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Trinidad and Tobago Umrah Journey 2026

Madinah: The City of Light

المدينة المنورة

The city the Prophet ﷺ made his home after the Hijrah, where he built his mosque and where he is buried. Here is how to visit his mosque, the places to see around the city, and how to spend your days there.

4 nights Jiwar al Madinah Hotel

Visiting the Prophet's MosquePlaces and things to do in Madinah

Step by step

Visiting the Prophet's Mosque

Al-Masjid an-Nabawi is where you will spend most of your time in Madinah. Visiting it is not part of the Umrah, but it is a blessed visit in its own right.

These steps follow the Hanbali school, which Esa follows. Other schools differ on a few details.

  1. 1Intend
  2. 2Enter
  3. 3Rawdah
  4. 4Greet
  5. 5Du'a

  1. Step 1 of 5

    Travel for the mosque

    Make your intention to visit and pray in the Prophet's Mosque. He ﷺ said that a prayer in his mosque is better than a thousand prayers anywhere else, except Masjid al-Haram in Makkah (al-Bukhari and Muslim).

  2. Step 2 of 5

    Enter with your right foot

    Step in with your right foot and say the prayer for entering a mosque:

    بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ، اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ

    Bismillāh, wa ṣ-ṣalātu wa s-salāmu ʿalā rasūlillāh, Allāhumma ftaḥ lī abwāba raḥmatikIn the name of Allah, and peace and blessings on the Messenger of Allah. O Allah, open for me the doors of Your mercy.
    • Pray two rak'ahs to greet the mosque before you sit down, unless it is a time when prayer is disliked.
    • When you leave, step out with your left foot and ask Allah for His bounty.

  3. Step 3 of 5

    Pray in the Rawdah

    The Rawdah is the area between the Prophet's house and his minbar, marked by green carpet. He ﷺ said it is a garden from the gardens of Paradise (al-Bukhari and Muslim). Pray there if you can, and make du'a.

    • Entry needs a time slot booked in the Nusuk app. Men and women have separate times, and slots are limited, so book as early as you can.
    • It is crowded: keep your visit short so others can have their turn.

  4. Step 4 of 5

    Greet the Prophet ﷺ and his two companions

    Walk calmly to the front of his grave, face it, and greet him with a lowered voice:

    السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ

    As-salāmu ʿalayka yā rasūlallāhPeace be upon you, O Messenger of Allah.
    • Then step a little to the right and greet Abu Bakr, and a little further and greet 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with them.
    • Keep your voice low, and don't touch or wipe the walls or railings for blessing.

  5. Step 5 of 5

    Make your own du'a facing the qiblah

    For your own du'a, turn to face the qiblah, with the Prophet's room on your left, and ask Allah directly for whatever you need. Send plenty of peace and blessings on the Prophet ﷺ while you are in his city.

While you are there

Places and things to do in Madinah

The sites of the Prophet's life around the city, and good ways to spend your days between the prayers.

Key places to visit

  • مسجد قباء

    Quba Mosque

    The first mosque the Prophet ﷺ built, when he reached Madinah. He visited it every Saturday and prayed two rak'ahs there, and said that whoever purifies himself at home, then comes to Quba Mosque and prays in it, has a reward like that of an Umrah (Ibn Majah and an-Nasa'i). So make wudu before you set off.

  • جبل أُحُد

    Mount Uhud

    Site of the Battle of Uhud, in the third year after the Hijrah. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Uhud is a mountain that loves us, and we love it." The martyrs of Uhud are buried at its foot, among them his uncle Hamzah. Men can visit their graves to greet them and make du'a for them.

  • جبل الرماة

    The Archers' Hill

    The small hill facing Uhud where the Prophet ﷺ placed his archers and told them not to leave their posts. Standing on it, the story of the battle comes to life.

  • البقيع

    Al-Baqi'

    Madinah's main cemetery since the Prophet's time, beside his mosque. Thousands of the Companions are buried here, with many of the Prophet's family and wives, and 'Uthman ibn 'Affan. The Prophet ﷺ would go out to greet them and pray for them. Men can visit at set times, usually after Fajr and 'Asr.

  • مسجد القبلتين

    Masjid al-Qiblatayn

    The "Mosque of the Two Qiblahs", remembered for the change of the qiblah from Jerusalem to the Kaaba in the second year after the Hijrah.

  • الخندق

    The Trench

    Where the Muslims dug a trench to defend the city in the Battle of the Trench, in the fifth year after the Hijrah. A place to remember the story; there is no special prayer to perform here.

Recommended while you stay

  • Pray every prayer in the mosque

    Arrive early: the rows fill well before the call to prayer, especially for Fajr and on Friday.

  • Sit under the great umbrellas

    The giant umbrellas in the mosque's courtyard open in the morning and fold away in the evening. A peaceful place to read Quran between prayers.

  • Go to Quba on a Saturday

    Follow the Prophet's habit and visit Quba Mosque on a Saturday morning, with wudu made before you leave.

  • Taste Ajwa dates

    Madinah's famous dates. The Prophet ﷺ said whoever eats seven Ajwa dates in the morning will not be harmed that day by poison or magic (al-Bukhari and Muslim).

  • Read the story of the city

    Read about the Hijrah and the battles of Uhud and the Trench before you arrive, then see the places for yourself.

  • Keep the city's sanctuary

    Madinah is a sanctuary, like Makkah: its trees are not cut and its animals are not hunted. Be gentle with the place and its people.