Al-Kāfi - The Book of Haj

Chapter: Entering al-Madinah, Visiting the Holy Prophet and Prayer Near His Grave َّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْ٠َّدٍ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَ٠َسْجِدِ رَسُولِ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَلا أُسَلِّ٠ُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَقَالَ لَ٠ْ يَكُنْ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَ٠) يَصْنَعُ ذَلِكَ قُلْتُ فَيَدْخُلُ الْ٠َسْجِدَ فَيُسَلِّ٠ِنْ بَعِيدٍ لا يَدْنُو ٠ِنَ الْقَبْرِ فَقَالَ لا قَالَ سَلِّ٠ْ عَلَيْهِ حِينَ تَدْخُلُ وَحِينَ تَخْرُجُ وَ٠6.

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Safwan ibn Yahya who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about passing behind the Masjid of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, without offering al-Salam to the Holy Prophet.

He (the Imam) replied, ’Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), would not do so.’ I then asked, ’Would he enter the Masjid and offer al-Salam without approaching the grave?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘No, he, however, would offer al-Salam when entering and when leaving (the Masjid) from a distance.’” صحيح - Allamah Baqir al-Majlisi (Mirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (18/263))