While performing Umrah is a distinctive experience for everyone, one thing that is quite close to the hearts of all pilgrims is when they get a chance to perform it in Ramadan. By booking any of the best Ramadan Umrah packages, they embark on this auspicious journey to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah and surrender themselves in front of the Almighty Creator. Like every other thing, Umrah Ramadan also comes with its own challenges such as the excessive heat and greater crowds, as well as long wait times during worship that might take a toll on your mind and body. As far as my experience of Umrah Ramadan is concerned, one word I will sum it up with would be “wholesome!”
The surprising thing for me was that it wasn’t the big things of practices that I was told again and again to follow, instead the shorter and more neglected things simply fueled my experience. In this post, I would like to share these small things with you all so as to enrich your Ramadan Umrah experience.
Tip #1- Carry a Lighter Prayer Mat
Yes, this tip surely works magic and in case you are the one on a Ramadan Umrah, it is always a great idea to carry a light prayer mat that you can easily carry with you anywhere without feeling overburdened. There are certain Umrah timings when the holy mosques become overcrowded and you don’t even manage to find a clean space sometimes to offer your prayers peacefully. For me, carrying a light prayer mat gave peace of mind and saved me from troublesome situations.
The best thing was, my prayer mat was quite thin in dimensions and made of microfiber, and easily got fit in my backpack. That is why, sometimes when I had to pray in parking lots or streets near Haram, this technique worked as a saviour for me, taking away all my worries of unclean or uneven spaces, and instead gave me much comfort and saved my time throughout. If you have booked your Ramadan Umrah package and are all set to embark on the journey, don’t forget to pack it up in a handy bag.
Tip #2- Wear a Waist Pouch
I am not asking you to give up on backpacks, but in my case, I wore a waist pouch which proved to be a great choice for me espeically when the crowd level was too high. In such times, it becomes really difficult to move around and sometimes you need to remove the backpack during security checks as well. Therefore, try switching to a waste pouch that allows you to carry your main essentials and identity-relevant things with much convenience, being light in weight and easy to access. Just this small change greatly impacted my entire Umrah experience and when I traversed through the heavy crowds, I didn’t worry about losing my things or feel like overburdening myself with a heavy backpack.
Tip #3- Set Alarms Not to Miss Out on Suhoor or Iftar
While it may sound overwhelming to you, but Umrah in Ramadan is a great time for worship and self-reflection. You get a chance to pray at nights and sometimes you get so busy in connecting with Allah that you almost forget the right time of Suhoor or Iftar. I almost missed out on Suhoor once and that was the day when I made it a practice to set daily alarms to remind me of Suhoor or Iftar. In this manner, I was able to plan my day even better and I made sure not to miss out on any of these meals, as I believe you can even perform better in Ramadan when you consume the right and healthy dose and stay hydrated at all times.
Tip #4- Carry an Extra Pair of Slippers
There are multiple cases reported in Haram when pilgrims lost their slippers during Jummah or Taraweeh prayers as the mosques and shoe racks are so jam-packed. Therefore, I made sure to carry an extra pair of slippers inside my pouch and even if I ever got my main shoes misplaced, I always had a substitute to rely on. This saved me from walking barefoot back to my hotel, where I stayed and saved me from much hassle or walking pain. Walking barefoot on marble is never easy, so please make sure you follow this tip (Thank me later!).
Tip #5- Don’t Forget to Carry Pocket-Size Dua Books
Durign the waiting times such as standing in lines or waiting for bus or food, I had my personal small dua book and digital tasbeeh to keep a track of the duas I was reciting at that time. This small habit really helped me make the most out of such times and keep a track of dhikr during Salah or Tawaf. Also, this helped me stay connected to worship and avoid using phone as much as I could.
Hope these tips helped you. Believe me if you follow them, your Umrah is going to be even more hassle-free. Book the best Ramadan Umrah packages with Muslims Travel that serves as UK’s #1 travel agency, and I also booked the same agency, therefore it is highly recommended from my side too.
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