After Hajj, Umrah is the most sacred pilgrimage for the Muslims. It is also known as lesser pilgrimage because it is non-mandatory in Islam. Still, every year millions of Muslims visit Mecca and Medina to perform Umrah. It is the dream of every Muslim to go on this sacred pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime, but the hardest part of this task is how to manage everything if you are going on your Umrah for the first time. If you too are going through the same problem, then below I have provided some of the tips which you should consider.
- Plan Carefully
During your research, choose an umrah package that suits your budget as well as your requirements. You can think about what are the facilities you want in your package. Look for Umrah packages including flights, accommodations and other required facilities. Also ensure that your Umrah tour operator is authorized by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Saudi Arabia. Besides, you can also research about the Umrah rituals and regulations. The more you plan, the better your pilgrimage will be. Prepare yourself physically as well as emotionally for this pilgrimage.
- Familiarize yourself with Umrah and Ihram rules
Take out some time and learn about the rules and regulations you should adhere to during your Umrah. Learn about how you should dress during Ihram, and what are the things you should and shouldn’t do during Ihram. Research about how to perform tawaf, sa’i, and taqsir, and what you should chant while performing these rituals.
- Prepare yourself physically for the Umrah
The hot and humid climate of Saudi Arabia can make your feel nauseous and dizzy, once you reach here. The best way to protect your body from the damage caused by the heat is to drink a lot of water. If you are travelling with elderly people or children, then pay extra attention to their health. Also, take extra precautions in Haram where you will come across thousands of pilgrims. Avoid sharing contaminated food or water from preventing yourself from unwanted diseases. Also, the Saudi government do not provide Umrah visa to pilgrims who are not vaccinated for yellow fever, polio, and Meningococcal Meningitis.
- Visiting the sacred sites in Mecca and Medina
Besides Al-Haram, there are other Ziyarats in Mecca and Medina where the pilgrims should visit after the completion of their Umrah. The famous ziyarats are the cave of Hira, the cave of Saur, Jabl-e-Rehmat, Ayesha mosque, masjid-e-jin, house of Abu Jahal and others. All these places are not situated near the Haram. Learn about these places in advance, so that you can visit them once you are in Saudi for Umrah.
Half of your problems regarding Umrah will be solved if you will buy the most suitable Umrah package. You can easily find numerous Umrah tour operators in India offering diverse Umrah package deals. All you have to do is prepare a budget for yourself and list out the facilities you want in your Umrah package. After preparing your list, visit different Umrah tour operators to compare their packages and pricing, and at last buy the most suitable Umrah package for you. To check whether your Umrah tour operator is authorized, you can visit the website of the Hajj Ministry of Saudi Arabia. The Ministry has prepared a list of authorized agents. Also, the Ministry has listed some guidelines for the pilgrims on how to prevent themselves from fraud agents.
From the past 10 years, Superb Enterprises Pvt. Ltd., a Ministry of External Affairs accredited organization, is offering Umrah packages in India. The Umrah packages offered by the company are best known for their affordability and genuine services. You can checkout the packages offered by the company, or can go to any authorized umrah travel agent for buying Umrah package.