Understanding Hadith and Ideal Jurisprudential Practices of Raudhah, Prophet's Tomb Visitation, and Arbain Prayer in Medina: A Phenomenological Study of Spiritual Experiences of Umrah Pilgrims at the Prophet's Mosque

Abstract

This research examines the spiritual experiences of Umrah pilgrims at the Prophet's Mosque in Medina and identifies ideal jurisprudential practices (kaifiyah) for worship in Raudhah, at the Prophet's tomb, and during Arbain prayer through the lens of hadith understanding. Employing a qualitative phenomenological approach with participatory observation, this study explores how pilgrims experience the sacred space of the Prophet's Mosque and how their spiritual consciousness is shaped through engagement with prophetic traditions (hadith). Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 25 pilgrims from the Syeh Adlan Aly (SAA) group who departed on August 8-24, 2025, participatory observation during the pilgrimage period, and follow-up observations in September 2025, alongside library research on classical and contemporary jurisprudential sources. The findings reveal three main dimensions of pilgrims' spiritual experiences: emotional-transcendental experiences manifested in tears, profound awe, and sensations of Divine Presence during Raudhah prayer; inner consciousness experiences characterized by tranquility, devotion, and spiritual discipline through Arbain prayer; and religious transformation experiences involving sustained behavioral changes including increased congregational prayer attendance, enhanced dhikr practices, and strengthened social etiquette. Regarding ideal jurisprudential practices grounded in hadith understanding, the research establishes four key findings: the thousand-fold prayer virtue applies to the entire Prophet's Mosque complex according to the majority scholarly view; tomb visitation takes priority over Raudhah prayer as conveying greetings to the Prophet constitutes his right over the ummah; Arbain prayer's transformative value transcends its weak hadith status through spiritual consistency and collective discipline; and integration of external etiquette (adab zhahir) and internal etiquette (adab batin) optimizes worship experience. The research contributes a phenomenological model for understanding pilgrims' spiritual experiences that integrates classical phenomenology (Husserl, James, Eliade) with Islamic spiritual concepts (al-Ghazali, al-Qusyairi) and hadith-based jurisprudential analysis, demonstrating how sacred space mediates between transcendent realities and human consciousness. The findings have practical implications for pilgrimage organizers (mutawwif and KBIHU) in developing comprehensive manasik training programs that combine jurisprudential education, spiritual formation, and emotional readiness to enhance pilgrims' capacity for meaningful spiritual experience at the Prophet's Mosque.