The Prophet's Grave

**Important Clarification:** - Visiting the grave is **secondary** to visiting the mosque - Visiting the grave alone is not the purpose of travel - **Scholarly consensus:** Forbidden to travel specifically to visit graves - This applies to all graves including the Prophet's ﷺ **When:** - After visiting the mosque for prayer (which is the purpose) - The grave visit follows naturally as it's in the mosque **Method:** - Stand facing the grave with respect and lowered voice - Say: "As-salamu 'alayka ya Rasulallah wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh" - **Hadith:** "No one sends salutation upon me except Allah returns my soul so I can respond" [Abu Dawud] - May add: "As-salamu 'alayka ya khiyarat Allahi min khalqih. Ashhadu annaka qad ballaght ar-risalah, wa addayt al-amanah, wa nasaht al-ummah..." **Then visit Abu Bakr and Umar رضي الله عنهما:** - Greet them and make du'a for them - Ibn Umar's practice: "As-salamu 'alayka ya Rasulallah, As-salamu 'alayka ya Aba Bakr, As-salamu 'alayka ya abatah" then leave **Prohibited Acts:** - Touching or kissing the chamber - Circumambulating it (tawaf) - Facing it while making du'a - Asking the Prophet ﷺ to fulfill needs, cure illness, or relieve distress (this is for Allah alone) **Visiting is NOT:** - Obligatory - A condition of Hajj - Part of Hajj at all - Proven by any authentic hadith linking it to Hajj - Note: Hadiths like "Whoever performs Hajj and doesn't visit me has shunned me" are fabricated/weak