Visiting Madinah: the Prophet's Mosque and beyond

Madinah is the city the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) moved to after the Hijrah, and where he is buried. Visiting Madinah is not one of the rites of Umrah, but almost every pilgrim includes it. Tuyba's packages spend 3, 5 or 7 nights there, depending on the length you choose.

The Prophet's Mosque

Al-Masjid an-Nabawi is the centre of the city and of most visitors' days. The Green Dome stands over the place where the Prophet is buried, with his companions Abu Bakr and Umar beside him. Visitors pass in front of the grave to send greetings of peace.

Inside the oldest part of the mosque is the Rawdah, the area between the Prophet's house and his pulpit. Visits to the Rawdah are by appointment through the Nusuk app, with separate times for men and women. Appointments can be scarce in busy seasons, so check the app as soon as you know your dates.

Next to the mosque is Al-Baqi, the cemetery where many of the Prophet's family and companions are buried.

Quba Mosque

Quba Mosque, in the south of the city, is known as the first mosque built in Islam. According to a hadith reported by Ibn Majah, praying there carries the reward of an Umrah. Many visitors go on a Saturday morning, as the Prophet used to.

Mount Uhud

Mount Uhud rises on the northern side of the city. The Battle of Uhud took place at its foot in 625 CE. Visitors stop at the cemetery of the martyrs of Uhud, where Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib, the Prophet's uncle, is buried, and at the Archers' Hill facing it.

Other places

• Masjid al-Qiblatayn, the mosque associated with the change of the direction of prayer from Jerusalem to Makkah.
• The area of the Seven Mosques, near the site of the Battle of the Trench.
• The date markets, a good place to buy Madinah's well-known Ajwa dates.

Etiquette

Madinah is calmer than Makkah, and many visitors find it a gentle place to begin or end a journey. Keep your voice low in the mosque, dress modestly, and be patient in the crowds around the Rawdah and at the end of each prayer. Fridays are especially busy.

Madinah on a Tuyba package

On a Madinah-first package you fly to Madinah with a connection in Istanbul, and the city is your first stay. On a Makkah-first package you arrive in Madinah by train from Makkah and fly home from Madinah. In both cases you are welcomed on arrival and taken to your hotel, and the programme includes visits of Madinah.