First Visit to Masjid an-Nabawi: A Complete Guide

Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, the Prophet's Mosque, is the heart of Madinah Munawwarah and the second holiest mosque in Islam after al-Masjid al-Haram in Makkah. On a first visit most people pray in the mosque, greet the Prophet ﷺ and his two companions Sayyiduna Abu Bakr and Sayyiduna Umar رضی اللہ عنہما at the south-eastern corner, and hope to pray in the Rawdah, which now requires a permit booked through the Nusuk app. The mosque is ringed by marble courtyards shaded by giant umbrellas, with many gates and separate entrances and prayer areas for women. Arriving early, travelling light and checking official channels for current rules make a first visit far calmer.

Key facts

A prayer in the Prophet's Mosque is better than 1,000 prayers in any other mosque except al-Masjid al-Haram (Sahih al-Bukhari 1190).
The Prophet ﷺ rests in what was his house, beneath the Green Dome, with Sayyiduna Abu Bakr and Sayyiduna Umar رضی اللہ عنہما beside him.
The Rawdah lies between the Prophet's ﷺ house and his minbar; visits are by permit through Nusuk.
Bab as-Salam (west) and Bab al-Baqi (east) are the traditional entry and exit gates for the greeting route.
Men and women pray in separate sections, reached through signposted women's gates.
Cooled Zamzam water is provided free throughout the mosque.

The layout: prayer hall, courtyards and the Green Dome

Al-Masjid an-Nabawi began as a simple mosque of palm trunks and mud brick built by the Prophet ﷺ beside his house after the Hijrah. Successive expansions have made it one of the largest mosques in the world (Wikipedia). It helps to picture three zones:

The old (southern) section nearest the qibla wall holds the Ottoman-era prayer hall, the Prophet's ﷺ minbar and mihrab, the Rawdah, and, at the south-eastern corner, the Prophet's ﷺ chamber under the Green Dome. It is the busiest part of the mosque.
The modern prayer halls extend north, east and west, with sliding roof domes and escalators to the roof, which opens for prayer at busy times.
The courtyards (piazza) surround the building and are used for prayer when the halls fill, shaded by retractable umbrellas during the day. See our page on the piazza and umbrellas.

To get your bearings before you travel, try the virtual tour.

Gates and how to find your way

The mosque has many gates, each with a name and number displayed above it, on all sides of the building. You only need to know a few landmarks:

Bab as-Salam, on the western side near the qibla wall, is the traditional starting point for walking along the front of the mosque to greet the Prophet ﷺ.
Bab al-Baqi, on the eastern side near the Prophet's ﷺ chamber, is where the greeting route usually exits. It faces Jannat al-Baqi, about 300 m from the mosque.
Women's gates are signposted and lead directly to the women's sections.

To avoid getting lost, photograph the sign of the gate you entered by and the gate nearest your hotel, and agree a meeting point outside a numbered gate with your group. Toilets and ablution areas are in underground levels beneath the courtyards, reached by escalators; note which block you used.

Entering the mosque: etiquette and the first prayer

Entering the Prophet's Mosque follows the sunnah etiquette of any mosque, with extra care because of where you are.

Enter with the right foot and say the du'a for entering the mosque.
Pray two rak'ahs of greeting the mosque (tahiyyat al-masjid) when you first sit down, unless the congregational prayer is starting or it is a time when voluntary prayer is disliked.
Keep your voice low. Many visitors apply the Quranic instruction not to raise one's voice above the voice of the Prophet ﷺ (Quran 49:2) to conduct in his mosque.
Don't step over people or reserve large areas with mats and bags.

The reward is the reason to pray as many prayers here as you can: the Prophet ﷺ said one prayer in his mosque is better than a thousand prayers elsewhere except al-Masjid al-Haram (Sahih al-Bukhari 1190). Check the Madinah prayer times and arrive well before the adhan.

Greeting the Prophet ﷺ and his two companions

The way taught in Bahar-e-Shariat and Fatawa Razawiyya is one of love, awe and reverence:

Walk along the front of the mosque towards the south-eastern corner; many people enter by Bab as-Salam and follow the flow of visitors.
Face the blessed grave, with your back to the qibla and your hands folded as in prayer, at least four hands (about two yards) from the grille, and greet the Prophet ﷺ in a moderate voice, neither loud nor very soft: "As-salamu 'alayka ya Rasulallah" (peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allah). Send abundant salawat as far as the line allows, and ask him for his intercession.
Move a little to the right and greet Sayyiduna Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رضی اللہ عنہ, then a little further and greet Sayyiduna Umar ibn al-Khattab رضی اللہ عنہ.
Keep walking with the line and exit, usually via Bab al-Baqi.

Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Umar رضی اللہ عنہ, on returning from a journey, would come here first and greet the Prophet ﷺ, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr and then his father. Make your own du'a here facing the blessed grave, without turning your back on it: Bahar-e-Shariat calls these stations places where du'a is answered and says to strive in du'a, adding that being content with salawat is better. Then make du'a near the minbar and in the Rawdah.

Bahar-e-Shariat and Fatawa Razawiyya teach: "Beware: avoid kissing or touching the blessed grille, for it is against adab; rather, do not go closer than four hands' distance." Staff keep the line moving, so greet with a present heart in the time you are given. Wherever you are, the Prophet ﷺ said that whoever sends blessings on him once, Allah sends blessings on that person ten times (reported in Sahih Muslim).

The Rawdah: what it is and how to visit

The Rawdah is the area between the Prophet's ﷺ house, now his resting place, and his minbar. Its name comes from the hadith: "Between my house and my minbar is a garden from the gardens of Paradise" (Sahih al-Bukhari 1196; also Sahih Muslim 1391).

It sits in the oldest part of the mosque, marked by a distinct green carpet, and is small compared with the number of people who want to pray in it, so access is managed.

How visits work (check the app for current rules):

Visits require a permit booked through the Nusuk app: you choose an available date and time slot.
Men and women have separate slots and separate access routes.
Rules on how often you can book, which gate to use and how early to arrive change from time to time. Follow the instructions on your permit, not old social media posts.
Inside, staff guide groups in and out. Pray, make du'a, and leave when asked.

If you cannot get a slot, every prayer anywhere in the mosque still carries the reward described above.

Women’s sections and visiting arrangements

Women have their own prayer halls inside the mosque and designated areas in the courtyards, entered through signposted women's gates and managed by female staff.

Rawdah visits for women take place in women-only slots booked through Nusuk, via a separate access route.
Greeting the Prophet ﷺ: women are not to be kept from this visit: an Ahl-e-Sunnat fatwa says it is close to wajib for them too, unlike other graves. The walk in front of the chamber is usually organised for men. Arrangements for women change, so follow the female staff and the Nusuk app. Salam reaches the Prophet ﷺ from wherever it is sent.
Families should agree a meeting point outside a numbered gate, as men's and women's sections may be far apart.
Dress: loose, non-transparent clothing and hijab; an abaya is common and practical.

Women's sections fill early before Jumu'ah, Maghrib and Isha, especially in Ramadan.

Zamzam, shoes, bags and other practicalities

Zamzam water: cooled Zamzam is provided in containers throughout the prayer halls and courtyards, usually with cups beside them and labels showing whether it is chilled.
Shoes: shelves line each entrance, but many visitors carry a small cloth bag and keep their shoes with them to avoid searching after the prayer.
Bags: keep to a small bag. Large bags and luggage are not normally allowed inside, and security staff may check bags.
Phones: silence your phone, and do not photograph other worshippers.
Heat: the courtyards get very hot at midday for much of the year; check the Madinah weather and carry water.
Staying close: central hotels are a short walk from the gates; see our Madinah hotels guide.

Jumu’ah, Ramadan and the busiest times

Jumu'ah (Friday): the halls, roof and courtyards fill well before the khutbah; many regulars arrive an hour or more before the adhan. Roads around the central area also become congested.
Ramadan: the mosque is at its busiest, with Taraweeh nightly and the last ten nights especially crowded. Iftar spreads of dates and water are laid out for those fasting. I'tikaf has in recent years required advance registration; check official announcements.
Hajj season: many pilgrims visit Madinah before or after Hajj, and the mosque is full at all five prayers.
Quieter times: outside these peaks, after Fajr and mid-morning are often calmer.

Once you have settled in, a morning visit to Quba Mosque, about 3.3 km from Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, is a natural next step; our list of spiritual places in Madinah suggests others.

Frequently asked questions

❓Do I need a permit to visit the Rawdah in Al-Masjid an-Nabawi?

Yes. Visits to the Rawdah in Al-Masjid an-Nabawi currently require a permit booked through the official Nusuk app, with separate time slots for men and women. Booking rules, such as how often a visitor may book and which gate to use, change from time to time, so check the Nusuk app before you go.

❓What is the reward for praying in Al-Masjid an-Nabawi?

According to Sahih al-Bukhari 1190, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said that one prayer in his mosque, Al-Masjid an-Nabawi in Madinah, is better than a thousand prayers in any other mosque except al-Masjid al-Haram in Makkah. This is why many visitors try to pray all five daily prayers there.

❓Which gate should I use to greet the Prophet ﷺ in Masjid an-Nabawi?

Many visitors to Al-Masjid an-Nabawi enter by Bab as-Salam on the western side, walk along the qibla side to the Prophet's ﷺ blessed chamber at the south-eastern corner, greet the Prophet ﷺ, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr and Sayyiduna Umar رضی اللہ عنہما, and exit by Bab al-Baqi on the eastern side. Follow staff directions on the day.

❓Can women visit the Rawdah at the Prophet's Mosque?

Yes. Women can visit the Rawdah at the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah during women-only time slots booked through the Nusuk app, using a separate access route managed by female staff. Arrangements and timings change, so women should check the Nusuk app and follow staff guidance at the women's gates.

❓Is Zamzam water available in Al-Masjid an-Nabawi?

Yes. Al-Masjid an-Nabawi provides cooled Zamzam water free of charge in containers throughout the prayer halls and courtyards, usually with disposable cups beside them. The containers are typically labelled to show whether the Zamzam water is chilled, and many visitors refill personal bottles for the day.

❓How early should I arrive for Friday prayer at Al-Masjid an-Nabawi?

For Jumu'ah at Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, the prayer halls, roof and courtyards fill well before the khutbah, and many regular worshippers arrive an hour or more before the adhan. Arriving early matters even more in Ramadan and the Hajj season, when the Prophet's Mosque is at its busiest.

How we checked. This page is a guide, not a fatwa; for a ruling on your own situation, ask a qualified Ahl-e-Sunnat mufti. The greeting and its adab were read directly in Bahar-e-Shariat and Fatawa Razawiyya vol. 10. The women's ruling comes from an Ahl-e-Sunnat fatwa, and the report of Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Umar رضی اللہ عنہ from an Ahl-e-Sunnat magazine. The English of these quotes is our own translation.

Sources