Allah The Almighty, commanded the Prophet, , to tell his Ummah (nation) that he did not possess the power to benefit or harm anyone, saying (what means): {Say, "Indeed, I do not possess for you [the power of] harm or right direction."} [Quran 72:21] In this respect, it is narrated on the authority of ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, that she said, "When the following Holy Verse was revealed (what means): {And warn, [O Muhammad], your closest kindred} [Quran 26:214] the Messenger of Allah said: “O Faatimah, daughter of Muhammad! O Safiyyah, daughter of ‘Abd-Al-Muttalib! O sons of ‘Abd-Al-Muttalib! I have no power to protect you from Allah (if He likes to punish you)! Ask me whatever you want from my wealth.” '[Muslim]
One should not ask the Messenger of Allah, , to supplicate or even pray for Allah’s forgiveness for him, since this was ceased by his death, as it is proven from him, , that he said: “If man dies, all his actions cease.” As for His statement, The Almighty (what means): {And if, when they wronged themselves, they had come to you, [O Muhammad], and asked forgiveness of Allah and the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah accepting of repentance and Merciful} [Quran 4:64] It only applies to his lifetime, and it has no evidence for the possibility of asking him to pray for the forgiveness of Allah The Almighty for anyone after his death, . The verse uses the past tense, not the future tense, and refers to a people who lived during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah, , and therefore it does not go beyond the past to refer to anyone who lived afterwards.
Those are the things to be observed when visiting the grave of the Messenger of Allah, , and the graves of his two Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, and saluting them.
One should also visit the graveyard of Al-Baqee‘, and salute its inhabitants from among the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, and the Taabi‘is (Followers) like ‘Uthmaan ibn ‘Affaan, may Allah be pleased with him: let him stand in front of his grave and salute him saying: “As-salaamu ‘alayka yaa ‘Uthmaan ibn ‘Affaan! As-salaamu ‘alayka yaa ameer al-mu’mineen: radhiya Allahu ‘anka wa jazaaka ‘an ummati Muhammad khayran” (As-salaamu ‘alayka O ‘Uthmaan ibn ‘Affaan! As-salaamu ‘alayka O Commander of the Believers: may Allah be pleased with you, and reward you with the best reward on behalf of the Ummah of Muhammad).
If he enters the grave, let him say the same as he learnt from the Messenger of Allah, , as narrated on the authority of Buraydah, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: The Messenger of Allah, , used to instruct them to say whenever they came out to the graveyards: “As-salaamu ‘alaykum ahla ad-diyaar min al-mu‘mineen wal-muslimeen; wa inna in shaa’ Allahu bikum laahiqoon: nas’alu Allah lana wa lakum al-‘aafiyah” (As-salaamu ‘alaykum, the inhabitants of these abodes from among the believers and the Muslims! We, Allah willing, would join you later. We ask Allah to grant us and you peace).[Muslim]
It is narrated on the authority of ‘Aa'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, that the Messenger of Allah, , used to go out towards the end of the night to Al-Baqee‘ and say:“As-salaamu ‘alaykum daara qawmin mu’mineen: wa ataakum maa too‘adoon, ghadan mu’ajjaloon, wa inna in shaa’ Allahu bikum laahiqoon. Allahumma ighfir li ahli Baqee‘ al-gharqad” (As-salaamu alaykum, abode of believing people. What you have been promised would come to you in the near future, which you would receive after some delay. Allah willing, we shall join you. O Allah! Forgive the dwellers of Baqee‘Al-Gharqad).[Muslim]
It is good, if he so likes, to come out to (the mountain of) Uhud and visit the martyrs there, salute them and supplicate to a good effect for them, and remember what happened in the Battle of Uhud, of wisdom and mysteries.
It is due to come out to the masjid of Qubaa’ and pray there, in response to the statement of Allah The Almighty (what means): {A mosque founded on righteousness from the first day is more worthy for you to stand in. Within it are men who love to purify themselves; and Allah loves those who purify themselves.} [Quran 9:108]
It is narrated on the authority of ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with them, that the Messenger of Allah, , used to come to the Masjid of Qubaa’ every Saturday, sometimes on foot and sometimes riding (and offer a two-Rak‘ah prayer there, according to another narration); and Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with them, did the same. [Al-Bukhari] It is narrated on the authority of Sahl ibn Hunayf, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, , said: “He, who comes to this Masjid, i.e. the Masjid of Qubaa’, and offers prayer there, shall receive a reward equal to that of ‘Umrah.” [An-Nasaa’i]
If he returns to his country and turns his face towards it, let him say, “We are returning with repentance, worshipping and praising our Lord” until he arrives, as was done by the Messenger of Allah, .
Let the pilgrim, to whom Allah The Almighty made it easy to perform Hajj and visit Madeenah, praise Allah The Almighty for that, give thanks to Him, stand straight on His command, do only what is enjoined by Allah and His Messenger, , and leave what is forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, , perchance he would be one of the righteous servants and pious allies of Allah: {Unquestionably, [for] the allies of Allah there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve. Those who believed and were fearing Allah: For them are good tidings in the worldly life and in the Hereafter. No change is there in the words of Allah. That is thegreat attainment.} [Quran 10:62-64]
Visiting the Masjid of the Prophet – I
Visiting the Masjid of the Prophet – II