umrahtips

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Choosing a tour operator for Umrah

The criteria you need to keep in mind while choosing a tour operator 1) Most important :  How far is the hotel from the Haaram Sharif (Especially in Mecca). Can you manage the distance on foot. 2) How many people in a room ? Typically, In India - Certain tour operators bring down the cost by more sharing in a room. Sharing does bring down the cost. 3) Food arrangements. Certain tour operators provide food. But if they dont - you need to find out if you need to carry groceries along with you. In Mecca - the food is not available at close distances. However, In Medina : There are a lot of places close to the Haram sharif, where you get pakistani/Indian Food. 4) Laundry arrangment. Laundry is required in Mecca, you need to be in a state of purity all the time. So a laundry service is great to have at the hotel. There are no common washing machines in common area. So you might as well carry your own soap and brush to wash clothes, which you cant sent to laundry 5) Flights tickets Check with your operator which flight would they put you on. TIPS 1) Saudi Airlines Vs Jet Airways : Check the timings, you might get a day shorter if you are flying Jet. 2) Other airlines : There is a long stop over in other airports. It might be difficult to get food at other airports / you would be in a state of Ehram. So at best, avoid the stop over flights. But if there is a real cost benefit. Carry some snacks for yourself at the Stop overs airports. 6) Visa Umrah Visa is free of cost and arranged by the tour operators. Most operators do a good job on this. Have a wonderful Umrah. Please do share with me any additional inputs which I could put here on this website. Allah is the King. And you are going to his Darbar..

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Packing list for Umrah

I am listing out all the things that I felt were important for Umrah

Generic Items

A guide book to indicate what to do in Umrah and Haj. There are plenty of books available. Get hold of one and read it before your trip. It prepares you for the best journey of your life.

Tasbeeh (Its helps while you are doing Zihkr)

10 Litre can for zamzam (You could even buy one for 10 riyals there, but you have to check it thoroughly for defects. If you have one already 

Favorite prayer / dua book.

A small notebook (To list your thoughts, duas for yourself and your loved ones, You could list your own things for which you are grateful.

Islamic literature, which you would want to read.

Atleast 3 pairs of ordinary slippers (the ones you can surely loose, when you put them at the slipper stand)

A cheap cloth bag, which you can carry over your shoulder to store your slippers.

A prayer mat. Useful, if you get place on the ground to read the namaz  & the place is hot. I took it as test to survive the heat and it was not so bad. You get a lot of fancy prayer mats in a sling bag (Use it for all in one)

Optional.

Quran (There are plenty available in the Haraam)

For a 3 budget stay kind of a hotel

Soap / brush to wash personal garments clothes

Personal Soap

Check if there is laundry service (most tour packages have this included). If you have this, you are saved a lot from the headache of washing the clothes.

Optional - Mostly available in the hotels (2* and above have these facilities)

Towels 

Blankets

Soap / Shampoos

For Women (Keeping indian women like me in mind)

- Hijab (Somethign that you can over your hair with)

- Preferrably salwar kurtas with full or 3/4 sleeves. Prefer cotton material

- Carry plenty of cotton duppatas to wrap yourself

- Alternatively, you could get yourself a Rida (Its what bhoris wear). Its quite convinient if you can manage it

- For Umrah rituals, you are not to cover your face and hands. It is a rule for the umrah. 

- A burqa (I bought mine in Mecca & loved wearing it, though I am one of the so called modern indian women ;-). Might as well, get a simple one for yourself in Mohammed Ali Road. Its always great to have one. My personal experience with Burqa. It really makes one feel proud and protected. I never expected to feel that way. 

- A sling pouch over your shoulders or back. This is useful to keep your hotel keys, bottle of water and your slippers.

For Men

- Ehraam (2 pieces of plain white cloth). Keep in mind, this should be UNSTITCHED.

- Get yourself a waist belt to hold your important items and the ehraam.

Others

- A good pair of sunglasses (the sun glares and blares). If you have a UV protector or rayban, carry it with you

- Sunscreen (If you have a sensitive skin). However, on your return - your skin will glow. The place has its own power

- Medicines (I could dole out medicines to people with stomach aches, leg aches, etc etc ;-)

Those reading this. Please let me know if there is anything that I can add. Dont forget to leave a comment.

If you do find this useful. Dont forget to pray for me - Sophia :-) :-)

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State of Ehraam

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Arrival At Jeddah Airport

Pilgrims are made to wait before they proceed to immigration. They do a lot of group based immigration. And even after the immigration is done. You might be expected to wait outside the airport for your bus. This bus will take you to Mecca and it is roughly a 2 hour drive. (Assumption is that your tour operator has arranged for the bus).

You might spend around 4 hours before you arrive at Mecca. So carry some food items / snacks / medicines for transit between airport and mecca. 

As a new comer - you might be sure where to look to buy food. Carry an empty water bottle and fill it with water when ever you can.

Hope you find this useful. Please drop me a note if you want to add anything. 

Or else dont forget to pray for me

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Umrah Rituals & Significance

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Praying at The Great Mosque

Pray all five times at the Great mosque. Each namaz read will get you a sawab (benefit) 1,00,000 times... so dont loose this opportunities. Fast on Mondays and Thursday. Preferably on Thursday. The prophet (blessings be on him) use to pray on Thursday Get the right way of doing Tawaf. You could refer to your own booklet or your religious guide.  I saw a lot of tour groups doing tawaf in groups or following a group leader (Saw this typically of south east asian tour groups) . However, You can choose to do it that way or your own way. The most simplest way is - Start at Roza Hajwat. Dont try to push and shove to get to the stone. Allah, does not like any pushing or harming. The sawab of just raising the hands - Talk to Allah, Praise him. All the supplications you say (try to understand the meaning). Talk to Allah, it is your time and his time. He is listening to you. Dont think of anything else. He is Allah and he is listening to you. You are in his DARBAR and he is telling you "Banda tell me". Remember, He is the King and you are the pauper. He has called you and he will give you everything that you ask for. He is ready to give a lot, but you should be prepared to take it all. So just be with him. If tears fall, let them fall. - When you reach the yemeni corner. From there start reciting Rabbana Aatina Fid Duniya Hasanataw Wafil Akhirati Hasanataw Wa Qina Azaaban Naar "Our Lord, grant us the good of this world and that of the Hereafter and save us from the torture of hell.” Do this 7 times and follow it with 2 rakats of nifil namaz.... Other things that you could do - Watch Tawaaf - Serve water to others in the tawaaf (especially on the second floor) - Smile - Shoulder another person's burden, it could be pushing another's wheel chair or holding a child. - Help an elderly or a not so priviledge . My little experience,  Each one has their own sacrifice and challenge with Allah. They might choose not to take your help. It is their sacrifice and test. So in that case, let it be. But if you feel that you want to help, go ahead and help. A small request from me  - Be a little environment friendly. Try to reuse your water plastic cup for Zamzam (Carry it in your bag & throw it way when it is broken). Each good thing you do. You will get the benefit for it in 1,00,000..... Yes, before I forget . Slippers. A lot of people, carry their own slippers in a small sling bag over the shoulders. Many do leave their slippers in the racks, at the various gates. They are bound to get displaced or be worn by someone else Or hunted at the wrong enterance. However, a lot of people wear any of their own slippers when they come. And on their way wear any available slippers on their way back. I cant judge on what is right. Its how you would want to do it & if you think it is right :-) If you want me to add anything, do drop me a comment / note. If you find this useful Dont forget to pray for me ;-)... I want to go back there.....

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Praying at Medina

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Mecca Shopping

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Medina shopping

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Medina local Tours

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Medina Significance

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40 days post Umrah