The Virtue of Prayer Inside the Hijr and in the Rawdah

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. A questioner says: What is the ruling on praying inside the Hijr of Isma'il and inside the Rawdah? Do they have a special virtue compared to other places?

Answer:
The one who prays inside the Hijr has prayed inside the Ka'bah. As for a voluntary prayer, there is no doubt that a voluntary prayer in the Ka'bah has a virtue, for the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) performed it. As for prayer in the Rawdah, the Messenger did not encourage prayer specifically in the Rawdah; rather, the Messenger encouraged prayer in his mosque in general. No, no, no. Currently, they publicize only the Rawdah and forget the mosque, the mosque of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). This is not permissible. Yes.