Srinagar- Saudi Arabia has advised overseas Muslims, planning to perform Umrah or lesser pilgrimage, to verify the credentials of agents first. “Dealing with licensed companies guarantee your rights,” the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said, addressing would-be pilgrims.
The ministry advised them to log onto its website and check a list of licensed agents in their home countries via the link https://eservices.haj.gov.sa.
Saudi Arabia expects around 10 million Muslims from the world over to perform Umrah this season.
The season commenced weeks ago, with the beginning of Muharram-ul-Haram, the first Islamic Hijri year and after the end of annual Hajj pilgrimage.
Record 1.8 million Muslims performed Hajj this year and the number was highest after pandemic-related restrictions were lifted. Muslims, who cannot physically or financially afford Hajj, go to Saudi Arabia to undertake Umrah at the Grand Mosque, Islam’s holiest site in Makkah.
Muslims holding different types of entry visas such as the personal, visit and tourist visas are allowed to undertake Umrah and visit Masjid al Nabavi, the resting place of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) located in Medina after booking an e-appointment.
Saudi authorities have extended the Umrah visa from 30 days to 90 and allow holders to enter the kingdom via all land, air and sea routes and leave likewise. The kingdom has also said that expatriates residing in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries are eligible to apply for a tourist visa, regardless of their profession, and be able to perform Umrah.
Sources told Saudi citizens can now invite their Muslim friends abroad to the Kingdom to perform Umrah on “personal visit visa.” Personal visas, which can be obtained online, can either be single entry or multiple entry, they said.
Aside from performing Umrah rituals at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and visiting the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, visitors can also make trips to various tourism destinations in the Kingdom.
Umrah Essentials Guide : For a pilgrimage, apart from being physically fit, one needs to be mentally relaxed too. Therefore, it is best to organise everything before embarking on the beautiful journey of Umrah. Below is a comprehensive guide of indispensable items required for the Umrah journey.
1. Travel documents: Keep them on top while packing essentials for Umrah
Important travel documents include:
- Passport and its photocopies
- Visa
- Flight tickets
- Vaccination certificates
- Hotel booking confirmation copies
- Receipts of payments made for Umrah
- Passport size photographs
- Relationship certificate (in case, you are travelling with your spouse)
- Saudi Riyals
- Debit/Credit card
- Travel itinerary
- Emergency contact numbers
2. Prayer essentials for Umrah: Clothes & footwear for key rituals : Ihram is the dress code for the Umrah pilgrimage, which is why packing suitable clothing is one of the most important things to do before the commencement of the journey. For men and women, Ihram is two pieces of unstitched plain white cloth. Women are also allowed to wear regular clothing, which conceals the entire body with only hands and face uncovered.
While planning the Umrah pilgrimage, packing the pocket Quran is of great importance too. This is because, during spare time, one can easily read the holy book. Also, there are a number of pocket-sized dua books available that contain prayers from the Quran and Sunnah, which can be recited during the journey. Furthermore, while changing flights or moving from one place to another, pilgrims can keep themselves occupied in Dhikr: remembrance of Allah, which makes packing Tasbeeh beads absolutely significant. Some other essentials for Umrah include a prayer mat, compass for the Qibla and Umrah guide book.
3. Clothing and accessories: Pick them based on travel time & weather : People come to Makkah to perform Umrah from different parts of the world. Usually, that includes long flight and road travel which can be tiring. Therefore it is important to wear and pack clothes that are light in weight and super comfortable. Another important factor to consider is the weather in Makkah. Even though Makkah is hot most of the year, it is important to pack and prepare according to the month of travel. Choose light colours and breathable fabrics that would not irritate your skin even in scorching heat.
In Saudi Arabia, it is advised to dress conservatively so as to not hurt the cultural sentiments of the locals. Men usually wear formal clothes – shirt and trousers, while women prefer to wear salwar kameez or abaya.
For both men and women, some key essentials for Umrah include two or three pairs of comfortable shoes, waist pouch, bathroom slippers, string bag, light jumper, sunglasses, safety pins, prayer hat and folding umbrella. Apart from the above-mentioned items, there are some other Umrah essentials for ladies as well, which include:
- Five to ten light and breathable hijabs
- Hijab undercaps
- Hijab pins
- Hair accessories
- Socks
- Slips or light clothing for wearing under abaya
- Light pyjamas
- Blister patches
4. Basic First-aid Kit: Just in case : Basic medicines and first-aid items are also important parts of the Umrah essentials list. These include cold and flu relief drugs, pain-relief tablets, travel sickness medications, cough syrups/throat lozenges, diarrhoea tablets, bandages, fragrance-free sunblock, cotton, antiseptic cream, muscle pain relief creams, oral rehydration salts and antibiotics. In light of COVID-19 precautionary guidelines, also carry masks and sanitiser bottles.
5. Self-care essentials: Everyday items for the Umrah journey : Self care essentials can include a lot of things ranging from hygiene essentials to vanity products. These may include:
- Large and small towels
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste (Fragrance-free for Ihram)
- Unscented shampoo and conditioner
- Fragrance-free soap (bar or liquid form)
- Pocket tissues
- Fragrance-free wet wipes for Ihram
- Hand sanitiser
- Hairbrush/comb (only to be used outside the Ihram state)
- Anti-perspirant
- Small mirror
- Nail cutter
- Small scissors
- Razors or shaving machine
- Sanitary pads
- Unscented moisturiser or cream
- Toiletries bag
- Alarm clock
- Notebook and pen
- Empty water bottle for filling it with ZamZam as it is important to remain properly hydrated at all times.
- Sleeping accessories (including inflatable pillow, bedsheet and a sleeping bag)
- Snacks and packets of juices
6. Electronics: A few gadgets that you will need on the go : Carrying a smartphone is important for the Umrah journey as it helps pilgrims stay in touch with their families and friends. However, before embarking on the journey, it is important to ensure that the phone is unlocked. It is also advisable to purchase local sim cards at the earliest. Some other packing essentials for Umrah are a universal travel adaptor, mobile phone charger, power bank, kindle or tablet, headphones/earphones, wristwatch and flashlight.
Umrah being a major religious journey in Islam should be conducted with great sincerity. Therefore, one should not miss out on any essential components and prepare for the journey in advance. One can take help from online guides and Ministry of Hajj and Umrah sites to get updates on the latest circulars and dates for Umrah.
