Both as a tourist and a pilgrim, travelers must consider the following aspects when embarking on the voyage to the House of Allah. Adhering to the Do’s and Don’ts of Umrah will serve as your compass through potential challenges during the pilgrimage, ensuring a serene and hassle-free stay in Saudi Arabia
The Dos:
Do Research Before Leaving: Do look for travel agents who could assist you carry out Umrah smoothly. Ask them to arrange for hotels placed near Haram as it is very important.
Do Carry Light Baggage: Try to pack minimum number of items for your trip to Saudi Arabia. Keep necessary and useful items only.
Do All Your Shopping In Madinah Only: If you intend to do shopping in Saudi Arabia, make sure that you complete all the shopping in Madinah only.
Madinah offers better quality products at comparatively lower prices than Makkah. The shopkeepers are friendly and accommodating.
Do Exchange Currency in Madinah: Madinah offers better exchange rates as compared to Makkah.
Do Make a Packing Checklist: Ensure to enlist and pack all the essential items from toiletries to medicines to clothing etc to ascertain ready access in case of emergency. Check out our blog post ‘The Hajj and Umrah Checklist’ for more details.
Do Keep a Pair of Crocs: Umrah involves a lot of walking, so keep comfortable shoes which are easy to put on and put off.
Do Ziyarat, See Mazaraat: It would be unfair if the pilgrim visits Saudi Arabia and fails to see the historically significant religious places. Both in Makkah and Madinah, there are numerous places to visit; especially the mosques are must to see. Check out our blog ‘Places All Pilgrims Must Visit During or After Hajj/ Umrah’ for details.
Do Keep Hydrated: Umrah is energy consuming. Drink a lot of water (ZamZam water if possible) to keep hydrated. Try filling up your water bottles with Zamzam.
Do Carry a Drawstring Bag: A small bad will come very handy to carry shoes and or water bottles.
Do Purchase a SIM: Purchase a local (Saudi Arabia based) SIM to connect with your family or group associates. The host country SIMs cost far less as compared to the home country SIMs.
Do Enlist Supplications (Dua): The pilgrims plan to make a lot of supplications in Makkah but when they stand in front of Kabbah they get awestruck but its glory and forget everything. Do device a list of supplications with you before leaving for Umrah so that you Do Not miss out on asking for anything you wish for.
Do Make Salah in Haram: Try to perform all your Salah in Haram only.
Do Remain Practical: You might not be able to perform all the secondary rituals (Eg: Saying Nafil Salah in Riadh ul Jannah) or you might not always get space in the Haram. So, be rational and pray your Salah wherever it is possible in the vicinity. At the end of the day it is the ‘Niyyah’ that matters.
Do Eat Light Food: To remain active throughout Umrah, have light food such as Shuwarmah. They are inexpensive and easily digestible.
The Do Nots (Don’ts):
Do Not Be Intolerant: People from all sorts of backgrounds gather in Makkah to perform Umrah. Do Not get frustrated by that and try to be as supportive and helpful as possible.
Do Not Miss Out on any of the Primary Rituals: Do Not fail to perform any of the necessary activities/ rituals of Umrah.
Do Not Be Low on Patience: Because of exhaustion the pilgrims might become cranky and resentful, remember that and Do Not misbehave incase if someone else does.
Do Not Get Involved in Indecent Activities: Pilgrims might not realize this, but cutting a piece of Kabah cloth is impermissible. It is stealing and therefore should be avoided at all costs.
Do Not initiate a fight: During Umrah, Do not offend anyone and Do Not be the culprit who triggers argument.
Do Not Capture Photos and Films: Do not waste time in taking pictures and making movies all the time. Praying and worship comes first so focus on that and do the photography in spare time.
Do Not Ignore the Rules: Abide by all the rules of the government of Saudi Arabia (especially the ones regarding VISA, Baggage Allowance and Restrictions).
Do Not Perform Wudhu in a Hurry: Take proper time in performing the Wudhu to make certain that it remains valid. Do not use Zam Zam water for performing Wudhu.
Do Not Make the Journey to Saudi Arabia All about Shopping: Do not forget the primary purpose of the journey (Worship, Praying – Performing Umrah) and do the shopping in free time.
Do Not Get Tired Unnecessarily: Do not get over exhausted to reap the most benefits out of Umrah.
Do Not Forget to Stay Warm: During Fajar and Tahajjud time, the weather gets chilly, so it is important to carry a cardigan or a shawl along.
