What do you need to know before leaving for Umrah?
Umrah is a spiritual journey of a Muslim towards the heart of Umrah- the holy Kaabah. It is the most sacred passage across Makkah that can be undertaken anytime around the year. Umrah literally means visiting a densely populated place. It accompanies Hajj and resembles Hajj in many ways except for the fact that it may be performed throughout the 12 months of the Islamic calendar.
Many of you must be planning for this spiritual journey of life that makes it all more important for us to give you a few important pieces of advice.
Homework-The First Step
It is the first and most essential step that must be taken before leaving for Umrah. Learn as much as you can about the sacred cities of Madinah and Makkah. Know about the history of Umrah and Hajj and its spiritual crux. Go through books and satisfy your cravings to learn more about it. You will find many good books that will guide you on this splendid journey of your life.
Rules of Ihram
The regulations of Ihram are pretty simple, but people violate it without giving it a good thought. As we know wearing scent is prohibited in ihram even if it is in the form of scented soap. So before leaving get yourself some unscented soaps and pack it in your luggage. One more rule regarding ihram for men is that they are not allowed to cover their head. So make sure you are not covering head even if it is scorching hot with any towel for protection. Make sure you are clear about every rule of ihram.
Good Company –Your Umrah Fellows
Always remember that the company makes a man. So if you are going with a group of people, make sure they are worth spending time with on this iman-boosting journey. Check if they are people who encourage doing zikr and praying Tahajjud. Having a pious group of friends around will make an eternal impact on this blissful journey.
Dua List for Umrah 2018 Rituals
Do lots and lots of duas. Make a list of duas for Umrah. You may also ask your friends and relatives to give their share of duas that you can ask for them. Collect all Sunnah duas and make a small diary so that you can recite them a few times a day. You are lucky to be in a spiritual place like this to make use of this time and spiritual high.
May Allah SWT accept it from you? Have a blessed journey of your life!