The Sunnah for One Who Visits al-Madinah al-Munawwarah

Question: If a person travels to al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, is it obligatory for him to greet the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and his two companions (may Allah be pleased with them), or is it not? And if he wishes to greet them, what is the correct method for doing so? I mean: Is it necessary to initiate the greeting to them immediately, or is there no harm in delaying it? And is it necessary to enter from outside the mosque so that they are on his right, or is there no harm in greeting them while he is outside the mosque, in which case they will be on his left? What is the Sharia-compliant formula for the greeting, and are men and women equal in this regard? Please guide us, may Allah reward you with good.

Answer: The Sunnah for one who visits al-Madinah al-Munawwarah is to begin with the Prophet’s Mosque, where he prays two rak'ahs. It is better to perform them in the Prophet’s Garden if that is possible, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): . Then he goes to the noble grave and greets the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his two companions: Abu Bakr and 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them), from the direction of the qiblah, facing them directly. The description of the greeting is that he says: "Peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allah, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings." If he adds, he says: "May Allah send prayers and peace upon you and upon your family and your companions, and may Allah reward you for your Ummah with the best. O Allah, grant him the intercession and the excellence, and raise him to the Praiseworthy Station which You have promised him." There is no harm in this.
Then he steps back slightly to his right and greets al-Siddiq, saying: "Peace be upon you, O Abu Bakr, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. May Allah be pleased with you, and may He reward you for the Ummah of Muhammad with the best." Then he steps back slightly to his right again and greets 'Umar (may Allah have mercy on him) in the same manner as his greeting to al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with them both).
It is established in the authentic hadiths from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: .
It is established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: , agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim.
It is established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: . And it was the practice of the one upon whom are prayers and peace to teach his companions that when they visit graves, they should say: .
This visitation is specific to men, whereas it is not permissible for women to visit graves; because he (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed those who visit graves, and this includes his grave (peace and blessings be upon him) and others. However, it is prescribed for both men and women to frequently send prayers and peace upon the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in every place, due to the generality of the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Ahzab: 56], and the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): . The hadiths regarding the virtue of sending prayers upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) are numerous.
There is no blame on women for praying in his Mosque (peace and blessings be upon him) and other mosques, but their homes are better for them and more excellent, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): , and because that is more concealing for them and further from fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) for them and regarding them. And success is from Allah.