When relatives or friends come to stay, a visit to Masjid an-Nabawi is usually the highlight of their trip. As the local host, you can help them arrive prepared, behave with the right adab and avoid stressful mistakes. This guide covers what to tell guests before they go.
You can share our first-time guide to the Prophet’s Mosque with your guests before they arrive.
Quick answer
Short answer: Brief your guests before the visit. They should dress modestly and cleanly, keep their voices low, and follow the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah’s etiquette: enter with the right foot and leave with the left. Men and women use separate prayer areas. The Rawdah needs a permit booked on the official Nusuk app, with separate times for men and women.
Key takeaways
- One prayer in the Prophet’s Mosque is better than a thousand elsewhere, except Al-Masjid al-Haram (Sahih al-Bukhari 1190).
- Voices low: the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah urges calm, composed behaviour inside the mosque (Gulf News).
- Rawdah visits are booked through Nusuk; men and women book separately (my.gov.sa).
- Lost children offices are run inside the mosque, including in the women’s prayer halls (haj.gov.sa).
Why preparation matters
Guests often arrive tired from travel and excited to pray. A few minutes of briefing at home helps them focus on worship rather than on finding gates, shoes or each other.
Remind them of the reward. Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “One prayer in my Mosque is better than one thousand prayers in any other mosque excepting Al-Masjid-Al-Haram.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1190, sunnah.com)
That reward is a good reason to plan visits around prayer times, rather than squeezing them between shopping trips.
Dress and personal preparation
Allah says: “O Children of Adam! Dress properly whenever you are at worship.” (Qur’an, Al-A’raf 7:31, quran.com) For guests, that means clean, modest, comfortable clothes suited to long periods of sitting and walking.
Practical points to share:
- Loose, modest clothing. Women should wear their usual Islamic dress for the mosque; men should avoid shorts and sleeveless tops.
- Shoes that slip off easily, plus a small bag to carry them.
- Fresh breath. The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever eats garlic or onion should keep away from the mosque (Sahih al-Bukhari 855). Plan meals with this in mind.
- Wudu at home where possible, to save time at busy facilities.
Adab inside the mosque
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has published simple etiquette for visitors. It is worth reading through it with your guests before you leave the house.
Etiquette to share with guests
1
Enter with the right foot and say the supplication for entering the mosque.
2
Lower your voice and keep calm, composed behaviour throughout.
3
Greet the Prophet ﷺ and his companions Abu Bakr and Umar with peace as you pass the sacred chamber, then move on so others can follow.
4
Avoid disturbing others, whether by pushing, phone calls or long conversations.
5
Leave with the left foot and say the supplication for leaving.
Respect for quiet here has deep roots. Al-Sa’ib bin Yazid reported that ‘Umar bin al-Khattab rebuked two visitors from Ta’if for raising their voices in the Prophet’s Mosque (Sahih al-Bukhari 470).
Note
Keep to mainstream, ordinary acts of worship: prayer, Qur’an, dhikr and greeting the Prophet ﷺ with peace. Follow staff instructions at all times, and don’t let guests be pressured by anyone offering paid “guided” rituals.
Men’s and women’s areas
Men and women pray in separate areas of the mosque, and some gates and facilities differ. Agree on this before you set off, especially if the family will split up.
Choose a clear meeting point outside, such as a numbered gate, and a fixed time after the prayer. Phones can be hard to hear in crowds, so a pre-agreed plan works better than calling.
The mosque has offices for the welfare of lost children, including a main office at the Baqi wall opposite courtyard door 34C and offices in the eastern and western women’s prayer halls, according to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. Show children their meeting gate and teach them to ask staff for help.
Tip
Write your phone number on a card in each child’s pocket. Elderly guests may also appreciate the mosque’s prayer chairs and the vehicles for people with special needs listed by the ministry.
Planning a Rawdah visit for guests
Abu Huraira reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Between my house and my pulpit there is a garden of the gardens of Paradise.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1196) Many guests hope to pray there.
Visits to Ar-Rawdah Ash-Sharifah need a permit booked through the official Nusuk app. Men and women have separate booking options and times, so each guest usually needs their own slot. Our step-by-step Rawdah permit guide explains the booking process.
The ministry has also asked Rawdah visitors to arrive at their appointment, avoid raising their voices, not bring food, avoid being busy with photos or filming, and not stay beyond their allotted time.
Before guests leave for the mosque
- Modest, clean clothing and easy-off shoes
- Wudu done at home if possible
- Rawdah permit open in Nusuk (if booked)
- Meeting gate and time agreed
- Children carry a card with your number
- Water for the walk, especially in hot months
Practical hosting tips
Getting there. Parking under the mosque is large but fills up at peak times. Many hosts drop guests off or use public transport; our transport guide covers the options.
Timing. Fridays and the last ten nights of Ramadan are especially busy. Older guests often find quieter prayers more comfortable.
Photos. A quick photo in the courtyard is common, but never at the expense of worshippers. Inside, encourage guests to put phones away and focus on prayer.
If guests have an extra day, a calm morning at Quba Mosque fits well; see our family weekend guide.
General information, last checked 6 October 2026. Rules for the Prophet’s Mosque and the Rawdah are set by the authorities and can change. Always follow official guidance and staff instructions.
Sources
- https://haj.gov.sa/en/Al-Madinah-Al-Munawwarah/Information-About-the-Prophets-Mosque?masjidNabawiInfoTab=mosque-services
- https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/saudi/saudi-arabia-issues-etiquette-guidelines-for-visitors-to-the-prophets-mosque-in-medina-1.500172852
- https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/saudi/dos-and-donts-saudi-arabia-notifies-code-of-conduct-for-visitors-at-al-rawda-al-sherifa-in-medina-1.98530089
- https://my.gov.sa/en/services/24395
- https://sunnah.com/bukhari:1190
- https://sunnah.com/bukhari:1196
- https://sunnah.com/bukhari:470
- https://sunnah.com/bukhari:855
- https://quran.com/7/31