Sayyid wa sanadi Shaykh Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) entered the Prophet’s mosque just prior to the prayer call for magrib. He took care to place his right foot inside the mosque first while removing the left shoe from his feet. He recited the Sunna prayers for entering the mosque. After the adhan he prayed the two cycles for the salutation of the mosque (tahiyet al-masjid).

After the fardh and Sunna prayers he proceeded to the blessed mawahjah shareef. Standing very humbly near the pillars in front of the Prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) chamber he recited salat-o-salam in a barely audible voice. His body language and demeanor was that of absolute humility, propriety and necessitousness. Sometimes his hands were by his sides and at others folded in front of him. He stayed like this for five to seven minutes. Then he proceeded to greet the khulafa Sayidina Abu Bakr and Sayidena Umar Farooq (Allah be pleased with them) respectively. This was brief. He then proceed to the extreme left of the front rows and facing qibla with his hand raised (as in dua) he made supplications for a long duration. It was almost 15 minutes duration. Finding an empty spot in second row he sat down to recite Quran and completed the awabeen nawafil.

Immediately after the fardh of esha he exited the mosque from Bab al-Baqi’ and reentered from Bab an-Nisa. He made sure not to pass in front of the individuals who were praying (salah). Finding a suitable spot beside the Suffa he completed his remaining prayers and when there was space on the Suffa he proceeded to pray there.

As the visiting time for the women was near the area was being evacuated and cordoned off. He proceed to the Riyadh al-Jannah. However, there was no space available so he prayed besides the blessed pulpit of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Once a spot became available he moved to the Riyadh al-Jannah to complete his prayers.

On the way back from the mosque he told his son Mufti Dr. Imran Ashraf Usmani (Allah preserve him) that my master Shaykh Mawlana Masihullah (Allah sanctify his secret) instructed (wasiyah) me  that whenever you visit the Prophet’s mosque try to spend some time on the blessed Suffa. Whereas, my other Shaykh Dr. Abdul Hayy (Allah have mercy on him) instructed to keep the salutations in front of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) concise and this is what I have found to be the recommendation of most of the scholars. He also instructed to pray salah with congregation in the front rows and to do additional worship while in the blessed mosque even if it was not from one’s usual routine.

Medinah e munawwarah, Thursday 20th January 2011