Utilizing the vacation to visit the two Holy Sanctuaries.

The Shaykh : Second: People have various options during this vacation, each person choosing a different path. Some go to the Prophet’s Mosque and the Sacred Mosque to spend the vacation there with their families in the most noble of Allah’s places. Prayer in the Prophet’s Mosque (peace and blessings be upon him) is better than a thousand prayers anywhere else, except the Sacred Mosque, where prayer is worth a hundred thousand prayers. They take advantage of this opportunity, and they also take advantage of another opportunity, which is the warmth, because the two Sanctuaries, and especially Makkah, are warmer than Najd, as is observed and known. They take advantage of this opportunity. We are discussing what is required of them if they choose this path and take this direction. We say: Which do you want to start with, Makkah or Madinah? The answer to this question depends on which is better: 'Umrah or visiting the Prophet’s Mosque? The answer is that 'Umrah is better than visiting the Prophet’s Mosque. Therefore, the rule is to start with the better before the lesser; start with 'Umrah, then with the visit to the Prophet’s Mosque. However, it may not be easy for a person to start with 'Umrah before visiting the Prophet’s Mosque in terms of the route. One might say, “The road to Madinah is easier for me if I am in al-Qasim.” A person is required to follow the easier path, and I will perform 'Umrah, but in the second instance. So we say that the matter is broad; it is permissible to start with this or that. However, it is necessary for us to know the rulings regarding 'Umrah and the rulings regarding the visit.