How do we respond to someone who raises doubts about Shaykh Ibn Baz, may Allah have mercy on him, regarding his not visiting the grave of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and accuses the people of Hijaz of not loving the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him?

The reward for patiently adhering to the Sunnah is immense, and it is one of the reasons for "glad tidings to the strangers." Visiting the grave of the Prophet (peace be upon him) for those who are in Medina is legislated, just like visiting other graves. However, setting out on a journey specifically to visit his grave is not legislated. Indeed, journeys should only be undertaken to visit the three mosques: al-Masjid al-Haram, the Mosque of the Prophet (peace be upon him), and al-Masjid al-Aqsa.

Therefore, what is legislated for someone who is far away and wishes to visit the Prophet's grave is to intend, by their journey, to visit the Prophet's Mosque, and the visit to the grave then occurs consequentially. However, if one is nearby and does not need to undertake a journey, there is no harm in that. The claim by grave-worshippers and Sufi orders that Sheikh Ibn Baz did not visit the Prophet's grave is a lie; he differentiated between visiting the grave and traveling specifically for it. Love for the Prophet (peace be upon him) is demonstrated by following his Sunnah and emulating his guidance, not by organizing innovated celebrations.