The Prophet's Mosque is one of the greatest mosques in Islam, as it is the second of the two Holy Mosques, a place where good deeds are multiplied and prayers are answered. Because this mosque has a special place in the hearts of Muslims, it is recommended that Muslims enter the Prophet's Mosque, following the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Adhering to the prayers for entering the Prophet's Mosque reflects a Muslim's keenness to follow the guidance of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the etiquette of visiting this holy place. It is sunnah to begin entering the mosque with supplication, as there are several supplications for entering the Prophet's Mosque that are recommended to be repeated in order to ask for mercy and forgiveness. Also, turning to God when entering the mosque helps a Muslim to achieve reverence in prayer, so every visitor should be careful to say the prayers to enter the Prophet's Mosque with reverence and recall the greatness of the place.
1. Etiquette for entering the Prophet's Mosque
Entering the Prophet's Mosque is not like other places, as it is one of the most honorable places on earth, and a Muslim must adhere to special etiquette when entering it, out of reverence for this blessed place and following the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). The most important of these etiquettes include the following:
1. Purity and Preparation for Prayer
Before entering the Prophet's Mosque, it is advisable for a Muslim to be clean, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Allah does not accept a prayer without purity” (Narrated by Muslim). It is preferable for visitors to perform ablution before entering the mosque, so that they are ready to pray as soon as they enter.
2. Entering with the right foot and mentioning the prayer
It is Sunnah for a Muslim to enter the mosque with his right foot and say one of the prayers for entering the Prophet's Mosque, including:
“O Allah, open to me the gates of your mercy” (narrated by Muslim).
Or he may increase the supplication by saying:
“In the name of Allah, peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, open for me the gates of your mercy and forgive me my sins.”.
These prayers express the servant's humility before his Lord, and his request for mercy and forgiveness in this pure place.
3. Avoid raising your voice and preoccupation with the world
People entering the Prophet's Mosque should be calm and dignified, and should not raise their voices, because mosques are places of worship and not places for arguing or talking loudly. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Don't make noise in the markets” (narrated by Muslim), meaning avoid chaos and noise in the mosques.
4. Perform two rak'ahs as a greeting to the mosque
Upon entering the Prophet's Mosque, it is recommended to perform two rak'ahs (greetings), as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“If one of you enters the mosque, he should not sit down until he prays two rak'ahs” (Agreed upon).
If the visitor is able to pray in the Rawdat al-Sharifa, this is a great privilege, as it is one of the Riyadhs of Paradise, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“Between my house and my pulpit is a yard of the Riyadh of Paradise” (agreed upon).
5. Heading to the Noble Rawdah and visiting the grave of the Prophet (peace be upon him)
One of the etiquette of entering the Prophet's Mosque is to visit the tomb of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his two companions, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq and Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with them), and salute them politely and reverently, saying:
“Peace be upon you, Messenger of Allah, peace be upon you, Abu Bakr, peace be upon you, Umar.”.
The visit should be done with the intention of peace and supplication, without exaggeration or asking the Prophet (peace be upon him) for needs, because supplication is only for God alone.
6. Choosing a suitable place for prayer and remembrance
It is advisable for visitors to choose a suitable place to sit and pray in the Prophet's Mosque, away from traffic, so as not to hinder others. He can also take advantage of his presence in the mosque by practicing dhikr, reading the Qur'an, praise, and forgiveness.
7. Adherence to modesty and appropriate clothing
Men and women should be careful to dress modestly and appropriately to enter the Prophet's Mosque, out of respect for its sanctity.
8. Avoiding photography and preoccupation with phones
One of the common mistakes in the Prophet's Mosque is being preoccupied with photography or using the phone for unnecessary matters. It is better for visitors to take advantage of their presence in the mosque by worshiping and contemplating, rather than being preoccupied with social media.
2. Prayers received upon entering the Prophet's Mosque
One of the most important etiquettes that a Muslim must adhere to when entering the Prophet's Mosque is to recite the prayers for entering the Prophet's Mosque. These prayers are not just words to be said, but an expression of turning to Allah Almighty to ask for mercy and forgiveness, and to ask for acceptance in this blessed place. Several prayers for entering the Prophet's Mosque have been mentioned in the Sunnah, most notably:
1. The general prayer for entering any mosque
When entering any mosque, including the Prophet's Mosque, it is recommended that a Muslim say:
“O Allah, open to me the gates of your mercy” (narrated by Muslim).
This supplication opens a door to divine mercy when entering the mosque, and shows the servant's humility before God in asking for help and forgiveness.
2. Special Prayer for the Prophet's Mosque
When entering the Prophet's Mosque, a Muslim can increase his prayers and say:
“In the name of Allah, peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, open for me the gates of your mercy and forgive me my sins.”.
In this supplication, prayer and peace be upon the Prophet, which reflects the Muslim's love for the Prophet and following his Sunnah.
3. Prayers when entering the Noble Rawdah
The honorable Rawdah is part of the Prophet's Mosque and is between the Prophet's pulpit and his tomb, and is one of the greatest places in the mosque. When entering the Rawdah, the visitor is advised to turn to Allah with supplication and remembrance, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has been proven in his hadith:
“Between my house and my pulpit is a yard of the Riyadh of Paradise” (agreed upon).
This is a blessed place, and it is advisable for Muslims to take advantage of this opportunity to pray, whether it is for the world or the hereafter.
4. Continuous prayer after prayer
After praying at the Prophet's Mosque, it is advisable for a Muslim to pray for the good of himself, his family, and all Muslims, as mentioned in the hadith:
“Whoever prays forty prayers in this mosque of mine without missing a prayer, Allah will write for him a patent from the Fire, a patent from torment, and a patent from hypocrisy” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi).
After the prayer, it is advisable for a Muslim to do a lot of forgiveness and supplicate with whatever he wishes, especially supplication for stability on the straight path.
5. Prayer when leaving the mosque
It is sunnah for a Muslim to say when leaving the mosque:
“O Allah, I ask you from your bounty.”.
This supplication reflects a constant request for God's favor and mercy, and a constant reminder to return to Him at all times.
Praying when entering the Prophet's Mosque is not just words to be said, it is a door to approach God Almighty and a means of forgiveness and mercy. By praying to enter the Prophet's Mosque, a Muslim expresses his willingness to repent and worship in this blessed place, and wishes to have a share of the blessing that all those who visit the Prophet's Mosque receive.
In conclusion, visiting the Prophet's Mosque is one of the greatest blessings that Allah bestows on His servants, as it is an opportunity to draw closer to Him and to feel the spirituality of this blessed place. Just as this visit has great merit, adhering to the prayers for entering the Prophet's Mosque gives the visitor the blessing of entry and reverence in worship. Therefore, Muslims should be careful to recite the prayers to enter the Prophet's Mosque with reverence and contemplation, in order to receive the reward. Continuing to recite the prayers to enter the Prophet's Mosque reflects the Muslim's keenness to follow the Sunnah and reverence for this pure place. In conclusion, the visitor should not lose sight of the virtues of this mosque, and should make it a habit to enter the Prophet's Mosque every time he sets foot in this sanctuary.