O Allah, forgive me my sins and open for me the gates of Your bounty.’”
Muslim also narrated in his Sahīh the supplication upon entering the mosque, asking Allah to open the gates of His mercy, and upon leaving, asking Allah for His bounty. This supplication is particularly emphasized when entering the Prophet’s Mosque, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Accordingly, scholars mention in their works on pilgrimage rites that those who come to his mosque should say it.
Thus, greeting him with peace is prescribed when entering and leaving the mosque, and within every prayer. This is better, more beneficial, and more constant than greeting him with peace at his grave. It is wholly beneficial, with no harmful consequence to fear. Allah is pleased with it and conveys its benefit to His Messenger and to the believers. It is prescribed in every prayer and when entering and leaving the mosque, unlike greeting him with peace at the grave.
Moreover, ever since he was buried, no one has been allowed to enter where his grave is, whether to visit, pray, supplicate, or for any other purpose. ʿĀ’ishah, however, lived there because it was her house. She remained apart from the graves: the graves were at the front of the chamber, while she was at its rear. The Companions did not enter that area.
During the Companions’ time, the chamber was outside the mosque, adjoining it. It was incorporated into the mosque only during the caliphate of al-Walīd ibn ʿAbd al-Malik ibn Marwān, after the deaths of the four ʿAbd Allāhs: Ibn ʿUmar, Ibn ʿAbbās, Ibn al-Zubayr, and Ibn ʿAmr. Indeed, this was after the deaths of all the Companions who had been in Medina, for the last to die there was Jābir ibn ʿAbd Allāh, a few years after