The Rewards and the Merits of Going to the Mosques and the Graves in Madǐnah

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said: Do not neglect going to the sites (around Madīnah) or the Mosque of Qubā, for it is the “mosque founded on piety from the very first day” (9:108). (Do not neglect) the Well of Um Ibrāhīm, the Mosque of Faďīkh, the graves of the martyrs, nor the Mosque of Aḥzāb which is the Mosque of Fatḥ. I was informed that when the Prophet (s.a.a.w.) would come to the graves of the martyrs (of the Battle of Uḥud), he would say: “Salām to you for you patiently persevered. How excellent is the sequel of the eternal abode!” (13:24). Then Imam (a.s.) added: Recite the following (supplication) in the Mosque of Fatḥ along with the other (supplications) which you recite there. O succour of the anguished ones! O fulfiller of the prayers of the distressed ones! Relieve me from my grief, my agony, and my sadness just as You relieved Your Prophet from his grief, his agony, and his sadness, and You were sufficient for him against the terrors of his enemies in this place. The above Ḥadīth has also been narrated to me through the following chains: A) Muḥammad ibn Ya’qūb, and ‘Ali ibn Ḥusain, both from ‘Ali ibn Ibrāhīm ibn Hāshim, from his father, from Ibn Abī ‘Umayr, from Mu’āwiyah ibn ‘Ammār, from Abī ‘Abdillāh (a.s.). B) Muḥammad ibn Ya’qūb, from Muḥammad ibn Ismā’īl, from Faďl ibn Shādhān, from Safwān ibn Yaḥyā, and from Ibn Abī ‘Umayr, from Mu’āwiyah ibn ‘Ammār, from Abī ‘Abdillāh (a.s.).

The Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.) said: Those who come to my mosque, the Mosque of Qubā, and pray two Rak’ah in it, will receive the reward of performing an ‘Umrah.

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said to Ibn Abī Ya’fūr: Do not neglect going to the sites (around Madīnah) or the Mosque of Qubā, for it is the “mosque founded on piety from the very first day.” (Do not neglect) the Well of Um Ibrāhīm, the Mosque of Faďīkh, the graves of the martyrs, nor the Mosque of Aḥzāb which is the Mosque of Fatḥ.

If you are going to stay in Madīnah for three days, establish your prayers in the complete format. The same applies to staying in Makkah. If you are going to stay in Madīnah for three days, fast three days, starting on a Wednesday. Pray Tuesday night next to the Pillar of Repentance (in the Mosque of the Prophet (s.a.a.w.)) which is where Abū Lubābah tied himself until his forgiveness was revealed from the heavens. Then on Wednesday, (fast and) sit by the same pillar all day. At night, come next to the grave of the Prophet (s.a.a.w.) and spend that night and the next day there, fasting on Thursday. Then on Thursday night, come to the pillar next to the grave of the Prophet (s.a.a.w.) and establish prayers there throughout the night and throughout the day Friday. You should also fast on Friday. If possible, do not speak during these three days, except to say that which you have to say, and do not leave the mosque unless it is necessary. If you can, do not sleep at night or during the day, for this will add to the grace of this act. Then finally on Friday, praise Allāh, sanctify Him, send blessing on the Prophet (s.a.a.w.), and ask for your needs. The following should be recited along with your other supplications: . O Allāh! I come to You through Your Prophet, Muḥammad, the Prophet of Mercy, to fulfill all of my needs, from the smallest to the greatest. And (I ask You to fulfill) those needs which I hastened in asking and begging for, and (also to fulfill) those needs which I did not hasten to ask for, and (those needs) which I did not even ask to be fulfilled.

I asked Abā ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)), “Which (mosque) should I visit first when I go to visit the mosques around Madīnah?” Imam (a.s.) replied: Start with the Mosque of Qubā and increasingly establish prayers in it, for it is the first mosque in this area in which the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.) prayed. Then proceed to the Well of Um Ibrāhīm and pray there, for that is where the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.) used to live and pray. Thereafter, proceed to the mosque of Faďīkh and pray two Rak’ah there, for your Prophet (s.a.a.w.) has prayed there. When you are finished (visiting the mosques) on this side of the city, proceed to the side of Uḥud. Start by going to the mosque that is below Ḥarrah and establish prayers there. Thereafter, proceed to the grave of Ḥamzah, the son of ‘Abdil Muťťalib (a.s.), and say Salām to him. Then go toward the graves of the rest of the martyrs of the Battle of Uḥud. Stand there and recite (the following): Salām to you, O inhabitants of the graves. You have preceded us and (soon) we shall join you. Thereafter, proceed to the mosque that is on the right side of the mountain (of Uḥud) and establish prayers there, for the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.) waited for the time of prayers and then prayed in this mosque before he moved toward the Battle of Uḥud to fight the polytheists. Then go back to the grave of the martyrs (of the Battle of Uḥud) and pray next to their graves as much as Allāh has written (willed) for you. Move toward the Mosque of Aḥzāb and establish prayers there, for the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.) prayed in that mosque on the day of the Battle of Aḥzāb and said: . O succour of the anguished ones! O fulfiller of the prayers of the distressed ones! O saviour of the heartbroken ones! Relieve me from my grief, my agony, my sadness, for You see my state and the state of my companions.