Completion of 'Umrah and the Spiritual Journey to Madīnah Munawwarah

Seven permissible acts during Sai and Ṭawāf

1.      To make Salām.

2.      To reply to Salām.

3.      To talk when necessary.

4.      To drink water (eating is also allowed during Sai).

5.      To recite verses of Ḥamd, Na'at or Manqabat in low voice.

6.      To pass, during Ṭawāf, across the front of someone offering Ṣalāh as Ṭawāf is also like Ṣalāh. However, passing is impermissible during Sai.

7.      To ask or answer an Islamic ruling.

(ibid, pp. 1114; ibid, pp. 162)

Ten Makrūh acts in Sai

1.      Performing Sai with longer intervals in between its rounds. However, one may leave to relieve oneself or to make Wuḍū if it becomes invalid, although Wuḍū is not a requisite for Sai.

2.      Buying

3.      Selling

4.      Useless talking

5.      Looking here and there uselessly is Makrūh in Sai and more Makrūh in Ṭawāf.

6.      Not to climb Ṣafā or

7.      Marwah (climb a little, not up to the top).

8.      For males not to run between the green marks without a valid reason.

9.      Delaying Sai too much after Ṭawāf.

10.  Unveiling of Satr-e-'Awrat.

(ibid, pp. 1115)

Four miscellaneous rulings regarding Sai

1.      Performing Sai by walking on foot is Wājib. However, performing it by sliding whilst sitting, or riding is permissible in case of compulsion.

(Lubāb-ul-Manāsik, pp. 178)

2.      Cleanness is not a conditional requirement for Sai. A woman suffering from menses may also perform Sai.

('Ālamgīrī, vol. 1, pp. 227)

3.      It is Mustaḥab to perform Sai in the state of Wuḍū with cleanness of body and clothes.

(Bahār-e-Sharī'at, vol. 1, pp. 1110)

4.      Whilst starting Sai first recite Dua of Ṣafā and then make the intention of Sai. There are several rituals performed before Sai such as Istilām of Ḥajar-ul-Aswad, climbing Ṣafā and making Du'ā, etc. It is better to make a separate intention before performing each of them. However, if the intention of performing the pre-Sa'ī rituals for earning reward is present in the heart, this is also sufficient.

Important advice for Islamic sisters

Islamic sisters should keep themselves apart from males. Most of the unwise women intrude into the males' crowd in order to touch Ḥajar-ul-Aswad and Rukn Yamānī or to become closer to the Holy Ka'bah. How shameful it is! It is advisable for Islamic sisters to perform Ṭawāf at 12 noon as the crowd is small at that time.

صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبِيْبْ          صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Pilgrimage to Madīna-tul-Munawwarah

Hasan Hajj kar liyā Ka'bah say ānkhaun nay ziyā pāyī
Chalo daykhayn woh bastī jis kā rastah dil kay andar hay

O Ḥasan! We have performed Hajj, blessing our eyes with the vision of the Holy Ka'bah
let’s now behold the sacred and beloved city that has its attachment to our heart

Method of enhancing fervour

Those travelling to the sacred city of Madīna-tul-Munawwarah should keep on reciting Na'at and Ṣalāt-'Alan-Nabī throughout the journey. You may also listen to inspiring Na'ats via a cassette player. اِنْ شَآءَ اللّٰہ عَزَّوَجَلَّ! This will be a means of enhancing your fervour. Keep pondering on the sacredness and holiness of this city¹. This will further augment enthusiasm in your heart.

صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبِيْبْ         صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

¹ During stay in Makkah and Madīnah you should read books regarding the sanctity of these cities for enhancing your fervour and enthusiasm. Go through Na'at books such as Ḥadāiq-e-Bakhshish by Imām Aḥmad Razā Khān رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ and Zauq-e-Na'at by Maulānā Ḥasan Razā Khān رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ

How long will it take to get to Madīnah?

The distance between Makka-tul-Mukarramah and Madīna-tul-Munawwarah is almost 425 kilometres that is usually covered by bus within almost 5 hours. During Hajj season, however, it takes almost 8 to 10 hours to cover this distance because of slow and safe driving and some other reasons. The bus halts at the 'Markaz for welcoming Hujjāj' where passports are submitted and cards are issued which Hujjāj should keep safely. The official formalities here sometimes take many hours to be completed. Remain cool, calm and collected as the fruit of patience is very sweet.

Soon you will be joyfully be wandering around the beautiful streets of Madīnah and beholding the Green Dome! As soon as your eye falls on the luminous minaret of Masjid-un-Nabawī and the Green Dome from afar, you would feel your heart pounding with excitement and tears would spontaneously well up in your eyes.

The breeze of Madinah will be refreshing your senses, making you feel a spiritual revitalization. If possible, enter this sanctified city barefoot with tears in eyes.

Jūtay utār lo chalo bā-hosh bā-adab
Daykho Madīnay kā ḥasīn gulzār ā gayā

Take off shoes and proceed rationally and reverently
Behold! The beautiful garden of Madīnah has approached

صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبِيْبْ         صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Quranic proof for remaining barefoot

Staying barefoot here is not contrary to Sharī'ah. Rather it is an act of showing reverence to the holy place. When Sayyidunā Prophet Mūsā عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام was blessed with the privilege of conversation with Allah ﷻ, he عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام was commanded by Allah ﷻ:

فَاخْلَعْ نَعْلَيْكَ اِنَّكَ بِالْوَادِ الْمُقَدَّسِ طُوًى

Take off your shoes. Verily, you are in the blessed valley, Ṭuwā.

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 16, Sūrah Ṭāhā, verse 12)

If this is the high status accorded to the mount Sīnā that Allah ﷻ ordered Sayyidunā Mūsā عَلَيْهِ الصَّلٰوةُ وَالسَّلَام to remain barefoot, then imagine how greatly one would be required to show reverence in Madinah! Despite being a resident of Madinah, Imām Mālik عَلَيْهِ رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ الْقَانِی never wore shoes in this blessed city.

(At-Ṭabaqāt-ul-Kubrā lish-Sha'rānī, vol. 1, pp. 76)

He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ never rode a horse in Madīna-tul-Munawwarah. He رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ has said: I feel shyness from Allah ﷻ to ride my horse over the land under which His Prophet ﷺ rests.

(Iḥyā-ul-'Ulūm, vol. 1, pp. 48)

Preparation for the visit

Prior to visiting the sacred mausoleum of the Beloved and Blessed Prophet ﷺ, keep your luggage at a safe place (in your hotel room etc). If you are hungry or thirsty, eat/drink something. In short, free yourself of every such thing that may affect your concentration. Make Wuḍū and use a Miswāk or, better still, perform Ghusl. Wear clean or new white clothes and a new turban, if possible. Apply kohl and fragrance preferably musk, and enter the blessed Masjid with tears in eyes.

(Bahār-e-Sharī'at, vol. 1, pp. 1223)

Grand Green Dome appears

The green dome that you used to see in pictures is now in front of your eyes. A sight for which the hearts of devotees are restless and eyes are tearful! By Allah ﷻ, the beauty of Rauḍah-e-Rasūl (the blessed resting place of our Beloved Prophet ﷺ) is matchless on the earth and even in the Paradise.

Firdaus kī bulandī bhī chū sakay na is ko
Khuld-e-Barīn say aūnchā mīṭhay Nabī kā rauḍah

Even the loftiness of Firdaus cannot touch it
Rauḍah of Prophet is higher than even Khuld-e-Barin

(Wasāil-e-Bakhshish, pp. 298)

It is stated in a footnote added on page 298 of the book 'Wasāil-e-Bakhshish' published by Maktaba-tul-Madīnah, the publishing department of Dawat-e-Islami: The Arabic word رَوْضَه [Rauḍah] literally means a 'garden'. The word Rauḍah used in the foregoing couplet refers to the piece of land on which the blessed body of the Holy Prophet ﷺ rests. Describing its sanctity, Islamic jurists رَحِمَهُمُ اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰی have stated: The piece of the land that is in contact with the blessed body of the Holy Prophet ﷺ is more sacred than even the Holy Ka'bah, 'Arsh and Kursī.

(Durr-ul-Mukhtār, vol. 4, pp. 62)