Packing for Umrah

Introduction

Like all journeys in life, the more you put into it the more you will get out of it and the journey for Umrah is no different. Plan well and inshallah your efforts will pay off.

The aim of this article is to simply assist those intending to perform Umrah especially for the first time, hopefully it will also assist those that have been before as well.

In our Umrah seminars usually there are three parts that are covered:

1. What to pack for Umrah
2. How to perform Umrah
3. Visiting Madinah Al Munawwarah

In this section we will discuss the first part which is what to pack for Umrah.

Click on the link below for the How to perform Umrah Guide:

Packing for Umrah

A woman’s guide to packing for Umrah

Click on the link below to see the woman’s guide to packing for Umrah video:

A suggested checklist

This is just a suggested checklist. You can adjust according to your needs and requirements.

Passport Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of return from Saudi Arabia.

You can apply to renew a passport online or by post. It is cheaper and quicker to renew online.

Follow the links below to renew your passports online:

Airline tickets Make a photocopy of them.

Find out from your tour operator or your airline, how many pieces of luggage your are allowed and what your luggage allowance is.

Meningitis certificate. This is currently a requirement for an Umrah Visa but not a Tourist visa. I would suggest getting this done at least two weeks prior to traveling if you are applying for an Umrah Visa.

A photocopy of your travel documents Take one copy with you and leave one copy with family at home. By travel documents i mean:

• A copy of your passport
• A copy of your airline ticket
• A copy of your Meningitis certificate (if you have applied for an Umrah Visa)

Money Keep this with you and don’t put it in your suitcase that will go into the hold of the plane.

I would suggest that you exchange a little bit of money at Jeddah Airport, this will allow you to:

• Buy drinks and snacks at Jeddah Airport and the service station on the way to Makkah Al Mukarramah or Madinah Al Munawwarah depending on where you are going first.
• Buy a Saudi Sim at the airport. You will need this for the Nusuk App.
• Buy food and drinks when you arrive in Makkah Al Mukarramah or Madinah Al Munawwarah.
• Pay for your hair cut after you have completed your Ummah.

Bank Card Let your bank know that you are travelling abroad so that they don’t suspect fraudulent activity and block your card.

Hotel booking paperwork. Unless you are traveling with a group and the group leader is with you.

Travel pouch This is to carry your passport, tickets and money etc.

Ihraam

In the video below Mufti Abdur-Rahman ibn Yusuf Sahib shows how to tie the Ihraam.

Ihraam belt This can be used to hold up your Ihraam. This can also be used to carry some money. If you going to Haram to do tawaaf then don’t take loads of money with you. Only take that much with you that will pay for the shaving of your head and buy some food and drinks.

Umrah books. These are books on how to perform Umrah.

The book below is the best book that I’ve seen so far for women;

The above book is a brilliant book in Urdu.

Flip flops. These are the basic flip flops where the middle upper bone of the foot will remain exposed. Having the upper bone exposed in the state of Ihraam is a requirement only for the men and not for the women. Women can wear normal normal shoes.

Wear the flip flops for a few weeks prior to travel so that they are broken into.

The most important thing is that the flip flops should be comfortable.

In the video below Dr Mohammed Jiva Sahib from the British Hajj Delegation talks about foot hygiene and the importance of comfortable footwear.

Click on the link below for details of the above flip flops:

Comfortable footwear This is to wear outside the state of Ihraam

Shoe bag This will allow you to keep your sandals with you in Masjid Al Haraam and also in Masjid Al Nabawi.

A drawstring bag You can use this to carry your Musallah (prayer mat) and reusable water bottle.

Suitcase Find out from your travel agent or airline what your luggage allowance is and how many pieces of luggage your are allowed.

Padlocks Buy good quality padlocks

Luggage tags Make sure you put the luggage tags on your suitcases that go into the hold and your hand luggage as well.

Food and snacks  These will come in handy:

• At the UK airport
• On the airplane
• At Jeddah Airport
• When you arrive at the hotel in Makkah Al Mukarramah or Madinah Al Munawwarah

Notebook and pen Take a notebook and pen with you. Some of the benefits are:

• Use it to make notes during the Zoom training sessions
• Use it to make notes at the Umrah seminars
• It is perfect for making notes as you study the Hajj and Umrah books
• Ideal for jotting down information throughout your journey ie. flight times, flight reservation numbers etc.
• Writing down all the things that you will ask Allah for in Tahajjud Salaat and in Tawaaf
• Perfect for creating your travel dairy
• Creating your Umrah packing checklist

Tasbeeh (and a tawaaf tasbeeh) A tawaaf tasbeeh is a tasbeeh with seven beads used for counting the rounds of tawaaf.

Mobile phone & Charger

Your mobile phone (You will need this for the Nusuk App)

Power bank (If required) Don’t waste your time on your mobile phone and on social media, however I would recommend downloading the 13 line Quran app so you can recite the Quran during your journey.

Try to finish one Quran in Makkah Al Mukarramah and one in Madinah Al Munawwarah. Try to go early for salaat and sit to recite the Quran and after salaat also, this way you can recite the Quran more and avoid the rush.

Click on the link below to download the 13 line Quran app on your mobile phone or tablet:

Travel adaptor This is a two pin one that you would use in European countries. There is no need to spend a lot of money on this. You can buy one from Poundland for £1.

This is the same adapter that you would use if you were travelling to Palestine to visit Masjid Al Aqsa.

Toiletries Don’t forget to take a pair of scissors to cut your wife’s hair after she has completed her Umrah.

Medicine Make sure that you have enough medicine for the entire duration of your journey.

Clothes Find out from your tour operator if laundry is included in your Umrah Package. There are plenty of places around the hotels in Makkah Al Mukarramah and Madinah Al Munawwarah where you can get your clothes washed and ironed.

Usually people buy clothes (Jubbas and Abayas) anyway so bear this in mind when deciding on how much clothes you will take with you.

Musallah (Prayer mat) This is so that you can offer your Salaat whilst you are travelling.

Sunglasses (if required)

Cooling mist This is quite useful in the heat. You can use it in the state of Ihraam as well because it’s not fragranced. If you are going for Hajj or Umrah then definitely take a few bottles. It’s only 99p from Bodycare. Remember not to put this in your hand luggage as the bottle is 150ml and only liquids up to 100ml are allowed in hand luggage.

Iron (if required). If you are travelling with a group, find out if your laundry is included in the package.

Reusable water bottle This is perfect for carrying Zam Zam water with you and ensuring that you stay hydrated all day. The stainless steel bottles keep the water cold for many hours some up to 24 hours.

The best water to drink is the Zam Zam water and the Dua for drinking Zam Zam water Is:

Zam Zam water is available in Masjid Al Haraam, around the Mataaf area and alongside the Safa and Marwah area.

Zam Zam water is also available inside Masjid Al Nabawi and also outside as well.

Breakfast is included in most Umrah packages if you are travelling with a group, if this is the case then don’t skip breakfast and make good use of the drinks provided in the buffet breakfast.

The supermarkets offers a sea of bottled beverages and when it’s hot outside, a cool beverage can feel refreshing. Drinking water is a great way to satisfy your thirst, but you don’t have to rely on it to get all your fluid needs. You know that expression, “cool as a cucumber” well the truth is fruits and veggies are overflowing with water.

For example cucumbers have a 96% water content. Watermelons and strawberries have a 92% water content.

Scarf/Shemagh/Kufiyyah/Roomaal From mid morning to mid afternoon the heat can be quite intense. Having a scarf will protect you from the intensity of the heat. The scarf will come in handy especially when going for Zohar Salaat.

Click on the links below to purchase the Kufiyyah:

Vaseline A little tub of Vaseline goes a long way, and has many benefits.

• It can as act as lip balm
• it can help prevent blisters
• it can help prevent chafing between the thighs. In the state of Ihraam men are not allowed to wear underwear, this can cause the thighs to rub together which can cause chafing. This is more common in Hajj that in Umrah because you wear the Ihraam for a longer period in Hajj.

Vaseline for your lips (optional)

• Protects and relieves dry and chapped lips, while locking in moisture to help keep them healthy
• Instantly softens and soothes dry lips
• Locks in moisture to help lips recover from discomfort

Jumper/hoodie/top/sweater if you are travelling for Umrah in winter then bear in mind that the weather can be cool in the mornings in Madinah Al Munawwarah.

Deep Heat This is good for aching feet after performing Umrah.

Cough sweets (optional)

Reading glasses (if required)

Luggage scale This is to weigh your luggage on your return journey.

Pack of pocket tissues A small pack of tissues always comes in handy, no matter the situation. You can use it to maintain your personal hygiene, or clean up any food related accidents you have.

Permanent marker The plastic 5 litre bottles are packed in cardboard boxes. All the boxes look the same. If you write your name on the box it will be easier to spot on the conveyor belt when you arrive back at the UK airport.

Currently they charge 8.5 Riyals for a 5 litre bottle of water at Jeddah and Madinah Al Munawwarah Airport.

Concluding note

I would suggest to the reader of this article to go through the suggested check list above and make a list of things that you will be taking.

The list doesn’t have to be fancy, simply take a pen and a note book and and make a list of things that you intended to take with you and then tick them off as you begin to get everything together. Plan and prepare well in advance and don’t leave things for the last minute.

Below is a summary of the above article to assist you in your planning and preparations.

Concluding Dua

I hope and pray that this article proves beneficial for you and that Allah makes your Umrah easy for you and accepts it from you. Ameen.