بِسْمِ ٱللّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Is visiting Madinah an obligation of Hajj?
Madinah Al-Munawwarah is the second most sacred sanctuary in Islam. Musjid-un-Nabawi is located there as well as the blessed Qabr of our Beloved Prophet Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (peace be upon him.
To present one’s self in the court of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (peace be upon him) is a Qur’anic command and several accepted Ahaadeeth have also explained the great benefit of doing so. Allah Ta’aala states,
وَلَوۡ اَنَّهُمۡ اِذْ ظَّلَمُوۡۤا اَنۡفُسَهُمۡ جَآءُوۡكَ فَاسۡتَغۡفَرُوا اللّٰهَ وَاسۡتَغۡفَرَ لَـهُمُ الرَّسُوۡلُ لَوَجَدُوا اللّٰهَ تَوَّابًا رَّحِيۡمًا
And if those who have wronged their own souls come to you (O Prophet) and seek forgiveness from Allah and the Messenger intercedes for them, they will certainly find Allah as the Acceptor of their repentance and most Merciful.
(Surah Nisaa, verse 64)
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) has said,
My intercession becomes obligatory on one who visits my grave.
(Faidhul Qadeer, Vol. 8, pg. 112-3, Published by Darul Hadeeth, Cairo)
I shall be a witness and intercessor for one who visits me in Madinah (before or after my demise) with the intention of acquiring reward. (ibid)
One who performs Hajj and visits my grave after my demise is like one who has visited me while I was amongst you.
(Mishkaatul Masabeeh, pg. 241, Published by Maktabah Millat, Deoband)
Jannatul Baqi, Riyaadhul Jannah, the mountain of Uhud etc. are all found in or close to Madinah Shareef and to visit these places carries much reward and blessings.
So, even though visiting Madinah Shareef is not obligatory in Hajj but Muslims should not squander the opportunity of going all the way to the birth place of Islam and avoid visiting the city of Allah’s Ta’aala Beloved, Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (peace be upon him).
And Allah and His Rasool know best.
Darul Iftaa
Islamic Lifestyle Solutions
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