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There is no right or wrong answer to this question. In fact, there are benefits to both options.
The benefits of going to Makkah first:
- From a spiritual perspective: By going to Makkah first, you can revive your religious spirit, then present yourself to send salutations to the Prophet (Peace be upon Him) in Madinah having cleansed yourself spiritually.
- From a material perspective: People tend to purchase fresh dates from Madinah’s date market (which can easily add to your luggage weight), as well as clothing and other gift items. Carrying extra weight with you can be burdensome. Also bear in mind that if you plan to travel from Madinah to Makkah with the Haramain rail, you will only be allowed to take one suitcase and a medium sized bag (suitcase weight is limited to 25 Kg not exceeding 65 x 55 x 35 cm -length-height-width). Read our Haramain rail post for more info.
- Makkah is an energetic city; it can drain you out. If you’re planning to get back to work and routine as soon as you land back in your home country, then you might prefer to leave the calm ambience of Madinah till the end.
The benefits of going to Madinah first:
- Madinah airport tends to be less crowded than Jeddah airport. It is also only 20 minutes away from Madinah’s centre. After a long journey, you can make your way to your hotel with ease. On the other hand, Jeddah airport is often busy and crowded. It takes 1 hour and 30 minutes (plus longer with all the traffic) to get to Makkah.
- By going to Madinah first, you won’t need to put your Ihram on from the plane. This can be more convenient, particularly for men.
- After a long journey from your home to Saudi, having to perform Umrah straight away (or after a few hours of rest) can be tiring. Going to Madinah first means you can take it easy and get all the rest you need before your Umrah.
- Spending a few days in the calm environment of Madinah allows you to get used to the weather and conditions before making your way to the hustle and bustle of Makkah.
- It is sunnah (a practice of the Prophet, Peace be upon Him) to wear the Ihram from Thul Hulaifah, a place just outside Madinah, and then go for Umrah.
NOTE: During Covid, going to Madinah first is the safest option because you have to pre-book your Umrah via the Eatmarna app. You will only be able to book it when you get to Saudi. If there are no slots available, you will be spending a longer time in Ihram. Going to Madinah first enables you to book a few days in advance, so you’ll manage to get a slot that suits your timing.