Roza e Rasool visiting time runs in fixed daily windows, split separately for men and women. Men may visit from 2:00 am until Fajr, and again from 11:20 am until Isha. Women visit after Fajr until 11:00 am, and again after Isha until 2:00 am. All visitors need a valid Nusuk permit before entering.
Most UK pilgrims find out too late
You have planned this trip for years. Flights booked from Birmingham or London Heathrow. Hotel sorted a short walk from Masjid an-Nabawi. You arrive in Madinah, heart full, and head straight toward the Rawdah. Then someone stops you. You need a permit. Your slot for today is already gone. The next available window is hours away.
That moment catches more UK pilgrims off guard than anything else on the trip.
The rules changed in late 2025. Saudi authorities introduced revised visiting hours and a mandatory digital permit system through the Nusuk platform. Understanding the schedule before you leave home is the single most useful thing you can do for this part of your journey.
What the Roza e Rasool actually is
The Roza e Rasool refers to the blessed burial chamber of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) inside Masjid an-Nabawi in Madinah. The area most pilgrims seek is the Rawdah, also known as Riyadul Jannah, which sits directly adjacent to the Prophet’s grave and extends toward the minbar.
Visiting here is one of the most spiritually significant moments of any Umrah or Hajj journey. Because millions of pilgrims from across the world pass through every year, the Saudi Presidency of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques now manages access through a structured, time-based permit system. This keeps the space dignified, safe, and accessible for everyone, including elderly pilgrims and families travelling from the UK.
The full visiting hours: Regular days (Saturday to Thursday)
For men, there are two daily windows. The first runs from 2:00 am through until Fajr prayer. The second, and longer window, opens at 11:20 am and stays open until Isha prayer.
For women, the schedule mirrors the men’s but in the opposite windows. The first slot opens after Fajr prayer and runs until 11:00 am. The second slot opens after Isha prayer and continues until 2:00 am.
Both groups have generous access across the day. The key is knowing your window in advance so you can plan salah times, meals, and rest around it.
The Friday schedule is different
Fridays run differently because of the Jumu’ah congregation, and it is worth knowing this before you arrive.
Men receive three slots on Friday. The first is from 2:00 am until Fajr. The second runs from 9:20 am until 11:20 am, before the Jumu’ah prayer begins. The third opens after Jumu’ah concludes and remains open until Isha.
Women have two slots on Friday. The first opens after Fajr and closes at 9:00 am. The second opens after Isha and runs through until 2:00 am.
A practical note for women travelling from the UK: the post-Isha window runs late into the night but is often the calmest and least crowded slot of the day. If your hotel sits within a five to ten minute walk from the mosque, as most accommodations near Bab as-Salam do, this window is very manageable.
Why the schedule changed for Roza e Rasool
Before late 2025, access to the Rawdah was more informal and crowd management was inconsistent. Saudi authorities revised the full system to reduce overcrowding, improve safety, and give every pilgrim a fair, calm opportunity to send salawat upon the Prophet (peace be upon him).
Entry is now only permitted through the southern courtyards in front of Makkah Gate 37 at Masjid an-Nabawi. Attempting to enter from other gates without a valid permit will result in being turned away by security.
Think of the permit less as a restriction and more as a protected slot that belongs to you. You are not competing against an unmanaged crowd. Your time at the Rawdah is yours.
How to book your Nusuk permit
The Nusuk app is the only official way to secure your Rawdah visiting slot. Download it at home in the UK, because sorting it out after landing in Madinah adds pressure you simply do not need.
Here is the exact process:
- Download the Nusuk app from the App Store or Google Play before you travel.
- Register using your passport details and the same information tied to your Umrah visa.
- Tap “Visit the Prophet’s Mosque” from the home screen.
- Select your date, gender, and preferred time window.
- Confirm the booking and screenshot your permit offline. Signal near the mosque can be poor, and a saved screenshot has saved many pilgrims from being turned away.
But here is the catch. If you arrive without a pre-booked slot, the Instant Track option inside the app lets you join a same-day queue if you are physically near Masjid an-Nabawi. During Ramadan or the weeks around Hajj, Instant Track fills up fast. Booking from home is always the safer route.
What the Rules Look Like on the Ground
Getting the permit is one thing. Knowing what to expect inside is another.
Dress code for men: clean, modest clothing is required (loose trousers and a plain top are fine). Ihram is not needed outside of active Umrah or Hajj rituals.
Dress code for women: a full abaya and hijab covering all hair and skin is required. Niqab is not compulsory but is widely worn and respected inside the mosque.
Both men and women must remove footwear before entering. Carry shoes in a bag or use the storage facilities near Gate 37.
Moving along, behaviour inside the Rawdah area is closely monitored. Loud voices, stopping abruptly on the walking path, and photography near the Prophet’s grave are all prohibited. Staff guide visitors along a fixed route, and the process moves steadily. You do not need to rush or push. Send your salawat as you walk, with calm and presence. That is the whole point of being there.
On phones: photography inside the Rawdah is strictly banned and security enforces this actively. Leave the camera for outside.
Tips That Actually Help UK Pilgrims
Most guides skip the practical stuff. We will not.
Jet lag will affect your timing. Saudi Arabia runs three hours ahead of UK BST. If you land and immediately try the 2:00 am men’s slot, your body may not cooperate. Give yourself one full day to adjust before going for a late-night or early-morning visit.
Pick your hotel with the walk in mind. Properties along King Abdul Aziz Road on the Qibla side of Masjid an-Nabawi put you five minutes from the main entrance gates (and that matters at 1:30 am).
Women: the post-Isha slot is worth it. It runs late but is consistently the calmest window of the day and the least crowded. Going with a group of women from your Umrah party makes it feel safe and spiritually focused. Many UK operators departing from Manchester, Birmingham, and London now brief their groups on the Nusuk system before travel. If yours has not done this, ask them before you fly.
Check the app every morning of your stay. Timings can shift during high-demand periods. A thirty-second check each day protects your entire plan.
May Allah Make your visit to Roza e Rasool full of blessing with ease and comfort. Aameen
If you book through a UK-based agency like Ziyuf Al Rahman, your consultant can send you a simple “day plan” that links your Roza e Rasool Schedule with your hotel breakfast, rest time, and other Ziyarahs in Madinah.
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