Every journey requires preparation before it is started. Similarly, Umrah is a journey that requires proper knowledge and preparation. Umrah is not only a physical journey but also associated with religious and spiritual values. Everybody wants their worship to be accepted by God and doesn’t want to be distracted by insufficient resources or by missing something necessary at home. That’s why it is really important to plan and prepare for Umrah perfectly. You must know what you should take with you in your luggage. It is also important to learn the rituals of Umrah, the rules of Haram, timings and schedules. This blog will completely guide you on how you can prepare for Umrah physically and spiritually as well.
Niyyah (Intention) or Mental Preparation
Before planning this journey, you should know that you are going to do it purely for the sake of Allah, not for the show-off. By having the right intention, your Umrah will be accepted, you’ll be forgiven and rewarded by Allah; otherwise, your Umrah will be wasted and you’ll not be rewarded.
You should be mentally prepared for the upcoming challenges during your journey. This mental preparation will help you to be confident, following the rules of this journey and the restrictions of Ihram. This will reduce your fatigue and anxiety during the whole journey. You can mentally prepare yourself by following guidelines and watching Umrah videos on the Internet.
Gaining Knowledge about the Umrah
Every single ritual can be performed truly if you gain true knowledge about it. Otherwise, your Umrah will not be acceptable and you are going to waste it all. You must gain Knowledge about the boundaries of Miqat, rules of Ihram, Tawaf (circumambulating around the Kaaba), Sa’i (walking between Safa and Marwa), Halq or Taqseer and rules applied by the Saudi government. All this knowledge can be obtained by attending lectures in the mosques of UK, travel guides and agents, reading trustworthy books and practical video guides on the Internet. By doing this, you can make your Umrah more acceptable and a source of forgiveness.
Financial Planning
Despite being highly recommended, Umrah is not mandatory for Muslims. Every journey requires money. You must have enough money reserved for Umrah package and other expenses during the journey. As this is a religious journey, the money (to be spent on this sacred trip) should be halal (earned from a Shariah-compliant source). The rest of the expenses, including travel package, flights, transport, food, drinks and gifts for friends and family, should be kept in mind when saving the money for Umrah. You can search on the Internet for the prices of your necessary needs and also ask your travel agents about it. The advantages of financial planning are, you’ll save more than the estimated amount and you’ll not face financial problems during the journey.
Travel Agencies and Umrah Package
Choose a trustworthy travel agency and an affordable Umrah package. Conduct market research on the internet. Read organic customer reviews on their websites and community platforms. Ask your trusted friends and family members (those who have already performed Umrah) about the travel agencies, travel packages, their offered flights, services, facilities, policies etc. Create a list of agencies and their offered facilities, and compare them with each other. Don’t let anyone spoil your journey. Contact the top selected agencies and ask them about their services. The legit ones will have transparency and clarity in their policies. Ask them whether the flight will be direct or indirect, about the distance between Haram and the hotel, transportation, inclusion or exclusion of food and the availability of a knowledgeable group guide. Choose a travel package with direct flights, shorter distance from the hotel to Haram, on-time transport, flexible luggage rules and comfortable pricing.
Documentation
Documentation is a necessary and non-negotiable component of the whole journey. Keep your eyes on the validity of your passport; it should be valid for at least six months from your planned travel date. When you go for an Umrah visa, it will require a complete application form, your identity documents (passport and ID card) and recent passport-sized pictures with a white background. Now, remember to keep all these documents (visa, passport, national ID, travel insurance, flight tickets etc.) within your bag, also scans of those documents in your phone and cloud storage.
Health
You should start exercising months before starting the journey, so you can keep yourself fit and steady all along the journey. Keep hydrating yourself to avoid any serious medical conditions caused by dehydration. Pack your medical kit, including necessary medications for you. These medications will protect you from any physical discomfort or distraction during worship. Take enough rest and avoid overuse of smart devices (like mobile phone) because using these devices excessively an cause a headache during the journey.
Packing
After fulfilling all the essentials, let’s know what to pack. Pack all the necessary things, but don’t overload your luggage. If you overloads your luggage, you may face problems before getting on board. Keep your bathing essentials, Ihram cloths, a refillable water bottle, prayer mat, sunscreen, sunglasses, medications and medical kit with you. Don’t forget to keep your identity and travel documents with you. Keep enough money with you so you don’t go over budget during the journey. Don’t overload yourself; it will cause difficulty during your walk.
Conclusion
Umrah is a long religious journey and has a great virtue in Islam. If you don’t plan and prepare for it in a proper way, you may get distracted by missing necessities during the whole journey. So you should plan every step wisely. You should choose a reputable travel agency and the right Umrah package. You should remember to keep your documents with you. You should keep the luggage limits in mind when you are packing for the journey. A true preparation will give you mental satisfaction and independence during the whole Umrah journey.