Innovations People Commit when Visiting Madeenah
Taken from ‘The Rites of Hajj and Umrah’
Shaykh Naasir-ud-deen Al-Albaanee. 1998. IIPH. (pp38-55)
Innovations Related to Visiting Madinah
This is included as undertaking a journey to
the Prophet’s Mosque and Masjid ul-Aqsaa – may Allaah return it to the Muslims
soon – is from the sunnah and because of the benefits and rewards for this, and
people usually visit them before or after making Hajj – and many of them fall
into numerous innovations well-known to the scholars, while doing that – so I
saw it to be beneficial to include what I have come across from these as a
notification and warning and they are:
1.
Journeying
to visit the Prophet’s grave صلى الله عليه وسلم.
2.
Sending
requests with the pilgrims and those visiting the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and asking them to
convey their salaams to him.
3.
Bathing in
order to enter Madinah.
4.
Saying
upon seeing the walls of al Madinah: “O Allaah this is the sacred area of Your
Messenger, so make it a protection against the fire for me and a protection
from punishment and any misfortunate accounting.”
5.
Saying
upon entering al Madinah: “In the name of Allaah and upon the religion of…”
6.
The
retention of the Prophet’s grave within his mosque.
7.
Visiting
the grave of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم ) before praying in his mosque.
8.
Some
peoples facing the grave with total humility placing his right hand upon the
left as if in prayer – near to the grave or far from it – when entering or
leaving the mosque.
9.
Making
du’aa facing the grave.
10. Going to the grave to make du’aa towards it
hoping for an answer.
11. Seeking nearness to Allaah (tawassul) by means
of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم ).
12. Seeking intercession from the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم ).
13. Ibn al Haajj’s (false) saying in al Madkhal
(1/259) that: “One should not mention with his tongue his needs or need
forgiveness of sins when visiting the grave of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم )” because he knows his
needs already and what is of benefit to him!!
14. His saying also (1/264): “There is no
difference between his (صلى الله عليه وسلم) death and his life as regards his watching over his Ummah and
their affairs and intentions, and their regrets and their thoughts!!”
15. Their placing their hands upon the grills
around the room containing the Prophet’s (صلى
الله عليه وسلم) grave to seek blessings.
And some of them taking oath upon that.
16. Kissing the tomb or touching it or what
surrounds it – pillars and so on.
17. Adopting a particular way for visiting the
Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم ) and his two companions – and a particular way of giving
salaam and making du’aa, like the saying of al Ghazzaali: “He should stand next
to the face of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) with his back to the Qiblah, and face the wall of the tomb…and
say…” mentioning a long salaam, then a long salaat and du’aa – reaching upto
three pages.
18. Seeking to pray facing the tomb.
19. Sitting near to the grave in order to recite
and make dhikr.
20. Going to the Prophet’s (صلى الله عليه وسلم ) grave after every
prayer.
21. Visiting the Prophet’s (صلى الله عليه وسلم ) grave by the people of
Madinah every time they enter or leave the mosque.
22. Raising up the voice after prayer saying:
“Peace be upon you O Messenger of Allaah.”
23. Seeking blessings from the rainwater which
falls down from the Green Dome above the Prophet’s (صلى الله عليه وسلم ) tomb.
24. Seeing nearness to Allaah by eating dates of
Saihaan in the ‘Rawdah’ which is between the pulpit and the grave.
25. Cutting off bits of their hair and throwing them
into the large chandelier near the Prophet’s (صلى
الله عليه وسلم ) tomb.
26. Wiping the two brass palm trees that were place
in the mosque to the west of the pulpit.
27. Making a point of praying in the original part
of the mosque and avoiding praying in the front rows which are in the extension
made by ‘Umar and others.
28. Making a point by visitors to Madinah to stay
for a whole week in order to pray forty prayers in the Prophet’s Mosque – so as
to have written for them a security from hypocrisy and from the Fire.
29. Seeking reward by going to any of the mosques
or places in and around Madinah except for the Prophet’s Mosque and Qubaa
Mosque.
30. Guides instructing groups of pilgrims and
leading them in certain du’aas near the Prophet’s (صلى الله عليه وسلم) room or far from it –
with raised voices – and the people’s repeating in even louder voices.
31. Visiting the graveyard of Baqee’ every day and
prayer in the Mosque of Faatimah – may Allaah be pleased with her.
32. Particularising Yaum ul-Khamees (known to the
Christians as Thursday) for visiting the martyrs of Uhud.
33. Affixing pieces of paper to the iron railing on
the ground of the martyrs.
34. Seeking blessings by bathing in the pool that
used to be by the side of the graves.
35. Walking backwards out of the Prophet’s Mosque
when leaving for the last time.