This excerpt is taken from the book of Sheikh al-Islam Imam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, Al-Jawab al-Bahir fi Zuwar al-Maqabir, translated by Sheikh Ataullah Saqib.
Visiting the Prophet's Mosque and the Blessed Grave:
Traveling to visit the Prophet's Mosque is recommended. Accordingly, during this journey, it is obligatory according to all the noble Imams to shorten the prayer. It is not reported from any Imam to pray the full prayer, nor is it reported from any Imam that traveling to visit the Prophet's Mosque is prohibited. Whoever visits the Prophet's Mosque will also visit the blessed grave. It would not be inappropriate to say that visiting the blessed grave is the most virtuous act. There is no evidence from my writings or those of any other scholar that negates this. The visitation of the graves of the Prophets, the righteous of the Ummah, may Allah have mercy on them, and other individuals is legally established. In fact, we have declared visiting graves as recommended, and the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, himself used to go to visit the graves of Jannat al-Baqi and the martyrs of Uhud.
Prayer for Visiting Graves:
He also instructed the Companions to recite the following prayer when going to the cemetery:
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ أَهْلَ الدِّيَارِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمِينَ، وَإِنَّا إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ بِكُمْ لَاحِقُونَ، وَيَرْحَمُ اللَّهُ الْمُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنَّا وَمِنْكُمْ وَالْمُسْتَأْخِرِينَ، وَنَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ لَنَا وَلَكُمُ الْعَافِيَةَ، اللَّهُمَّ لَا تَحْرِمْنَا أَجْرَهُمْ وَلَا تَفْتِنَّا بَعْدَهُمْ وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلَهُمْ
"O Muslims and believers! Peace be upon you from Allah. We, God willing, will join you. May Allah have mercy on you and on us all. We ask Allah for well-being for ourselves and for you. O Generous Allah! Do not deprive us of their reward and do not subject us to any trial after them. O Allah! Forgive them and all of us."
Reference: (Sahih Muslim - Book of Funerals: Chapter on what is said upon entering graves and prayers for their inhabitants, Hadith: 975 - 974)
Visiting the Blessed Grave and Sending Salutations and Peace:
If visiting the graves of ordinary people is permissible in Islamic law, then visiting the graves of the Prophets and the righteous of the Ummah, may Allah have mercy on them, is even more established. However, regarding the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, we have the ruling that whenever we enter or leave the prayer, the call to prayer, the Prophet's Mosque, and all other mosques, and whenever we make any supplication, we should send blessings and peace upon the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. Therefore, it is obligatory upon every person who enters the Prophet's Mosque to send blessings and peace upon the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him.
Traveling to visit the Prophet's Mosque is permissible, but scholars have taken into account the difference between your mosque and other places. It is even reported that Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, disliked saying "I visited the Prophet's grave," because the purpose of visiting a cemetery is solely that a person prays and sends peace upon the people of the graves. This duty is fulfilled by sending blessings and peace upon the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, while praying, entering and leaving the mosque, during the call to prayer, and when making supplications. Therefore, it is Sunnah and recommended for every person to send blessings and peace upon the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, when making supplications, because he, peace and blessings be upon him, is dearer to the believers than their own souls. Accordingly, every worshiper, before sending peace upon himself and all the righteous servants, sends blessings and peace upon the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, saying:
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ
"O Prophet! Peace be upon you. May Allah's mercy and blessings descend upon you. Peace be upon us and upon all of Allah's righteous servants."
Except for the honored grave, there is no mosque near any other grave for which traveling to visit it is recommended. However, visiting the honored grave is correct, just as it is permissible to go to a general cemetery.
