The Etiquette of Visiting the Prophet's (P.B.U.H) Grave

It is a Sunnah for the visitor of the Prophet's Grave to enter the Mosque with his right foot, uttering the prescribed supplication for entering mosques. Then he should offer two rak'at in salutation of the Mosque or offer any prayer he likes. He should go to the pulpit and offer his prayers in a way that his right elbow would touch the pillar of the pulpit if possible, for it was reported that the Prophet used to do so before the enlargement of the Mosque. In this respect, the authentic Hadith transmitted from the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) stated: The space between my house and my pulpit is raudah - one of the gardens of Paradise, and my pulpit is at my Fountain.

After the visitor finishes his prayers, he should approach the Prophet's Grave without pushing his way through the crowds of women or hurting others in trying to reach it. When he reaches the Grave, he should direct his face toward it, with his back to the Qiblah and say, 'Peace be upon you, O the Messenger of Allah. Peace be upon you, O the chosen one of Allah's creation. Peace be upon you, O the beloved one of Allah. Peace be upon you, O the chief of the Messengers. He should invoke blessings and peace upon the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) and implore Allah, the Most High to accept the Prophet's intercession for him. He should implore Allah to forgive his sins. He should express his repentance and allegiance to Allah the Most High. He should voice full commitment and obedience to the teaching of the Qur'an and the Sunnah of Muhammad (P.B.U.H.). Then he should supplicate to Allah for whatever is good in this life and in the life of the Hereafter for his parents, family and Muslims worldwide. He should greet and bless the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) on behalf of those who asked him to do so. After that, he should move a yard to the right and offer his greetings to Abu Bakr, the companion, successor and confidant of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.). He should implore Allah to reward him according to the best of his deeds for the welfare of the Ummah of Muhammad. Then he should move further another yard in the same direction and offer greetings to Omar, the Commander of the Faithful who led Islam and Muslims to victory. He should implore Allah to reward him according to the best of his deeds for the prosperity of the people of Muhammad. It was reported that whenever Omar's son returned from his travels, he entered the Mosque and faced the Grave saying 'O Prophet of Allah Peace be upon you. O Abu Bakr, peace be upon you, O father, peace be upon you'. Ahmed, Abu Dawoud, and Al Bukhari reported in an authentic Hadith with a sound chain of authorities that the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) actually hears the greetings sent to him and returns these greetings with similar ones. In this respect the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) stated: "When any Muslim sends greetings to me, Allah returns my soul to me so that I may respond to his greetings."

The visitor should supplicate for himself, his family, friends, relatives and Muslims worldwide and implore Allah to send His Blessings to the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) at the Rauda, pulpit and the space of the Original mosque at the time of the Prophet before it was enlarged. He should intend to perform I'tikaf (seclusion in the Mosque) when he enters the Prophet's Mosque and the Sacred Mosque in Mecca. He should greet the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) every time he passes by his grave. It is allowed for the traveler who had just arrived to Al Madina or who is about to set out to his home, to approach the Prophet's Grave and greet him and his Companions quickly in a concise form of greeting. He should greet them leisurely in normal circumstances. He should not pray with the chamber, e.g. the Grave of the Prophet in front or behind him. He should choose the prominent places to pray and supplicate to Allah in e.g. the cylindrical columns of the Mosque Muhayirun, Al Tawba, Assarear, Al Mahras, Al Wofoud, the noble Grave, and Al Tahajud. It is preferred that he visits Al Bakea' every day particularly, on Fridays. All in all, Allah knows best. May Allah guide us to follow the right path. There is no evidence in Sharia'a that recommends that the visitor of the Prophet's Mosque should not turn his back to the Prophet's Grave on leaving the Mosque. It is not preferred that he leaves with his face directed toward the Grave. When the pilgrim returns home, it is recommended that the people await his arrival to congratulate him and ask him to supplicate to Allah for them before he enters his home. It is recommended that the pilgrim slaughters a camel or a cow or any other sacrificial animal to feed his family, neighbors and the poor and celebrate his safe arrival. All in all, guidance cannot come except from Allah.

Hajj And Umrah Guides, Pilgrimage Essentials, Mecca & Medina Topics Links:

Advice To Pilgrims | A Step by step Hajj and 'Umrah | Adhkar (Pertaining to the remembrance of Allah) | A Lasting Word For Hajj And 'Umrah | An Account of the Miqat | An Account of visiting the Prophet's Mosque | Ayaam at-Tashreeq | Binding on the pilgrim to refrain from sins | Command about the Menstruating and similar women | Conditional Ihram | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day One | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Two | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Three | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Four | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Five | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Six | Day of Arafah | Day to Day Activities of Hajj | Dhabh | Duties of pilgrims at 'Arafah | Entering Mecca | Entering Al-Masjid-al-Haram (the Sacred Mosque) and Tawaf | Errors Often Committed by Pilgrims | Etiquette of Ihram | Etiquette of Visiting the Prophet's (P.B.U.H) Grave | Farewell Pilgrimage of the Messenger of Allah | Farewell Tawaf | Farewell Tawaf is binding on everyone except the menstruating and women with post childbirth bleeding | Fixed time for Hajj | Fixed time for Hajj | Four Khutbahs in Hajj | Hajj in Pre-Islamic Times | Hajj of a woman | Hajj, Umrah & Ziyarah At a Glance | Halq or Qass | Halq or Qasr: Shaving or Clipping | Ihram | Ihram for youngsters | Ihram: Introduction And Significance | Innovations of `Arafah | Innovations Before Ihraam | Innovations of Hajj, `Umra and Visiting Madinah | Innovations of Ihraam and Talbiyyah, etc. | Innovations of Muzdalifah | Innovations of Sacrifice and Shaving the Head | Innovations of Sa'y Between Safaa and Marwah | Innovations of Stoning | Innovations of Tawaaf | Innovations of Visiting Madinat-ul-Munawwarah | Innovations of Visiting Bait-ul-Maqdis | Innovations: Various Innovations | Istilaam | Kinds of Ihram | Leaving Arafah to spend night in Al Muzdalefah | Many `Umrahs after Hajj is not encouraged by the Shari`ah | Maqaam Ibraaheem | Meeqaat | Merits of Hajj | Merits of 'Umrah | Minaa | Neglecting and delaying the throwing of pebbles | No Specific Supplication for Tawaf and Sa'y | Not allowed to shave the beard | Not obligatory to visit the Prophet's Mosque | Objective of Hajj - To seek the Divine Pleasure | Obligations during Hajj and Umrah | Performing Hajj on behalf of others | Permitted and Forbidden things in the State of Ihram | Pilgrim with Sacrificial Animal in the month of Hajj should intend Qiran (accompanied Hajj) and the one | Pillars of Hajj | Prayers at Arafah | Preparations for Hajj, Umrah and travelling to the holy lands | Preparing for Hajj or 'Umrah | Prerequisites and Sunnahs of valid Tawaf | Ramy | Reaching Miqat at a Time other than the Hajj Season | Regulations Concerning Hady (Sacrificial animals) | Restrictions of Ihram | Rites, obligations and Sunnahs of Umrah | Sa'y | Sa'y between Safa and Marwah | Sa'y and its rituals | Sacrificial animals | Shaving or clipping hair | Sunnah and allowed throwing | Sunnahs of Tawaf | Supplication at the beginning of the journey | Supplication on entering the Mosque | Supplications at Arafah | Supplications: Some All-Inclusive Supplications | Supplications: Some Supplications which may Be Recited At 'Arafat, at the Sacred Sites, and at Other Places of Supplication | Talbeeyah | Tawaaf | Tawaaf al-Ifaadah | Throwing Al Jemar | Throwing pebbles on behalf of other people | Types of Hajj | Umrah | Veiling and giving up the display of beauty is compulsory for women | Verdict on spending the night at Mina | Visitation of the Prophet's Mosque | Visiting Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi | Visiting Quba Mosque and Al-Baqi' cemetery | What a Pilgrim should do when he reaches the Miqat | What Is Required of the Pilgrims | What is allowed to a Muhrim | Where to pick the pebbles from and the number and size of pebbles | Woman's Hajj with Mahram, expenses of Hajj, taking husband's permission | Woman may enter into the Ihram in any dress | Wuqoof 'Arafaat | Wuqoof Muzdalifah | Zamzam