Bathing before entering Mecca
21 – Whoever is able to bathe before entry should do so, and he should enter by daylight, following the example of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.³
22 – He is recommended to approach from the upper side of the city where today stands Bāb al-Maʿlā, for the Prophet ﷺ came in through the upper pass of “Kadāʾ,”⁴ which overlooks the cemetery, and he entered the Mosque through the Gate of Banū Shaybah. This is the nearest route to the Black Stone.
23 – However, he may enter by whichever road he prefers, for the Prophet ﷺ said, “All the mountain passes of Mecca are pathways and places of sacrifice,” and in another hadith, “The whole of Mecca is a pathway: one enters from here and leaves from there.”⁵
24 – When you enter the Mosque, do not forget to step in with your right foot⁶ and say: “O Allah, bless Muhammad and grant him peace. O Allah, open for me the gates of Your mercy.”⁷