Source: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām
What is the ruling on travelling to visit the grave of the Noble Prophet ﷺ?
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.”
✿ 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.
✿ 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.
◈ 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
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
