Ten tips for Ramadan Umrah

What better place to spend Ramadan than the holy Mosques of Makkah and Madinah. The vibe, energy, soothing recitation of the Imams and the sheer atmosphere makes it a worthwhile experience. And obviously the reward:

The Prophet (peace be upon Him) said : ‘An Umrah (minor pilgrimage) in Ramadan is equal to Hajj with me [in terms of reward].’ [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Here are some top tips for Umrah during Ramadan:

1. Book way in advance if you can. Umrah during Ramadan is expensive, and prices are going up year after year. Try to secure your flights at least six months beforehand.

2. Hotel choices may not be available early on, as rates are not released in advance (you may need to wait three months before Ramadan). Try and book a room with a free cancellation option, and as soon as you can get cheaper rates for hotels, get booking!

3. Choose a hotel that is not too far out. While the closest hotels are costly, try and go for a mid-range that is a 4 -5 minute walk. Anything further than that will leave you exhausted by the time you reach the Mosque. Remember, you need to reserve energy for Taraweeh, Tawaf and Qiyaam (Tahajjud).

4. If you are happy going any time during Ramadan, book during the first 20 days, as the last ten days are the most expensive.

5. Go for full board (suhoor and Iftaar) if it suits your budget. You don’t want to waste time queuing and looking for food early morning or after sunset. If you can’t, then pack snacks like nuts, dry fruit and cereal bars.

6. Sleep like the locals! Spend your daylight hours sleeping, so you can keep awake at night. That way, you can do your Umrah, Tawaf, Qiyaam and other worship during the night hours.

7. Stay in the Masjid after Maghrib. Basic Iftar like dates and yoghurt will be provided. Otherwise, you won't find a spot inside the Masjid. In fact, if you can stay in the Masjid from Asar onwards, that would be ideal.

8. Look after your health! The last thing you want is to fall ill after spending so much to get the sacred lands. Food outlets for Iftar around the Holy Mosques mostly offer greasy and spicy food. Try to offset this by consuming fruit and Increase your liquid intake at night to reduce the risk of dehydration.

9. Make the most of your time. You are in a holy place, during a holy month. It’s easy to get distracted, skip a Taraweeh, and feel tempted to relax. Set yourself a spiritual goal that you want to achieve by the end of Ramadan. It could be memorising a part of the Qur’an, finding ways to keep focused during Taraweeh, or making Qiyaam (Tahajjud prayer) a habit.

10. Remember that you are going into a massive crowd so prepare yourself to cope with it. If it’s your first time going for Umrah, try and go outside the month of Ramadan first - so that you can familiarise yourself with the place, the rituals and the crowd.