IN

Madinatul Munawwarrah

Total stay in Madinah maybe restricted to no more than ten days by the authorities if you go after Hajj.

Entrances Into the Haram

There are specific entrances for men and women, unlike in Makkah.

Women entrance door numbers are 12, 13, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 29.

Young boys, irrespective of age, (except for infants in arms), are not allowed with their mothers to enter the female section of the Mosque!

Rooftop access of the Haram is restricted to men only and is via escalators and staircases located near doors number 6, 10, 15, 27 and 31.

Wheelchair access is easy as all the major doors have ramps.

Toilet, Wudhu & Shower Facilities

These are dotted all around the Haram and are located at an underground level.  Women’s facilities are near doors number 12, 13, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26 & 29 while men’s facilities are near doors number 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 14, 16 till 21 (inclusive), 32 & 38.

 General

The Haram closes about 0.5-1 hour after Esha and re-opens about an hour before Tahajjud Azaan during the Hajj season.  During the rest of the year, (except Ramadhaan - when it is open right throughout the day and night), the Haram closes about 45 minutes after Esha and only re-opens about 30 minutes before the Tahajjud Azaan.

Do not waste your time standing near Bab-e-Jibreel for this door to open around Tahajjud time as other doors are opened first and Bab-e-Jibreel last!  From other people's experience it seems that Bab-us-Siddique seems to be opened first.  This door is situated in the western wall of the Masjid and till today, with the various extensions done to the Masjid, this door has been maintained in the same line as the original Bab-us-Siddique!

After Esha do not rush to go for supper, shopping or to the Roz-e-Mubaarak, but stay in the Haram, engaging oneself in Zikr etc. for about 10-15 minutes, then proceed to the Roz-e-Mubaarak - usually this tends to be one of the quieter periods at the Roz-e-Mubaarak.

If you leave the Masjid after Esha hoping to re-enter a while later then the security personnel at the entrances of the Masjid may not allow you re-entry!  However, this does not apply in Ramadhaan.

Roz-e-Mubaarak

At the Roz-e-Mubaarak do not stand with the arms folded at the navel as the authorities on duty will assume you are in Salaat whilst facing the Hujra!  They will make all sorts of comments in Arabic to desist you from doing so and this can be quite embarrassing; thus just keep your arms hanging down by your sides.

Similarly, when making Duaa at the Roz-e-Mubaarak, do not face the Hujra, as the authorities on duty will again assume that you are supplicating to our beloved Prophet, Muhammad, (Peace Be Upon Him).  Thus after conveying the salaams, either turn towards the Qibla, (if possible in this mass of humanity), or better still, proceed to any other portion of the Haram in order to make Duaa.

Recommended Times for the Roz-e-Mubaarak

After Fajr/Ishraaq, one tends to go to sleep, only to get up for Zuhr Salaat. However, the period from Ishraaq till about 11.00 AM is also relatively quiet at the Roz-e-Mubaarak.  (This time is also the ladies’ time at the Roz-e-Mubaarak, where they are screened off from the males). Of late, ladies' Ziyyaarat is becoming dangerous at times because of crowds. 

However, this seems to have been overcome lately by the authorities. They now group the ladies in specific nationalities either outside the Haram,( in the courtyard near the Central Area), or inside the Haram during the ladies' time. A female leader who speaks the group's language then instructs them before the guided tour begins.  This Ziyaarat of the Roze Mubaarak is then conducted in a one way fashion through an artificially-created maze of passages.  This tour is timed in such a way that there is minimal crowding at the Roze Mubaarak.

The period after Zuhr, till about 3.00 PM / 3.30 PM is also a quiet period at the Roz-e-Mubaarak, as this is also the ladies’ time.  (Ladies are not allowed at the Roz-e-Mubaarak apart from the two ladies’ times stipulated above).

However, the ladies could give their salaams from outside the Haram Shareef during those times they are not allowed at the Roz-e-Mubaarak.

Qur'aans

Qur’aans neatly stacked in shelves according to size and different text.  “Pakistani” version is stacked in the bottom left hand corner of the low shelves.

Azaan & Jamaat Timings and Janaazaa Salaat

Azaan times are fixed and are displayed in the Haram at convenient places, with Tahajjud Azaan being one hour before Fajr Azaan.  Jamaat times are neither displayed nor fixed.  They vary from day to day and the time between Azaan and Jamaat gets shorter and shorter as Hajj approaches.

Wall clocks display both Arabic time, (which is 00:00hrs. at Maghrib Azaan and 01:30hrs. at Esha Azaan), and also the time you are used to on your watches.

Janaazaa Salaat is invariably announced, in Arabic, straight after Farz Salaat.  You may not be able to determine whether this Salaat is for an immature boy, immature girl or an adult.

Juma Zuhr Salaat

Juma Zuhr Salaat can be very congested and exit time can be prolonged due to the throng of people.  When the crowds get larger the rooftop is opened for prayers.  The first Khutba on Juma is very lengthy, (about twenty five to thirty minutes), and the second one is usually only five to ten minutes!

Zam zam Water Coolers

Water coolers, (iced and non-iced), of Zam Zam water dotted all over the Haram.  Non-iced water coolers are marked with a blue Arabic writing.  One can also fill up one’s container with Zam Zam water from the western section of the Haram near Door No 8.

Jannatul Baqi

Jannatul Baqi opens for about an hour after Fajr, and for an hour after Asr, daily.  Ladies are strictly forbidden here.

Shopping

Do most, if not all, of your shopping in Madinah, as it is very pleasant to do so and not as hectic as Makkah.  In addition, one is free after Esha, (as the Haram is closed), and it is much cooler.

Ziyaarat

Ziyaarat guides, both English and Urdu speaking, available.  Make inquiries with your hotel reception.

Do not be tempted to go for Ziyaarat on Fridays as you may miss your Juma Salaat in the Haram Shareef due to special traffic regulations effected only on Fridays.  These regulations can result in massive traffic jams.

Dates Market

Do not waste your time by going to the “DATES MARKET” to purchase dates at so-called “wholesale prices”, because when the taxi fare is incorporated into the total cost, you will realize that it would have been easier, quicker and cheaper to buy them from town stalls.

Cargo Facilities

Cargo facilities for dates, Mussallahs etc. are available at most hotels.  Remember, do not cargo Zam Zam, as it tends to be intercepted in Saudi Arabia and you will lose your  money.

Madinah Central Area

Try to secure accommodation in or around Taibah Residential Apartments as this area is very close to the Haram, ladies entrance to the Haram is conveniently situated, virtually no roads to cross, clean public ablution blocks for both genders very near and many essential services in  and around these residential blocks.  However, to get to the Roz-e-Mubaarak from here is quite a distance as you have to traverse the whole length of the Masjid to get to it.

 Internal Transportation

All your transportation would have been paid for in advance and arranged by your agent as per the new visa regulations.

Should the need arise, you can arrange for your own transportation, either private air-conditioned coaches/buses/taxis/limousines or the buses operated by the Saudi Arabian Public Transport Company, (SAPTCO).

To locate the SAPTCO terminal, exit Masjid-e-Nabawi through the northern doors and you will be facing the “Central Area” which houses most of the new hotels.  Turn left at the door and cross the street where there is a traffic light and a tunnel.  The bus station is near this area.

The “yellow cabs” have Saudi Arabian drivers who do not speak anything but Arabic.  Their cabs are slightly cheaper than the white limousines and may not be air-conditioned or as new as the limousines.  Fares are usually negotiable except for those departing from the airports.

Ramadhaan

In Madinah  the routine changes similar to that found in Makkah, both for Ramadhaan and for Eid Day.

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