Etiquette of Ziyarah of the Prophet (s.a.w.)

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Imam Abu Zakariya Yahya ibn Sharaf an-Nawawi (r.a.), in describing the manners and etiquette of making pilgrimage to the shrine of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.), wrote, “The pilgrim should face the shrine of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.), make him a means towards reaching Allah (s.w.t.), and seek his wasilah as intercession, in the same manner as the Bedouin who visited the Prophet’s (s.a.w.) shrine and standing beside it said, ‘Peace unto you O Messenger of Allah, I have heard Allah (s.w.t.) Says: 

سُوۡرَةُ النِّسَاء

… وَلَوۡ أَنَّهُمۡ إِذ ظَّلَمُوٓاْ أَنفُسَهُمۡ جَآءُوكَ فَٱسۡتَغۡفَرُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱسۡتَغۡفَرَ لَهُمُ ٱلرَّسُولُ لَوَجَدُواْ ٱللَّهَ تَوَّابً۬ا رَّحِيمً۬ا (٦٤) 

… If they had only, when they were unjust to themselves come unto you and asked Allah’s Forgiveness and the Messenger had asked Forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah, indeed, Oft-Returning, Most Merciful. (Surah an-Nisa’:64) 

Therefore, I have come to you for Forgiveness of my sins and seeking your intercession with Allah (s.w.t.).’”