينة المنورة فإذا زاره استحب له أن يسلم على الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم عند قبره الشريف، كما يستحب له السلام على صاحبيه.
عن سعيد بن المسيب، عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: (لا تشد الرحال إلا إلى ثلاثة مساجد: المسجد الحرام، ومسجدي هذا، والمسجد الأقصى) رواه الشيخان.
1. Journeys to Three Mosques | لا تشد الرحال إلا إلى ثلاثة مساجد
The Prophet said: Do not set out on a journey except to three mosques: the Sacred Mosque, the Mosque of the Messenger, and the Aqsa Mosque (Sahih al-Bukhari 1189). This is why the scholar speaks of visiting the Prophet’s Mosque: the journey is made to the mosque. The rites of Hajj themselves are explained in the ruling on Hajj and its reward.
قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: "لا تشد الرحال إلا إلى ثلاثة مساجد المسجد الحرام، ومسجد الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم ومسجد الأقصى" (صحيح البخاري 1189).
2. A Prayer in His Mosque | صلاة في مسجدي هذا خير من ألف صلاة
The Prophet said: A prayer in this mosque of mine is better than a thousand prayers in any other, except the Sacred Mosque (Sahih al-Bukhari 1190).
قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: "صلاة في مسجدي هذا خير من ألف صلاة فيما سواه إلا المسجد الحرام" (صحيح البخاري 1190).
3. A Garden From the Gardens of Paradise | ما بين بيتي ومنبري روضة من رياض الجنة
The Prophet said: What lies between my house and my pulpit is a garden from the gardens of Paradise, and my pulpit is over my Pool (Sahih al-Bukhari 1196).
قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: "ما بين بيتي ومنبري روضة من رياض الجنة، ومنبري على حوضي" (صحيح البخاري 1196).
4. Greeting the Prophet | إلا رد الله علي روحي حتى أرد عليه السلام
The Prophet said: No one greets me with peace but Allah returns my soul to me so that I return his greeting (Sunan Abi Dawud 2041, graded hasan by al-Albani). This is the greeting the scholar recommends at his grave, and to his two Companions. Umrah, which many combine with the visit, is explained in the ruling on Umrah.
قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: "ما من أحد يسلم علي إلا رد الله علي روحي حتى أرد عليه السلام" (سنن أبي داود 2041، وحسنه الألباني)، وهذا السلام هو ما استحبه الشيخ لزائر المسجد النبوي عند قبره صلى الله عليه وسلم، وعلى صاحبيه.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Is visiting Medina a rite of Hajj?
No. Visiting Medina is not a rite of Hajj, but it is recommended to visit the Prophet’s Mosque there.
What should a visitor to the Prophet’s Mosque do?
Pray in it, and greet the Messenger of Allah at his grave, and his two Companions.
Which mosques may a journey be made to for worship?
Three: the Sacred Mosque, the Mosque of the Messenger, and the Aqsa Mosque (Sahih al-Bukhari 1189).
What is the reward of praying in the Prophet’s Mosque?
A prayer there is better than a thousand prayers in any other mosque, except the Sacred Mosque (Sahih al-Bukhari 1190).