Visiting Madina Munawwarah

Going to Madina before Makkah

Q: If a person is planning to perform umrah, should he go to Makkah first or he may go to Madina first and then Makkah? Some ulma say that it is good to go to Madina first, visit shuhada-e-uhud as according to a Holy prophet's one quotation implies that it makes our prophet more happy if one visits shuhada-e-uhad before he makes ziarat of the holy prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) and after spending his planned days in Madinah finally goes to makkah and performs umrah if one seeks the best from Allah. Is this thought valid? And if one performs his umrah in this manner keeping this in mind, would that umrah be valid?

Sand of Madinah Shareef

Q: The reason for my query is with regards to having sand of Madina sharif in ones possession. A family member came from umrah about two years ago and he gave me a small container with some sand that he brought from madinah sharif. 

A year later I learned that Hazrat Moulana Yunus Patel Saheb mentioned in one of his bayaans that the earth of Madinah sharif cries out if it is removed from the holy land and whoever has brought any sand from there should return it. I therefore would like to know if the sand I have should be returned as it was not collected by myself.