Source: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām
Question
What is the ruling on travelling to visit the grave of the Noble Prophet ﷺ?
Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā baʿd!
Travelling with the intention of visiting graves — regardless of whose grave it is — is not permissible. The reason is that the Prophet ﷺ himself forbade this practice, as is mentioned in authentic ḥadīths:
«لَا تُشَدُّ الرِّحَالُ إِلَّا إِلٰی ثَـلَاثَةِ مَسَاجِدَ، َمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ، وَمَسْجِدِي هَذَا، وَالْمَسْجِدِ الْأَقْصَى»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ḥadīth: 1189; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Ḥadīth: 1397)
“Do not set out on a journey except to three mosques: al-Masjid al-Ḥarām, this mosque of mine (i.e., al-Masjid al-Nabawī), and al-Masjid al-Aqṣā.”
Explanation of the Ḥadīth
✿ This ḥadīth clearly states that travelling for worship is only prescribed to these three specific mosques.
✿ Any journey undertaken for worship to a place other than these three — no matter how sacred it may be — is not permissible.
Ruling on Visiting the Prophet ﷺ’s Grave
✿ Since the Prophet ﷺ’s grave is located within al-Masjid al-Nabawī, travelling to visit the mosque is permissible and a source of reward.
✿ Once a man reaches the mosque, visiting the grave of the Prophet ﷺ becomes Sunnah for him.
✿ For women, visiting the grave of the Prophet ﷺ is not Sunnah.
Summary
◈ Travelling is only legislated to: Masjid al-Ḥarām, Masjid al-Nabawī, and Masjid al-Aqṣā.
◈ Travelling specifically for the Prophet ﷺ’s grave is not permissible.
◈ However, travelling to visit al-Masjid al-Nabawī is permissible, and once there, visiting the Prophet ﷺ’s grave is permissible and Sunnah for men.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
