Saudi Arabia is always welcoming; millions of Muslims perform an Umrah duty and fulfil their dream life wishes. Umrah is a spiritual act of worship that holds immense significance and has a special place in the hearts of Muslims. They perform an Umrah for the sake of blessings and ask forgiveness for their past sins. An Umrah is referred to as a “lesser pilgrimage.” It can be done at any time in the year except the Hajj days.

In addition, Umrah is the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), as he performed Umrah four times during his life. This blessed voyage is very important for Muslims all over the globe. The experience of this holy journey is a transformative spiritual change in a Muslim. Furthermore, when pilgrims plan to set on this spiritual journey before leaving for Umrah, they need to follow these eight pieces of advice, which can be helpful during your trip.  

Learn about how to perform Umrah rituals

The first piece of advice is that when you plan your religious journey, the first thing is to learn how to perform Umrah obligations accurately. Many pilgrims need a proper idea of how to perform the Umrah rituals properly or how many Umrah obligations there are. If they miss some Umrah rites and do not perform them properly as per Islamic teaching, their Umrah will not be acceptable. 

Before leaving home and going to Umrah, you must read all the steps to complete it without mistakes. You may be required to learn some specific books about Umrah’s points and follow the guide. Try always to find authentic and proper information about Islam and Umrah. This will help you perform this voluntary duty accurately.

Prepare yourself for the Umrah journey

The best advice for the sacred journey you’ll receive is to ensure you’re fully prepared for the Umrah voyage. When you start Umrah preparation, the first thing required is sufficient mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual compliance. Thus, you must be prepared in all these areas before leaving for Umrah. Furthermore, stay calm and remain polite with everyone. Kindness is the most crucial aspect of being Muslim. 

In addition, you must be patient when meeting people from other cultures who have travelled from all over the world. If you stay calm with one another, this can be an incredible experience. Always make sure that one Muslim doesn’t do anything to hurt the other one. Moreover, before leaving home, you must read all the significant literature about Makkah and Madina. Get to know about the rich cultural history of Islamic heritage.

Ask forgiveness from kin

The divine journey of Umrah is performed for the mind, body, and soul. It’s very important to Muslims on a personal and social level, so there is a lot of happiness and excitement among the families of pilgrims. The pilgrims’ loved ones provide invaluable support during their Umrah journey. They help them plan their trip, get everything they will need, and create an atmosphere of calm, homeliness, and peace.

Before going on the Umrah trip, people ask forgiveness for any wrong deeds or hurtful things they have done in the past. To do this, they spend time with their neighbours, friends, relatives and teachers. This is a chance to remove anger and say goodbye in a good way before the journey. During your Umrah in Makkah, you should also make duas for every one of your loved ones.

Prepare your packing list for the holy trip

When people plan their Umrah journey, they are stuck packing the essential items that they need during the voyage. They don’t have a proper idea about the checklist of how to prepare for Umrah. Prepare a proper Packing list and always try to pack light during a long journey, that will help you travel easily and comfortably.  

Moreover, when you pack up your luggage, you first check the list of documents that you must bring during the trip. Don’t bring extra clothes and accessories; always try to get a few clothes and essential items. You must put baggage tags with names and home addresses on your luggage, which will help you find it easily at the airport. 

Know the rules required for Ihram

Umrah preparations include entering the Ihram, a holy condition of single-mindedness. But it also refers to the clothes pilgrims must wear when reaching the Miqat.  Ihram is an important part of performing Umrah, and there is a right way to wear one piece of unstitched clothes.

In addition, you must maintain good hygiene. Also, you can’t use any perfume or deodorant, and you can’t cover your head either. Ihram is required for all Muslims who travel to undertake Umrah. You must wear it correctly and follow all the Ihram rules. This is only feasible if you are aware of them. So, before you leave, understand everything there is to know about Ihram. 

Do appropriate dua for everyone

When you prepare yourself for Umrah, ask your loved ones to forgive you so that you can say goodbye on good terms. Make proper duas for Umrah, continuing with duas while you travel, and concluding with duas upon arrival in the Holy Land. Before you go on a trip, ask your family and friends to say a dua for you so that you feel safe and comfortable while you’re away. Share a positive leaving for Umrah message with your loved ones with a smiling gesture.

Also, make a list of duas for loved ones and recite them during your Umrah trip. When you pray and recite the dua in front of the Kaaba while performing Umrah, keep them in mind. Just by taking a moment to remember and pray for everyone else, you are demonstrating your love for Allah’s creation.

Do give some zakat and charity 

We know that generosity and helping others is important to the creator. Giving zakat, or charity is more than just one of the most important steps in Umrah. It is one of Islam’s most important pillars, requiring all pilgrims to undertake the obligatory tasks expected of them on a journey to the Holy Land. Giving to the poor is a great way to prepare for Umrah and shows that you care about Allah’s creation, which is a great way to appease Him. So, before you board your aircraft for Umrah, do zakat through money, donations, food, clothing, and other essentials. 

In addition, the Quran also mentions zakat.

وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ ۚ وَمَا تُقَدِّمُوا۟ لِأَنفُسِكُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍۢ تَجِدُوهُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌۭ

Establish prayer, and pay alms tax. Whatever good you send forth for yourselves, you will ˹certainly˺ find ˹its reward˺ with Allah. Surely Allah is All-Seeing of what you do. [Al-Quran 2:110]

Conclusion

Leaving for Umrah is a very spiritual and meaningful pilgrimage for Muslims. This sacred journey provides a unique chance for personal growth and developing a strong bond with Allah. Learn the Umrah obligations, prepare yourself physically, emotionally, and mentally fit, and ask forgiveness from loved ones as you go on a divine journey. Packing light and knowing the Ihram norms are also important for a smooth voyage. Also, remember to offer duas and zakat (or charity), as these acts demonstrate your commitment and concern for others. By availing yourself of Umrah Packages, start your Umrah trip, take advantage of this holy chance to renew your faith, and pray from your heart.