The Sunnah of Tabarruk at Holy Places

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

During the night of the Mi’raj, the Prophet (s.a.w.), accompanied by Jibril (a.s.), travelled until they reached a land filled with date palms.  Jibril (a.s.) said to the Prophet (s.a.w.), “Alight, and pray here.”  He did so and remounted, then Jibril (a.s.) asked, “Do you know where you prayed?”  He said no.  Jibril (a.s.) said, “You prayed in a thaybah, and the Migration will take place there.”  “Thaybah” is pastureland. 

The Buraq continued his lightning flight, placing his hooves wherever his gaze could reach.  Jibril (a.s.) then said again, “Alight and pray here.”  He did so and remounted, then Jibril (a.s.) asked, “Do you know where you prayed?”  He said no.  Jibril (a.s.) said, “You prayed in Madyan, at the tree of Musa.”  Madyan was a city on the shore of the Red Sea bordering Tabuk, near the valley of Shu’ayb (a.s.).  This was the tree where Musa (a.s.) rested from fatigue and hunger during his flight from Pharaoh. 

The Buraq continued his lightning flight.  Then Jibril (a.s.) said again, “Alight and pray here.”  He did so and remounted, then Jibril (a.s.) asked, “Do you know where you prayed?”  He said no.  Jibril (a.s.) said, “You prayed at the mountain of Sinai where Allah (s.w.t.) Addressed Musa.” 

Then he reached a land where the palaces of Sham became visible to him.  Jibril (a.s.) said to him, “Alight and pray.”  He did so and remounted.  Then the Buraq continued his lightning flight and Jibril (a.s.) asked, “Do you know where you prayed?”  He said no.  Jibril (a.s.) said, “You prayed in Bayt Lahm, where ‘Isa ibn Maryam was born.”  “Bayt Lahm” is another name for Bethlehem. 

All this is proof that it is a sunnah to perform two raka’at at places of significance, and to use the barakah of these places as tabarruk.