Visiting Al-Masjid An-Nabawi in Madeenah

* You should head towards Madeenah, either before or after performing Hajj, with the intention to visit and offer prayer in Al-Masjid An-Nabawi, for a single prayer to be offered in it is better than one thousand prayers to be offered in any other mosque, except for Al-Masjid Al-Haraam.

* When you arrive there, offer a two-Rak‘ah (unit) prayer, by way of greeting the mosque, or offer the obligatory prayer if it is already in progress.

* Then, go to the grave of the Prophet and stand in front of it and greet him saying, “As-Salaamu ‘alayka yaa ayyuhan-nabi, wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh (O Prophet, may Allah send blessings and peace upon you, and Reward you well for the good you did to your Ummah (nation).”

Then, take one or two steps to the right in order to stand in front of (the grave of) Abu Bakr and greet him saying, “As-Salaamu ‘alayka wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh O Abu Bakr, the successor of the Messenger of Allah . May Allah be pleased with you, and reward you well for the good you did to the Ummah of Muhammad.”

Then, take one or two steps to the right in order to stand in front of (the grave of) ‘Umar and greet him saying, “As-Salaamu ‘alayka wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh O ‘Umar, the Commander of Believers. May Allah be pleased with you, and reward you well for the good you did to the Ummah of Muhammad.”

* Then, go to the mosque of Qubaa’ in the state of ablution, and offer prayer therein.

* Then, go to the graveyard of Baqee‘, and visit the grave of ‘Uthmaan and stand in front of it and greet him saying, “As-Salaamu ‘alayka wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh O ‘Uthmaan, the Commander of Believers. May Allah be pleased with you, and reward you well for the good you did to the Ummah of Muhammad.” Then, greet the Muslim inhabitants of Baqee‘.

* Then, go to Uhud, and visit the grave of Hamzah and those who are with him from among the martyrs and greet them, and invoke forgiveness, mercy and good pleasure (of Allah) upon them.

Benefit

The following is due upon the person in the state of Ihraam for Hajj or ‘Umrah:

* To abide by what is enjoined upon him by Allah The Almighty concerning the ordinances of his religion, like performing prayers in their due times in congregation.

* To avoid what is forbidden by Allah The Almighty like sexual relations, wickedness and disobedience; Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {…so whoever has made Hajj obligatory upon himself therein [by entering the state of Ihraam], there is [to be for him] no sexual relations and no disobedience and no disputing during Hajj…..} [Quran 2:197]

* To avoid harming Muslims with words or deeds whether at Al-Mashaa‘ir (sacred sites) or anywhere else.

* To avoid all that is forbidden during the state of Ihraam, which is as follows:

a) Not to cut any part of his hair or nails; but there is no harm to extract a thorn or its like even if blood comes out.

b) Not to apply perfume, after assuming Ihraam, to his body, dress, food or drink; nor to clean himself with perfumed soap. But the remaining trace of perfume which he had applied to himself at the time of assuming Ihraam does not harm him.

c) Not to kill the game, i.e. the lawful-to-eat wild land animal.

d) Not to approach (his wife) lustfully whether by touching or kissing, or any such thing, and more grievous is to have sexual relations.

e) Not to make a wedding contract for himself or on behalf of another, nor to betroth a woman for himself or on behalf of another.

f) Not to put on gloves; but there is no harm in wrapping the hands with a piece of cloth.

These proscriptions are common to both males and females.

The following is specific to the man:

a) Not to cover his head with anything sticking to it; but there is no harm on him to shade it with an umbrella, the ceiling of the car or the tent, or to carry luggage on it.

b) Not to wear a shirt, nor a turban, nor a headed cloak, nor trousers, nor a Khuff (leather footwear). But if he cannot find a lower garment, he may wear trousers; and if he could not find a pair of Ihraam footwear, he may wear a Khuff.

c) Not to wear anything similar to what is mentioned above, such as the cloak, the hat, or the T-shirt, and their like.

However, it is permissible for him to put on slippers, a ring, glasses, a hearing aid, a watch, whether in the hand or hanging on the neck, and a belt for keeping money, even if it is sewn with stitches.

It is also permissible for him to clean his body with anything that is not perfumed, to wash and scratch his head and body; and if, during that, hair falls from him unintentionally, nothing is due on him.

On the other hand, the woman should neither wear a Niqaab, i.e. the face cover that has holes for the eyes, nor a yashmak. It is from the Sunnah to uncover her face except when she is prone to be seen by men who are foreign to her, in which case, it is due on her to screen her face whether or not she is in the state of Ihraam.