10 Important Things You Should Know Before Planning Your Umrah Trip

Perform your Umrah with complete devotion. It is a way of worship. Muslims ask for forgiveness of their sins from Allah (SWT). Allah shower rewards instantly. We consider it as a second or minor or lesser pilgrimage. If you plan to perform Umrah, you must keep some crucial things to know. It would help to prepare well before reaching the sacred places, i.e., Makkah and Madina.

Understand what to do there and where to go. Keep in mind about different timings as well. You can ask friends and relatives who went there. They have experience of what to do and how to do so they can guide you. Be prepared with everything to have peace of mind as you land there.

You will get to know about the ten primary things here. You must check with them before planning your Umrah trip.

Do Your Research

Make yourself well-prepared before you plan for this spiritual journey. For this, proper research will ease your journey. Do your research first to get rid of any misconceptions. 

Do your research before you plan to go for Umrah. Many available resources are for Hajj. Umrah is part of Hajj. People who perform Hajj also perform Umrah. So you can get the guidance from Hajj-related guides as well. So don’t worry and follow the procedure of Umrah.

Do your homework correctly and get ready for the experience. Different companies offer their Umrah packages. You can check them to decide which suits you. Read what they offer. You will also get to know what essential documents you may need. 

Documentation is important. So be careful with all the essential documents you have. Include and check for your passport. Email your documents to yourself to save them. So you can access those virtually later if there is a need. In Madina or Makkah, you have them on your smartphone.  

Check for the following documents with yourself:

• Your Passport (up to 6 months validity)
• Tickets for the trip
• Certificates of vaccination
• Your application form for the Umrah visa
• A photograph of a white background (passport-size)
• Proof of accommodation (i.e., prearranged)
• Certification from a mosque in case of recent conversion to Islam (if non-muslim name is in documents)

Know about Your Group Members (If traveling with a group)

Most people become a part of the Hajj Umrah group for ease. You can also plan to go with any group. Decide whether you are going with some group of Hajj or Umrah. Going with a group allows you to meet other members. You can discuss the rituals to perform during Umrah with them. This way, you will remember the essential points. Your memory will save this discussion from guiding you afterward.

Communicate with other members of the group. Know their names and contact numbers. It will help you to locate them if lost somewhere there. The support group that you create will make your memory memorable. 

Study the Rules of Ihram

Ihram is the dress code that every Muslim wears while performing Umrah. Study appropriately about what to include in it. There are also some restrictions that you shouldn’t do while wearing Ihram. 

Ihram is different for women and men. For men, it includes two pieces of white cloth (unsown) to cover the upper and lower body parts. Rida is for the upper part, and Izar is to protect the remaining body, starting from the waist. Women should wear a long, loose robe to cover the whole body. The colour should be black or white. They should not cover their faces and hands. They have to cover their entire foot with their shoes. 

You can do the following actions while you wear Ihram safely:

• For cleaning, you can use unscented soaps
• Killing of snake or any other animal that can harm you
• To carry your essentials, you can wear belts containing pocket
• Take a bath with unscented products (be careful that your hair doesn’t fall)

While you are in Ihram, you can’t do certain acts. Some of the forbidden acts include

• Stitch clothes for men
• Cutting the tree
• Women covering their hands or face
• Smoking or drugs
• Engaging in a fight 
• Cutting hair
• Using perfume

Get Vaccinated

During the pandemic, performing rituals became difficult. It was due to the restriction of maintaining a distance from the other person. Even those sacred places remained closed to outsiders during the pandemic. Many Muslims stayed away from performing Umrah and Hajj. 

Vaccination was introduced in 2021. The gates of Saudia Arabia opened for the outsiders. Getting vaccinated became essential and a prerequisite. If you are planning this year to perform Umrah, get yourself vaccinated beforehand. It became a requirement for everyone to follow. Read the Umrah packages 2024 and see what they are offering to you. 

Prepare Clothing According to the Weather

Before going to Umrah, pack your bag with the required. It would be best to put the clothes according to the weather in Madina and Makkah. Study the temperature of these sacred places and prepare accordingly.  

The weather in Makkah is hot. It prevails throughout the year. Most of your clothes are according to the hot weather. 

Take Physical and Mental Rest

Leave all your stress aside and get ready to travel. Take mental rest so that you can have your prayers on time. Your focus there should only be on the supplications you do before Allah. Stay healthy by eating less. Adjust your sleep routine. 

Clear your mind from any stress or worries before going to Umrah. Take a lot of physical rest before your Umrah trip. You need to have a lot of stability and energy to perform Umrah. In Makkah, you may have to walk many kilometers. You have to perform Tawaf around Kaaba. To go from one place to another, you may have to walk. Vehicles are available there. If you are young, you must walk towards your site. For offering prayers of 5 times, you need to walk towards the sacred mosque many times. 

For disabled persons, wheelchairs and other facilities are available. 

Plan Your Journey

Plan what you have to do. Create a list of the places you want to visit during your trip. If you are availing of Umrah packages, they may have limited destinations. Do your struggle to see as many sacred places as you desire. 

Check a list of items that you may require throughout your journey. Keep the following things to yourself.

• Guide for Umrah, including Duas
• Two sets of Ihram
• Tasbeeh
• Pocket Quran
• Compass to find the Qibla 
• Prayer mat
• Comfortable clothes and shoes
• Medicines (Strepsils, panadol, and your specific ones)
• Toothbrush and paste
• Dry items of food
• Nail cutter
• Towel
• Soaps (fragrance-free)
• Pair of socks

Prepare for Cultural Differences and Language Barrier

For performing Umrah, you are going to move to another country. Their culture and language may be different from yours. You will face these differences. Prepare well enough to remove these barriers during your journey.

Arabic men don’t have any specific dress code. Females wear a gown that should be loose and long. In public places, they wear black niqab or headscarf. It would be best to have clothes similar to them with yourself there.

In Makkah and Madina, people speak Arabic. Some people can understand other languages as well. You must know some basics of Arabic. You can learn the common words they frequently use. 

Open Your Heart to All People

Performing Umrah is a religious tradition. Islam puts a significant focus on helping others. Before you land there, prepare your mind and heart to open for everyone. There is no restriction on the location or appearance. You must have to be there for anyone who may need your help. Help with your heart. You will get the rewards from Allah (SWT) that you can’t imagine. 

You will find many such people who will need your help, especially if you are going with cheap Umrah packages. They may have some things with them so that you can help them. Some go alone, and others are even old. Please show your support to them throughout your journey. Don’t expect something from people in return. Offer your help for the sake of Allah (SWT). 

Prepare Yourself for the Spiritual Experience

Prepare yourself to perform this spiritual journey with complete devotion. Seek forgiveness for your mistakes from Allah and the people you may hurt. You will also go to the Rauza of the Prophet (PBUH) with sincerity. 

Make your intention clear for performing Umrah for the sake of satisfying Allah alone. There shouldn’t be any ill intentions of escaping from work, going on vacation, or impressing others. 

Final Words

One of the most prominent wishes of Muslims is to perform Umrah or Hajj. They pray and struggle to fulfill this worship at least once. There are many things that they have to take care of. You must read all the essentials. Keep an eye on what you can do and what you can’t in different states.