For many pilgrims, the most treasured minutes of the whole journey are the ones spent praying in the Rawdah, the small carpeted area in the Prophet’s Mosque described in the hadith as a garden from the gardens of Paradise. Entry is by appointment only, and this Rawdah permit guide explains how to book Riaz ul Jannah on the Nusuk app, step by step, and what to do when the calendar looks full.
Photo: Uleke via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
What a Rawdah permit is, and what it is not
The Rawdah is the area between the Prophet’s chamber and his minbar inside Masjid an-Nabawi in Madinah. Because it is small and the whole world wants to stand in it, Saudi Arabia manages entry through timed permits in the official Nusuk app: you choose a date and time slot, receive a permit with a QR code, and enter at your appointed time through the designated gate. The permit is completely free. Anyone offering to sell you a Rawdah slot, an “express entry” or a guaranteed booking is running a scam; there is no paid channel, no agent quota and no other app. Our Nusuk coverage, including the Nusuk Free Umrah Challenge guide, explains the app’s other features, but the Rawdah booking follows the steps below.
Booking step by step
First, install the official Nusuk app and register as an international pilgrim using your passport details; once your Umrah visa is issued, link it in the app as instructed, because your permit is tied to your visa and passport. Second, open the Prophet’s Mosque services and choose the Rawdah visit option (shown as visiting Al Rawdah Al Shareefa / Riaz ul Jannah), selecting the men’s or women’s track as appropriate. Third, pick from the dates and time windows the app offers; slots are released in batches and the calendar typically opens a period at a time rather than the whole year. Fourth, confirm the booking and keep the permit screen and a screenshot safe. Fifth, on the day, arrive early at the gate named on your permit with your passport, join the queue for your time group, and show the QR code when asked. Men and women enter at separate times through separate gates, and women in particular should note their assigned windows, which are published in the app and around the mosque.
When the calendar shows nothing available
Do not panic, and do not pay anyone. Slots appear as batches are released and as other pilgrims cancel, so check the app each morning of your Madinah stay, and again around the times new batches tend to open. The app has also offered near-instant booking options when you are physically close to the Prophet’s Mosque and capacity allows; if you see such an option in the app, it is genuine and free. Ask your hotel or group leader what pattern they are seeing that week, because release rhythms change by season. And remember the permit system limits how often one pilgrim can hold a Rawdah booking within a set period, precisely so more pilgrims get a turn; treat your slot as the precious, unrepeatable appointment it is, and if you cannot use it, cancel it in the app so another pilgrim can.
Inside the Rawdah: a short etiquette
You will have a limited time inside, shared with a crowd carrying the same longing you are. Pray your two rak’ahs on the green carpet area if space opens, make your duas briefly and from the heart, and then move so others can stand where you stood. Photographs, phone calls and pushing have no place there; the guards will move groups along steadily, and the pilgrims who leave happiest are those who spent their minutes in prayer rather than in trying to extend them. Greet the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his two companions at the chamber with the salam taught by the Sunnah, from the designated side, and let the moment be what it is.
If you are travelling in a group
Group leaders can advise and remind, but the booking sits in your own app under your own visa; no leader can book your slot from their phone. Elderly parents and less technical pilgrims should have a family member sit with them and complete the booking on their device while logged into the parent’s own account. If Madinah is early in your itinerary, try booking from Pakistan the moment your visa is issued and the calendar allows, rather than waiting until you land.
Complete the picture with our Umrah packages from Pakistan guide for costs and booking safety, and our free Umrah lucky draw reality check for the permit scams to refuse.
Sources
- Nusuk Umrah: official FAQ
- Nusuk: official Umrah platform (Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah)
- Photo: TheHadiRahim via Wikimedia Commons, CC0
- Photo: Uleke via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Umar is an engineer by profession and a passionate writer by passion. He has a deep interest in sharing good news related to Pakistan and has been working hard to promote the positive image of his homeland. Umar has written numerous articles on various topics related to Pakistan, such as technology, sports, culture, and economy.