Madinah
How do I visit the Prophet ﷺ in Madinah?
الصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا سَيِّدِي يَا رَسُولَ اللّٰهِ
The salam
Enter the Masjid an-Nabawi with humility, lower your voice and stand facing the blessed shrine. Give your salam in a measured voice, then greet Sayyiduna Abu Bakr and Sayyiduna Umar. The visit is not a part of Umrah, but it is one of the most loved acts a believer can do.
Entering the Masjid
Free your mind of every distraction. When the green dome comes into view, increase your salutations on him ﷺ. At the door, say Bismillah and enter with your right foot. Lower your voice and avoid idle talk. If the congregational prayer is about to begin, join it. Otherwise, if it is not a disliked time, pray two rak'ahs of Tahiyyat al-Masjid.
Greeting the Prophet ﷺ
Enter from Bab al-Salam if you can. Stand about four hand spans from the gates with your back to the qiblah and your face towards the blessed shrine. Greet him in a measured voice, neither loud nor too soft, and let the words come from the heart. Convey the salam of those who asked you to, ideally by name.
Abu Bakr and Umar
Move one arm's length to your right to greet Sayyiduna Abu Bakr, then one more arm's length to your right to greet Sayyiduna Umar. See the full guide on visiting the Prophet ﷺ in Madinah.
The salam
الصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا سَيِّدِي يَا رَسُولَ اللّٰهِ، الصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا حَبِيبَ اللّٰهِ
Aṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalayka yā sayyidī yā Rasūlallāh, aṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalayka yā ḥabīballāh
Peace and blessings be upon you, O my master, O Messenger of Allah. Peace and blessings be upon you, O beloved of Allah.
See the full guide for the greeting of Abu Bakr and Umar
More questions
Is the visit part of Umrah?
No. You do not need it for your Umrah to be valid, and you may make it before or after Makkah.
Where is the Rawdah?
Between his house and his mimbar. It is often crowded, so do not push anyone to reach it. It is visited by booking in the Nusuk app.
Do I need ihram when I arrive?
Not on arrival. See Dhul Hulayfah for when you leave for Makkah.
Read the full guide
Perform your Umrah with confidence
Follow every rite in order, with counters and duas in Arabic, in our step by step Umrah guide. To study the Hanafi rulings behind it with qualified teachers, see our courses, or explore our apps. Ihya us Sunnah is sustained by its community, so please consider supporting our work.
This guide follows the Hanafi method and is based on Shaykh Mufti Wajid Iqbal's Umrah book, Essential Islam. For your own situation, ask a qualified scholar.