Introduction

Umrah is a pilgrimage to holy places (Makkah and Madina). It is a spiritual act performed to seek self-purification, forgiveness, and closeness to Almighty Allah. People from all over the world come to perform it. First-time travelers may feel overwhelmed by the traveling process, rituals, and environmental issues. However, with the help of proper guidelines, the journey can be made easy and smooth.

A well-prepared traveler is believed to have worked thoroughly on preparations regarding documentation, health, spiritual activities, weather alerts, etc. This blog will provide essential guidelines that are likely to ensure a smooth and stress-free journey and make it memorable.

What are essential Umrah guidelines for First-Time Travelers?

1. Preparations

A. Documentations

Travelers must fulfill the requirements of a valid passport and Umrah visa. They must also ensure the availability of additional documents like travel assurance, hotel booking, etc. Additionally, they must keep the necessary vaccination certificates. Following is the list of documents or formal things that one should keep while going to Umrah:

• Passport
• Visa
• National Identity Card
• Flight tickets
• Vaccination certificates
• Hotel booking confirmation document
• Receipts of Umrah payments
• Passport-size photographs
• Relationship certificate (in case, you are traveling with your spouse)
• Debit/Credit card
• Travel itinerary
• Emergency contact numbers
• Immunization Card
• Printed/written important phone numbers/addresses

B.  Everyday items for the Umrah journey

During this journey, you will have to stay for days or weeks. You will require some important things for daily usage.  It is necessary to keep self-care essentials with you. Several things are needed during this journey. For example:

• Packing essentials (toiletries, prayer mats, comfortable footwear).
• Towels (large and small)
• Toothbrush and Toothpaste
• Unscented shampoo and conditioner
• Fragrance-free soap (bar or liquid form)
• Pocket tissues
• Fragrance-free wet wipes for

Moreover, travelers are required to keep travel guides and maps with them because it would be difficult for new travelers to remember the places in a short time. 

C. Clothing

Travelers must be prepared regarding clothing. You need to follow the Ihram guidelines for both men and women separately. For example:

• Men wear two pieces of white cloth that are not stitched – a part of their body is exposed during the pilgrimage.
• As for women’s Ihram clothing, this covers the whole body and the head must be concealed, except for the face and hands.

During the Umrah journey, you must ensure modesty and cultural appropriateness in your attire.

D. Health & First Aid

As a traveler, you must be in good health. You must carry a first aid kit with essential medicines to deal with health problems in an emergency. Moreover, in the post-COVID era, countries have made it mandatory for travelers to acquire vaccination certificates. Additionally, travelers must get health tips for extended travel and prepare for adaption. 

E. Adapting to Cultural Diversity

As a traveler, you must learn to embrace cultural diversity. During Umrah, you will meet people with diverse cultural backgrounds and histories. You are required to have peace and harmony while getting together with them.  It is vital to understand the cultural diversity and respect the cultural differences. Additionally, you must be aware of the local customs and etiquette of the Saudi Arabian people.

F. Commute/ Mode of transportation

While going to Umrah, you must have a plan for mobility in Saudi Arabia. It is necessary to learn what modes of transportation are within and around Makkah and Madinah. Explore the transport options (private vehicles, taxis, public buses, etc.)

G. Currency exchange

One of the prerequisites is to arrange the exchanged currency for Umrah travel. You will need Saudi Riyals to make transactions there. So, while traveling, you must ensure that you have enough Saudi Riyals to spend days in Saudi Arabia.

2. Umrah Rituals and prayers

A. Rituals of Umrah

The guidelines for performing the rituals of Umrah are as follows:

• Enter into Ihram (state of purity and devotion) by washing your body and donning Ihram garments.
• Recite the Talbiyah in the miqat station to declare intention to make the pilgrimage.
• Travel to Makkah.
• Enter Al Masjid Al Haram (Holy Mosque) and perform Tawaf – circling the Kaaba seven times in a counterclockwise direction.
• Perform Sa’ay – walking 7 times between the hills of Safa and Marwah beside the Kaaba.
• Men must put off the Ihram by shaving their heads (Tafseer).
• Women require cutting off a short lock of hair.

B. Prayer Times and Locations

First-time travelers must be aware of prayer schedules and places of worship while performing Umrah. You are required to pray in the grand mosque and Masjid al-Nabwi. You must ensure punctuality in offering prayers.

3. Travelling as an Individual or with a Family

For people who are traveling individually or with family for the first time, it is necessary to know about the following things:  

A. Are you traveling with children?

Performing Umrah is a long journey. For children, it might be a daunting task. While traveling with children, you must consider determining their health condition and maintaining their nutrient intake.

Furthermore, you must ensure an adequate supply for children. For example,

• keeping diapers
• ensuring proper hygiene for kids
• preparing snacks

B. Are you an expectant mother?

If you are an expectant mother and are on the journey of Umrah, you must be aware of some cautions. It is necessary to take care of yourself and your baby. There are some guidelines for it: 

• Moving often in the long flight
• Wearing compression socks
• Trying not to overexert yourself
• keeping yourself hydrated
• Taking full advantage of the blessed Zamzam water
• Consulting with a doctor before and during the journey

C. Are you accompanying an aged person?

If you are accompanied by an older person (mother, father, uncle, etc.), you must take care of certain things. You must consider mobility assistance and healthcare needs in case of an emergency. It would be better to arrange necessary resources like a wheelchair etc. You must carry a first-aid kit as well.

 

4. Things to Avoid

If you are an Umrah traveler for the first time, you need to know the precautions.

A. Activities in the state of Ihram

• Ihram is the sacred state that compels believers to remain careful of their activities, attitudes, and behavior. In this state, pilgrims are required to avoid doing any immoral and prohibited acts.
• Ibn Al-Munthir  said in his book Al-Ijmaa’: “The scholars have agreed with the consensus that a person in a state of Ihraam is prohibited from the following: having sexual intercourse, killing wild game, wearing perfume, wearing certain kinds of clothes, and cutting the hair and nails.”

B. Pushing, shoving, and other crowd-related activities

• On the eve of Umrah, people from across the world gather to perform rituals. People may include young children, old-aged individuals, expectant mothers, etc.  It would be wise to avoid pushing and shoving people.

C. Distractions from the spiritual purpose of the journey

• As a pilgrim, you must focus on the sacred purpose of your journey. You need to avoid being distracted from spiritual aims.

D. Failing to carry documents

• To avoid any problems, it is necessary to carry the primary documents with you. You must not forget your passport while going out because you will face a legal issue if you fail to carry a passport. 

5. Challenges

A. Language Barriers

People usually know the Arabic language a little. While performing Umrah in Saudi Arabia, you might face a language barrier and have trouble in communicating with locals. The failure of proper communication might lead to other problems.  

B. Health Conditions

It would be challenging for you to perform Umrah if you underwent some health-related issues during this journey. Those who suffer from health problems, including diabetes, high blood pressure, etc., might have difficulties in managing their journey. Frequent health issues may make your journey difficult. Moreover, environmental changes might exacerbate your health issues during the journey.

C. Peak Time (Hajj Season)

Notably, in peak months, i.e., Hajj season, the flow of people is greater than that in normal days. Managing the Umrah journey during this period can be problematic for you. It can affect your mobility, health, etc.

D. Adaption to Weather conditions 

For first-time travelers, the weather in Saudi can cause some problems. Those people who belong to countries that usually have lower temperatures can face severe issues in extreme temperatures.

• For example, Over 1,300 Muslim pilgrims reportedly died during the annual Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca, this month in Saudi Arabia, where temperatures have soared beyond 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit). 
• Temperatures in summer (May-Oct) range from 28-45 degrees Celsius , while temperatures in winter (Dec-Feb) range from 17-33 degrees Celsius.

Do note when you’ll be leaving for your Umrah trip. Dress lightly if you’re going during the “summer” season, and dress heavier for the “winter” season.

6. Way Forward

A. Proper planning

You must have proper planning before initiating your journey. This will help you perform the Umrah without any difficulty. You must decide your Umrah plan while considering the following things:

• Weather condition
• Health consideration
• Venue

B. Understanding the basics of the Arabic language

Knowing the basics of the Arabic language is better than not knowing it. You need to know the basic Arabic phrases for communication.

C. Using Umrah Apps

You can get information through the Umrah Apps. You can use such apps for real-time navigation, prayers, and weather alerts.

Conclusion

Performing Umrah is one of the essential rituals in Islam. Navigating this journey properly is crucial for first-time travelers. You need to follow proper guidelines to make your journey interesting, smooth and memorable.