Traveling to Madinah to pray in Al-Masjid Al-Nabawy

Q: Is it permissible for someone to travel to visit Al-Masjid Al-Nabawy (the Prophet’s Noble Mosque) in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah while living in Makkah?

A: It is permissible for Muslims to travel to Al-Madinah to perform Salah (Prayer) at Al-Masjid Al-Nabawy. In fact, doing so is Mustahab (recommended) as the performance of one Salah in it is better than a thousand Salahs elsewhere with the exception of Al-Masjid Al-Haram (the Sacred Mosque). However, if the questioner is in Makkah, performing Salah at Al-Masjid Al-Haram is better than traveling to perform it at Al-Masjid Al-Nabawy, because one Salah at Al-Masjid Al-Haram is equal to a hundred thousand Salahs elsewhere. Moreover, it is not permissible to travel to Al-Madinah solely to visit the grave of the Prophet (peace be upon him) or any grave for he (peace be upon him) said in an authentic Hadith, Do not travel on a journey except to three mosques: Al-Masjid Al-Haram, this Masjid of mine, and Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa (the Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem) Related by Ahmad, Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, Al-Nasa'y, and Ibn Majah. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.