Prayers

1. In both The Sacred Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, janazah prayer is conducted after almost every congregational prayer. Learn this prayer before you leave for The Holy Land so that there will be greater depth to your participation in this prayer.

 2. Some pilgrims bring prayer mats to the mosque. Instead of moving forward to fill the spaces before the prayer session begins, some just stand on their own mat and thus block the forward movement of others. This is incorrect mosque etiquette.

 3. If you wish to pray the Friday jumu'ah prayer inside The Two Holy Mosques during The Hajj period, you should enter the mosques at least 2 1/2 hours before the azan. 

 4. The majority of those who attend the maghrib prayer in Masjid Al-Haram  remain there for the isha  prayer. Given the packed environment, you'll be wasting a lot of time in leaving the mosque after maghrib and trying to reenter before isha. It is better to remain inside and engage in other types of worship. There is ample time to do tawaf between the two prayer sessions.

 5. Do not sit at the entrances to the mosque and in the walkways. Such inconsiderate behaviour blocks others from making use of vacant spaces. Even during peak periods, about 5 to 10% of mosque space is unutilized because of this inconsiderate behaviour. 

 6. If you end up praying at the entrances or in the walkways, move away immediately after the end of the congregational prayer. Do not continue your worship (e.g. recitation of dua') in the same place as you will block the passage of others trying to exit from the mosque. This inconsiderate behaviour is rampant in both mosques. It is important that pilgrims are briefed correctly before they leave for The Holy Land.

 7. It is common for those wearing glasses to remove it and place it in front before starting their prayer. Never do this in both mosques. The likelihood of your glasses being stepped on by others is 99%.

 8. After finishing your prayer, extend your hand of greetings to those sitting near you. Mention your name and country to them. This creates an atmosphere of friendship with Muslims from other lands. Extending such greetings is common practice in some countries only. Whenever I did this, there was usually hesitation and surprise followed by a smile and and a very warm handshake.

 9. Communicate the prayer times in the Two Mosques (and the time difference between Saudi Arabia and your country) to your folks at home so that they will know when NOT to contact you.

10. The Imam recites from As-Sajdah after Al-Fatiha during Friday subuh prayer. After reciting the word "sajdah" he moves straight to prostration instead of rukuh. Pilgrims who don't know this are put in an embarrassing situation during prayer. This lack of awareness can be seen amongst a substantial number of pilgrims during congregational prayers in both Mosques.

Beware of the prayer of the victim of injustice, for there is no curtain between him and The Almighty. [Prophet Muhammad, s.a.w.]

The first of his actions for which a servant of The Almighty will be held accountable on the Day of Resurrection will be his prayers.
[Prophet Muhammad, s.a.w.]

The best prayer after the compulsory ones is that which is done in the middle of the night.
[Prophet Muhammad, s.a.w.]

A single prayer in my mosque is better than one thousand prayers elsewhere, except the mosque of Mecca. [Prophet Muhammad. s.a.w.]

Prayer in congregation is better than individual prayer. [Prophet Muhammad, s.a.w.]

The wrath of The Almighty will be on those who worship the tombs of their prophets.
[Prophet Muhammad, s.a.w.]

The five daily Prayers remove sins, just as water removes dirt. [Prophet Muhammad, s.a.w]