The bus will leave Jeddah and make one/ two stops before Hijri (Government Bus Depot) outside Madinah. The toilet facilities are not good but are improving. Food is adequately available at these stops. At Hijri, the stop is +- 1 hour, your passports are processed. If you are delayed at Hijri then know that there are adequate toilet, wudhu, Salaat, café and medical facilities present inside the building.

However, when you alight make sure you know how to return to your Bus. All the busses and drivers look alike. Note the number of the bus, where the bus finally stopped. Use permanent markers as guides not food vendors who are constantly moving.

The above paragraph also applies to journey from Madinah to Makkah when the bus will stop at Hijri and then at “Zul Hulaifah”, where one adorns the Ihraam for Umrah. After Hijri the officials will give you a slip of paper. Keep this safely for it contains information where and in which bag/ section your passport is safely stored.

Your agent will ask you to write your name as it appears on the passport and passport number on the slip of paper. When he draws the manifest for his passengers to leave for Makkah, this information will be useful in locating and mobilizing your passport for the journey to Makkah.

The bus stops so that Salaat can be performed and meals taken. This is an ideal place to feed Hujjaj of other countries. Last year (2002), I was extremely hungry and was eating a meal of curry and rice at 3 riyals in that a huge group of Hujjaj entered the restaurant but due to their tight budget they could not release 1 riyal for a meal. This is a typical case of most Hujjaj. Thus the affluent should feed such Hujjaj and Allaah will reward you abundantly.

See that your luggage is off loaded. The bus driver on the instruction of the “Adilla” - the name of the “Mohassah” in Madinah will take you to your hotel. First rest and if Salaat is being performed, join in. After resting, take ghusl, put good clothing on, apply perfume (itr), then with full humility go to present your Salaat wa Salaam to Nabi.

There is great reward in performing Salaat with Jamaat in the Masjid-e-Nabawi r.It is related in a Hadith that Rasulullaah r said that the reward of one Salaat with Jamaat, in my Masjid, is greater than a thousand Salaats (anywhere else),with the exception of Masjid-e-Haraam. The reward of the Salaat with Jamaat in the Masjid-e-Haram is more superior by hundred thousand.

(Al-Targheeb Wat Tarheeb).

Hadhrat Anas t narrates from Rasulullaah r that whosoever reads forty Salaats in My Masjid without missing one,it will be written for him that he is free from Hell (Jahannam),and free from punishment and free from Nifaaq (Hypocrisy). (Narrated by Ahmed and is reliable - as in Targheeb Wat Tarheeb Lil Munzari - Vol 2 - pg 215)

Hadhrat Aseed bin Zaheer Ansaari t narrates that Rasulullaah r said that one Salaat in Masjid-e-Quba is equal to one Umrah.

(narrated by Tirmidhi and it is said to be good and rare ).

Hadhrat Sahl bin Haneef t narrates that Rasulullaah r said that whosoever made purity (i.e. wudhu) and then came to Masjid-e-Quba and performed any Salaat there, then he has received the reward equal to one Umrah. (narrated by Ahmed, Nisai, Ibn-e-Maajah, Hakim and it is said with reliable chain of narrators,as in Targheeb Vol 2 - pg 218.)

Near Masjid-e-Nabawi r, lies the famous graveyard of Madinah Munawwarah called Jannatul Baqee. Visit this place also and at the time of visiting, present Salaam in this manner:- "Salaam upon those staying here who are Mo'mins and Muslims and Allaah's Mercy be upon those preceding (us) and coming after (us) and if Allaah wills ( Inshaa-Allaah ) we also will be definitely meeting you".

Thousands of Sahaabah, Taabi-een and the Pious Predecessors are buried in Jannahul Baqee. Amongst them are the son-in-law of Rasulullaah r, Hadhrat Uthman Ghani t, Rasulullaah r's uncle Hadhrat Abbaas t, his r's grandson, Hadhrat Hasan bin Ali r and Rasulullaah r's son Hadhrat Ibraaheem, and his daughters, Ruqayyaah, Zainab, Umme Kulthum and his aunties and pure wives and his special attendant, Abdullah bin Masood and Abdur-Rahmaan bin Auf t and Hadhrat Sa'd bin Abi Waqqaas t are buried there and according to one narration Hadhrat Sayyidah Faatimah's grave is also there.

During your stay in Madinah Munawwarah, it is good to go to Uhud, which is the name of a mountain. Rasulullaah r said, "Uhud loves us and we love it." (At-Targheeb Vol 2 pg 230.)

In the third Hijri, there was a battle near Uhud. The polytheists of Makkah Mukarramah, attacked the Muslims. Rasulullaah r and the Sahaabah t fought back and seventy Sahaabah t were martyred at that time.

Rasulullaah r was also injured. The enemies wounded him and his uncle Hadhrat Hamzah bin Abdul Mutallib t, was martyred. The graves of those who were martyred are in one section of the graveyard. Walls have been constructed on all sides .The door is netted so that one can see through, but always locked.

The graves of Hadhrat Hamzah and Hadhrat Mus'ab bin Umair t, can be seen from the outside and are away from the door. The graves of the other great personalities are near the walls. When present here, make Salaam with the same words which are used for Jannahul-Baqee.

"And Allaah is the One who gives ability and help.

Completed in goodness and All Praise is due to Allaah, the Rabb of the entire universe."

After practically, every Fardh Salaat an announcement is made for the performance of Salaat ul Janaaza. So after Fardh Salaat as normal raise your hands and make duaa, although those around you will not do so. Whilst making duaa the call for Salaat ul Janaaza will be made. “Rajul” - man, “Amwaat”- many, “Tifil” - child. The ladies may also perform the Salaat ul Janaaza behind the Imaam in both Harams. Between the Fardh Salaat and the Salaat ul Janaazah one may read ONLY the tasbeeh e ghurba – wrongly known as Tasbeeh e Faatimah i.e. 33 Subhaanallaah, 33 Alhamdulillaah, 34 Allahu Akbar.

The procedure of Jumuah is as follows: try to go as early as possible to get place. Read the Quraan and make zikr. As soon as Zawaal expires, Adhaan will be given then a +- 4 minute break, perform your 4 rakaat Sunantul Muakkidah, then the Imaam will greet the congregation with As Salaam u Alaikum and another Adhaan will be given, followed by two Khutbas and then 2 Rakaats of Salaat of Jumuah. Then you can complete your remaining Salaat i.e. 4 Rakaats Sunnat Muakkidah and 2 Rakaats Sunnat e Ghair Muakkidah and 2

Nafl. Be cautious do not read Salaat of Jumuah without wudhu.

Generally your guide will take you on a visit to various historical sites in Madinah. Taking you to various Masjids and Uhud and then to the date market. Try to go to Masjid e Quba on Saturday walking or by bus/conveyance and Masjid e Qiblatain on Thursday. We will list a few Masjids with a very short history of each and some new photos.

We include a diagram and some aerial new photos of Janatul Baqi.

Also some notes on those blessed ones who are buried there. The women are not allowed to visit Baqi.

Find some new shots of some important areas in the Masjids and a brief history of the pillars of significance found therein. It is good to perform 40 congregational Salaats in Masjid e Nabawi r. However, it is not Fardh, Waajib or Sunnat. If not done there is no sin. It is not Fardh/ Waajib or Sunnat to perform Salaat in the “Rawdah garden of Jannat”.

Avoid taking shopping lists of people, especially relatives and friends. Firstly, you will inevitably buy the wrong item, secondly, it will waste your valuable time, and thirdly, it will eventually create ill feeling between you and those who sent you with the list. It is permissible to shop. Make the intention of helping/ aiding the people of both these cities. Avoid jewellery shopping especially for others. Know that you may have to pay for overweight and do not spend so much that you do not have money for Damm e Shukr etc.

Men can present Salaat was Salaam most of the times. In 2002, the Masjid e Nabawi r was kept open till 11pm, thus between 10pm to 11pm was the best time for Ziyaarat. Women times are constantly changing. So inquire from the reception for the latest changes. It looks like Government policy to discharge ladies making Ziyaarat.

Ziyaarat for ladies is becoming very tedious and also dangerous at times. It is Fardh to protect one’s life and Mustahab to go for Ziyaarat.

In Madinah the ladies section is properly demarcated and ladies may go to the Masjid for Salaat. If they perform in their hotel rooms, it is better. In Makkah, although the ladies section is marked, the large crowds lessen the system and supervision. It is better that the ladies perform in their hotel rooms. In both cases once the crowds swell and touching becomes inevitable, then definitely during those times ladies should perform Salaat in their hotel rooms. The situation gets to such a level of chaos in the Haram of Makkah that maybe some one may rule that the men should stay at home due to fear of being overridden by women.

Besides shopping do the following:- 1.) Perform Salaat with Jamaat, constantly – in fact learn how to perform 2/ 3/ 4 Rakaats of Salaat as Salaat ought to be made. Learn how to perform Salaat ul Janaaza as well.

2.) Try to complete at least one Khattam of Quraan in Masjid e Nabawi r, if you go early to the Masjid, you can read ½ juz/para before the Fardh Salaat and ½ juz/para after Sunnat of the Fardh Salaat or after Fajr or Asr, so that Quraan is read and one is not wasting time in the outflow of the Masjid.

3.) Read Durood in Abundance.

4.) Make Ziyaarat of the grave of Nabi r / Hadhrat Abu Bakr t/ Hadhrat Umar t as often as possible.

5.) Make Ziyaarat of Jannatul Baqi 6.) Visit the places of Historical significance in Madinah.

7.) Walk to Masjid e Quba.

8.) Give charity.

9.) Feed the poor.

10.) Study and educate yourself – for you have a lot of time on your hands.

1.) In the Masjid, the blue covered Quraans have the same Arabic script that we use; this is the same in Makkah.

2.) There is a normal time gap between Adhaan and Iqaamat, this gap decreases as the crowd increases, this is the same in Makkah.

3.) The Masjid in Madinah closes, not so in Makkah.

4.) The Bazaars in Madinah close early, not so in Makkah during the last few days before Hajj.