PRACTICAL GUIDE · RAWDAH MADINA
How to Visit the Rawdah —
Complete Pilgrim’s Guide
Everything you need to know before, during and after your Rawdah visit — from arriving at the gate to leaving with a changed heart. Covers men and women separately.
Covers Nusuk, Tawakalna, gate numbers, timings, etiquette
What this guide covers
Internal links — read these alongside this guide
- Not booked your permit yet? → rawdahmadinah.com/rawdah-permit-guide/ — Rawdah Permit Complete Booking Guide
- What to pray inside? → rawdahmadinah.com/duas-to-recite-in-rawdah/ — Duas & Spiritual Guide
- Want to understand the space? → rawdahmadinah.com/what-is-rawdah-madina/ — What is Rawdah Madina
How to Prepare on the Day of Your Rawdah Visit
The quality of your Rawdah visit is determined almost entirely by how well you prepare before you leave your hotel. Pilgrims who arrive calm, spiritually focused, and practically ready have a completely different experience from those who rush.
1. Confirm your permit the night before
Open your Nusuk or Tawakalna app the evening before your visit. Confirm your booking is still active and take a screenshot of the QR code permit. Save it to your phone’s camera roll — do not rely solely on the app being able to open at the gate. Network connectivity inside Masjid Nabawi can be slow due to millions of pilgrims using the same towers.
📎 Full guide: Rawdah Permit Complete Booking Guide → rawdahmadinah.com/rawdah-permit-guide/
Step-by-step Nusuk and Tawakalna booking — including what to do if slots are not available
2. Make wudhu at your hotel
Do not leave wudhu until you reach the mosque. Make a fresh ablution at your hotel before you leave. This means you arrive at Masjid Nabawi in a state of purity and can proceed directly to the Rawdah queue without delay.
3. Write your duas before you leave
You will have 15 to 20 minutes inside the Rawdah. In that time, emotion will overwhelm you. Write your duas — for yourself, your parents, your children, your health, your rizq, your guidance, and all Muslims — in a small notebook or phone notes before you leave the hotel.
📎 Full guide: Duas & Spiritual Guide — Complete Arabic duas with transliteration → rawdahmadinah.com/duas-to-recite-in-rawdah/
Complete duas in Arabic, transliteration and English — with a suggested sequence for your 15-20 minutes inside
4. Check your permit for gate number and time
Your permit specifies an exact entry gate and a time window. Note both before you leave. Men typically enter through Gate 37 or Gate 1. Women typically enter through Gate 25 or Gate 37. Arrive at your gate at least 10 to 15 minutes before your slot time.
5. Dress appropriately before leaving
Men: wear a thobe, shalwar kameez, or trousers with a modest top. Women: wear a full abaya and hijab. Do not plan to change at the mosque — arrive dressed correctly. Avoid strong perfume which can disturb other worshippers in the closely packed Rawdah area.
What to bring on the day
- Phone with QR code permit screenshot saved to camera roll
- Passport or ID matching the permit — guards may check
- Written dua list — notebook or phone notes
- Wudhu made fresh — do not delay it
- Comfortable modest clothing already on
- Small amount of water — long queues in heat are common during peak season
How to Get to Masjid Nabawi from Your Hotel
Most pilgrims stay within walking distance of Masjid Nabawi — the hotels surrounding the mosque are designed for this. Here is how to navigate to the correct entrance:
Walking from nearby hotels
If your hotel is within the Madinah Haram zone, you can walk directly to the mosque. Allow 10 to 20 minutes depending on your hotel’s distance. The green dome of the mosque is visible from most surrounding streets and acts as a natural landmark. Follow signage for ‘Masjid al-Nabawi’ or ‘Prophet’s Mosque’.
By taxi or bus from further hotels
Ask your driver to drop you at the gate number specified on your permit. Do not ask to be dropped at a general entrance — different gates serve different purposes and the wrong gate will add unnecessary time to your journey. Show the driver your permit if needed to clarify the gate number.
Finding your specific gate
|
Who |
Gate to use |
|---|---|
|
Men (general) |
The Noble Chamber (Hujrat al-Sharifah) — the room containing the Prophet’s ﷺ blessed grave, originally his home and the home of Sayyidah Aisha (RA) |
|
Men (alternative) |
The Minbar al-Nabawi — the Prophet’s pulpit, originally a three-step wooden structure built at the Prophet’s ﷺ request around 7 AH |
|
Women (general) |
A row of six historical pillars (Ustuwanaat) that mark the northern edge of the original mosque |
|
Women (alternative) |
The southern wall of the original mosque, now part of the expanded Masjid Nabawi structure |
|
Wheelchair users |
Inform any guard — accessible routes available from multiple gates |
Gates are clearly numbered on the mosque exterior. Security guards are stationed at every gate and will direct you if you are unsure. Do not be afraid to ask — they are experienced in managing large numbers of pilgrims and will help you find the correct entrance quickly.
What Happens at the Rawdah Entry Gate
The entry process is managed by security guards who are trained specifically for Rawdah access. Here is exactly what to expect:
- Join the queue at your designated gate. Queues form outside and can be long during peak times — Ramadan, Hajj season, and Friday afternoons are the busiest. Weekday mornings and post-Fajr slots are the calmest.
- When you reach the front, show your QR code permit to the guard. He will scan it with a handheld device. Make sure your screen brightness is turned up — low brightness can make QR codes difficult to scan.
- The guard will verify your permit and check it matches your ID if requested. Have both ready simultaneously.
- You will be directed into a holding area or straight into the mosque depending on how close your slot time is. If you arrive early you may wait briefly in an anteroom.
- Once directed inside, follow the guards’ guidance through the mosque to the Rawdah area. Do not wander or attempt to navigate independently — the guards know the most efficient route and will take you directly.
Common gate issues and how to handle them
- QR code not scanning — increase screen brightness, close and reopen the app, use your screenshot backup
- Guard says permit is invalid — calmly show your booking confirmation email as backup, ask to speak to a supervisor
- Arrived at wrong gate — show your permit to any guard and they will direct you to the correct entrance
- Queue is very long — join it calmly, the system is organised and moves steadily
What Happens Inside — A Minute by Minute Guide
When you step onto the green carpet of the Rawdah, you are standing in one of the most blessed spaces on earth. Here is exactly what to do and expect:
The moment you step on the green carpet
Pause for a few seconds. Lower your gaze. Let the reality of where you are settle in your heart. Many pilgrims become emotional at this point — do not suppress it. A weeping heart is a living heart. Begin immediately with salawat upon the Prophet ﷺ.
Praying two rakah nafl
If there is space, move to an area of the green carpet and pray two rakah of voluntary nafl prayer. This is one of the most spiritually significant acts you can perform inside the Rawdah. Face the qibla (towards Makkah), make your intention, and pray with full focus. If space does not allow, proceed directly to making dua.
Making your duas
Raise your hands and open your dua list. Work through your categories — yourself, parents, children, health, rizq, guidance, akhirah, and all Muslims. Speak each dua slowly. You do not need to rush — 15 minutes is enough time for a prepared pilgrim.
📎 Full guide: Duas & Spiritual Guide — Complete Arabic duas with transliteration → rawdahmadinah.com/duas-to-recite-in-rawdah/
Full duas in Arabic, transliteration and English — including Sayyidul Istighfar, Durood Ibrahim, and duas for parents, health, rizq and Jannah
When the guard signals your time is ending
A guard will signal when your time is up — usually with a gentle direction towards the exit. Begin moving when directed. Do not resist or ask for more time — the system is managing hundreds of pilgrims and your cooperation ensures others receive their time equally. As you leave, send a final salawat upon the Prophet ﷺ.
Suggested sequence for your 15-20 minutes inside
- 0:00 — Step onto the green carpet. Pause. Send salawat.
- 0:30 — Pray two rakah nafl if space allows (3-5 minutes)
- 4:00 — Open dua list. Begin making dua — yourself first
- 6:00 — Duas for parents, children, family
- 10:00 — Duas for health, rizq, guidance, akhirah
- 13:00 — Dua for all Muslims
- 15:00 — Close with salawat. Begin moving towards exit when directed
What to Do Immediately After Leaving the Rawdah
Your visit to the Rawdah does not end when you step off the green carpet. The spiritual state you carry out is precious — here is how to extend and honour it:
Visit the salaam area — send greetings to the Prophet ﷺ
After leaving the Rawdah, make your way to the area near the Noble Chamber where pilgrims send salam upon the Prophet ﷺ. Face the direction of the chamber and say: ‘Assalamu alayka ya Rasulallah wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.’ This is one of the most beloved acts a visitor to Madinah can perform.
Pray in Masjid Nabawi
One prayer in Masjid Nabawi equals 1,000 prayers anywhere else, except Masjid al-Haram in Makkah. After your Rawdah visit, remain in the mosque and pray your next salah here. This doubles the blessing of your journey.
“One prayer in my mosque is better than one thousand prayers elsewhere, except for Masjid al-Haram.”
— Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 1190
Make a personal commitment
Write down one change you will make in your life as a result of standing in the Rawdah. A visit that results in changed action is the truest sign of a dua made with sincerity. The Prophet ﷺ taught that deeds are the fruit of intention — your intention was planted inside, now let it grow in your daily life.
Special Guide for Women Visiting the Rawdah
Women visiting the Rawdah have separate timings, designated entry gates, and specific areas within the Rawdah. This section covers everything women need to know for a smooth and spiritually fulfilling visit.
Women’s visiting timings
|
Day |
Timing for women |
|---|---|
|
Saturday – Thursday |
2:00 AM – Fajr prayer |
|
Saturday – Thursday |
9:20 AM – 11:20 AM |
|
Friday |
After Fajr prayer until 9:00 AM |
|
Best time |
Early morning (2 AM – Fajr) — least crowded |
|
Entry gates |
Gate 25 or Gate 37 at women-only times |
Suggested sequence for your 15-20 minutes inside
- 0:00 — Step onto the green carpet. Pause. Send salawat.
- 0:30 — Pray two rakah nafl if space allows (3-5 minutes)
- 4:00 — Open dua list. Begin making dua — yourself first
- 6:00 — Duas for parents, children, family
- 10:00 — Duas for health, rizq, guidance, akhirah
- 13:00 — Dua for all Muslims
- 15:00 — Close with salawat. Begin moving towards exit when directed
Elderly Pilgrims, Wheelchair Users and Families
Elderly and mobility-limited pilgrims
Masjid Nabawi has extensive accessibility provisions. Wheelchairs are available at multiple entrance points. If you or someone in your group has mobility limitations, inform a security guard at the gate before joining the standard queue — there are often accessible routes and priority access arrangements available.
The Rawdah itself has a flat floor. The transition from the main mosque carpet to the green Rawdah carpet involves no steps. Wheelchair users can access the Rawdah area directly.
Families with children
Children under approximately 10 years of age may enter with a parent holding a valid permit. Each adult may bring one young child. Older children require their own permit. If you are visiting with young children, book the post-Fajr morning slot which tends to be calmer than evening slots.
Visiting during Ramadan
During Ramadan the Rawdah is at its most spiritually electric — and its most crowded. Slots fill within minutes of release (usually Thursday/Friday Fajr time on Nusuk and Tawakalna). The 45-day rule still applies. If you plan to visit Madinah during Ramadan, check for slots the moment you confirm your travel dates.
Visiting during Hajj season
During Hajj season millions of pilgrims are in or near Madinah simultaneously. The permit system becomes extremely competitive. Book as early as possible — do not assume you will find a slot when you arrive. Many Hajj packages include group Rawdah access through official channels — ask your tour operator.