This excerpt is taken from Sheikh al-Islam Imam Ibn Taymiyyah's book Al-Jawab al-Bahir fi Zuwar al-Maqabir, translated by Sheikh Ata Allah Saqib.
Visiting the Prophet's Mosque along with the Blessed Grave:
All Islamic scholars have written in their books on rituals that traveling towards the Prophet's Mosque is recommended. They have also written that a person who gets the opportunity to visit the Prophet's Mosque should visit the honored grave. Among them, there is not a single person who has written that traveling solely with the intention of visiting the honored grave is recommended. Therefore, the question does not even arise that they considered traveling to visit the grave of any other saint as recommended. Undoubtedly, in the past, some people existed and still exist who come to Medina only with the intention of visiting the honored grave. But those are individuals who have not even been touched by the knowledge of the pure Shariah, to the extent that they are unaware of commands and prohibitions. We consider such individuals excused due to ignorance; perhaps Allah Almighty will forgive them. However, among those who possess knowledge of Shariah, who keep an eye on the limits of Allah and His commands and prohibitions, there is not a single scholar who has written that traveling solely to visit the honored grave or any other grave is permissible. Rather, the noble scholars have declared such travel forbidden. Among them, the companions of Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him), Imam Shafi'i (may Allah have mercy on him), and Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (may Allah have mercy on him) are notable. However, some later followers of Shafi'i and Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on them) have only written that such travel is not forbidden.
