Visiting Madinah brings peace and blessing to our hearts. One of the most important places to visit there is the Prophet’s masjid, Al-Masjid An-Nabawi, where there is the Prophet’s tomb.

It is highly recommended for one who visits Madinah to pray in the Prophet’s masjid and visit his tomb and send salutations upon him.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said in Manaasik al-Hajj wa’l-‘Umrah:

“After (the pilgrim) prays upon arrival in the Prophet’s Mosque as much as Allah wills he should pray, he should go and send salaams upon the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and his two companions Abu Bakr and ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with them).

1 – He should stand in front of the grave of the Prophet and say, “Al-salaamu ‘alayka ayyuha’l-Nabiyyu wa rahmat-Allaahi wa barakaatuhu (Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy and blessings of Allah).”

If he wants to add something appropriate there is nothing wrong with that, such as saying:

“Al-salaamu ‘alayka ya khaleel-Allaah wa ameenahu ‘ala waheehi wa kheeratahu min khalqihi, ash-hadu annaka qad ballaghta al-risaalah wa addayta al-amaanah wa nasahta al-ummah wa jaahadta fi Allaahi haqqa jihaadihi.

(Peace be upon you, O close friend of Allah, the one with whom He entrusted His revelation and the one whom He chose from among His creation. I bear witness that you conveyed the message, fulfilled the trust, sincerely advised the ummah and strove with all your might for the sake of Allah).

But if he limits himself to the first salutation, that is good. Ibn ‘Umar used to say: “Al-salaamu ‘alayka ya Rasool-Allah, al-salaam ‘alayka ya Aba Bakr, al-salaamu ‘alayka ya abati (O my father),” then he would go away.

2 – Then he should take one step to his right so that he is in front of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) and say, “Al-salaamu ‘alayka ya Aba Bakr, al-salaamu ‘alayka ya khaleefat Rasool-illaah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) fi ummatihi, radiya Allaahu ‘anka wa jazaaka ‘an ummati Muhammadin khayran.

(Peace be upon you, O Abu Bakr, peace be upon you O successor of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in his ummah, may Allah be pleased with you and reward you with good on behalf of Muhammad).”

3 – Then he should take one step to his right so that he is in front of ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) and say, “Al-salaamu ‘alayka ya ‘Umar, al-salaamu ‘alayka ya ameer al-mu’mineen, radiya Allaahu ‘anka wa jazaaka ‘an ummati Muhammadin khayran (Peace be upon you, O ‘Umar, peace be upon you, O leader of the believers, may Allah be pleased with you and reward you with good on behalf of Muhammad).

What to Avoid?

When entering the Prophet’s masjid, one should be in a state of calm and spirituality. One of the many mistakes done at the grave of the Prophet (peace be upon him) is raising the voice and requesting from him that one’s needs be fulfilled.

One should send salams upon the Prophet and his two companions with proper etiquette and in a low voice.

Prophet Muhammad said:

“Do not make your houses graves, and do not make my grave a place of festivity. But invoke blessings on me, for your blessings reach me wherever you may be.” (Abu Dawud)

Reference:

Manaasik al-Hajj wa’l-‘Umrah wa’l-Mashroo’ fi’l-Ziyaarah, p. 107, 108