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(b) Al-Medina is visited with the intentions of visiting the
Prophet’s mosque and to take benefit from the reward that prayer
has in the Prophet’s mosque,. Allah’s Messenger said: “A
single Salaat (prayer) in this Masjid of mine, is better than 1,000
Salaat elsewhere, except al-Masjid al-Haraam.” 289
Thus, traveling to al-Medina is only with the intention of visiting
the Prophet’s mosque and not his grave because Allah’s
Messenger said, “Do not make your houses graves, and do not
make my grave an ‘Eid’ 290 (place of gathering). But invoke
blessings on me, for your blessings reach me wherever you may
be.” 291
Visiting the Prophet’s grave and sending Allah’s blessings upon
him and his two Companions (radhi allahu anhuma) is part of the
visit to the Prophet’s mosque, and not its sole purpose. It has been
transmitted in Sunan Saeed Ibn Mansoor that Abdullah Ibn
Hussain, the grandson of Alee saw a man paying frequent visits
to the grave of the Holy Prophet and said to him, “O you person,
Verily Allah’s Messenger said, “Do not take my grave as a
place of worship and invoke blessings upon me wherever you
are, for your blessings will reach me.’ Thus, you and a person in
Spain are equal.” 292
289 Saheeh al-Bukharee (Eng. Trans.) vol.2, p.157, no.282, Saheeh
Muslim (Eng. Trans.) vol.2, p.697, no.3209), Sunan at-Tirmidhi (Assalaat
– the Prayer), Sunan an-Nasa’ee (al-Masaajid – the Mosques),
Sunan Ibn Majah (Iqamatis-Salaat – Extablishing Prayer), Musnad
Imaam Ahmad and Muwatta Imaam Maalik (an-Nida as-Salaat – The
Call for Prayer).
290 The Arabic word ‘Eed’ has two meanings;
• visiting a place repeatedly,
• the place or a day of festivals or celebrations.
Both these meanings assist in the understanding of the Hadeeth. This
Hadeeth, therefore, prohibits all unnecessary traveling to the
Prophet’s grave and all festivities and celebrations at the grave of
Allah’s Messenger .
291 Sunan Abu Dawood (Eng. Trans.) vol.2, p.542-543, no.2037, and
Musnad Ahmad. See Saheeh Sunan Abu Dawood vol.1, no.1796.
292 Mentioned by Shaikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah in Kitaab al-Waseelah
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