TRAVEL | RELIGION | ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE
My Experiences With Umrah
A visit full of unforgettable blessings
“Mubarak” (Congratulations) is what kept ringing in my head as each one of my family and friends greeted me every time they saw me. I and my family were indeed lucky to get this opportunity to do Umrah.
Umrah in its simplest terms is a visit to the Holy cities of Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia.
Many wish to go but aren’t able to due to varied reasons.
Step 0: Getting visas and booking Umrah tour
There are many tour operators offering Umrah services.
Getting an eVisa to Saudia Arabia is a simple and fast process. As long as you have a valid passport and the photographs as per their specifications, they will provide you the visa in a week’s time.
Step 1: Reaching Saudi Arabia
Excellent facilities at Mumbai Airport
We had our tour starting and ending in Mumbai.
Mumbai airport has a very convenient arrangement for changing into Ahrams. There is a prayer room very close to the gate from where the flight to Jeddah departs.
Note that wearing Ahram for males could be tricky. So they better practice it at home.
Boarding starts well before the departure time.
Jeddah Airport
Jeddah Airport is huge. Strangely the airplane dropped us far from the terminal. We had to travel via bus to the terminal. It was a fairly long drive, which took at least 10 minutes.
After reaching the terminal, we had to take a train to reach the exit gate. It took us a long 3 hours to come out of the airport including Immigration.
Jeddah to Mecca by bus
We travelled to Mecca by bus. The bus journey was quite smooth.
Step 2: Doing Your Rituals in Mecca
Performing Umrah
It was around 8:30 PM when we reached our hotel.
The tour operator suggested that we could rest for the night as it had been a long journey and go to Haram in the morning. But we decided to do Umrah on the same night after having dinner.
Viewing Kaa’ba For The First Time
It is said that when you make a reasonable wish while seeing Kaa’ba for the first time, your wish is guaranteed to be granted.
Additionally, the feeling you get when you first view it is out of this world. You will get spiritually high.
I wish everyone who wants to visit Mecca gets to visit at least once in their life. The feeling you get when you are near Kaa’ba cannot be explained and appreciated enough until experienced.
Ahram Is Compulsory For Doing Tawaafs near Kaa’ba
To control the crowd, the management has made wearing of Ahram compulsory for males if they want to go to the Ground level near Kaaba.
I would recommend wearing an Ahram and going to the ground level as doing Tawaaf at the first level will mean you cannot touch the Kaa’ba. And more importantly, you will have to move at least 3 times more to do a tawaaf.
Crowd
We witnessed a huge crowd at any time we went.
Thankfully, we were informed at the very start of the tour that you would find the crowd almost all the time. So, our expectations were set.
Don’t think that doing Tawaafs during the night vs doing in the early morning, vs doing in the afternoon will be easier.
Crowd Management in the Haram
One of the most impressive parts about the crew who manage the Haram is how they handle such a huge crowd.
The crew uses plastic barricades to block certain sections. In essence, they make sure that the crowd is moving only in one direction. So, if you enter the Haram from a certain gate, while exiting you may have to circle quite a bit to exit from the same gate.
Cleanliness
Hygiene is at its maximum. There is constant cleaning in progress at different parts of Haram. It’s hard to find even a dust particle on the floor.
I have read that there are around 1800 people employed just for cleaning!
Purpose
Millions of people basically have the same purpose i.e., to do Tawaafs, do Ibaadat (worship) near Kaa’ba and in Masjid-un-Nabavi. No one has any other business to attend. It’s rare to have such a huge crowd all aligned for such a long period.
Miracles
Miracles happen day in and out if you have a close eye to it. We never felt pain in our legs even after moving for so much distance every day. Zamzam water has excellent healing powers. Even when in Medina, you have unlimited access to Zamzam water in the masjid.
Returning Home
I had the strangest feeling on the last day. I was content that we were able to perform as many “Arkaans” (rituals) as we could during the past 2 weeks. However, I was not sure if I would ever be able to come back.
All things, good or bad, do come to an end. But I am glad we were taking back a lot of lessons for life.
Lessons
If you ever go to Umrah, read these lessons before you go there.
I wish someone could have told me about these. My experiences could have been even better.
Lead A Complaint-Free Life
I was talking to one of our tour companions. She mentioned an eye-opening Hadith. She said I have heard many of us complain about the arrangements here. We seek perfection everywhere. We forget why we are here.
That gave me a jerk. I was doing the same. On one hand, I was happy to visit Mecca but on the other hand, I was complaining about the smallest imperfections.
I am practicing not to complain. Am not there yet fully but I am moving forward step by step. It has made my life easier and the heat in my head has gone down.
Gratefulness
I can’t thank God enough for getting this opportunity to do Umrah and that too with my family. My kids will never forget this experience.
Reflecting on this blessing, I can’t help but acknowledge that there are many, including my in-laws, who yearned for this sacred pilgrimage yet were unable to do Umrah.
It’s a reminder of the countless souls who passed away without fulfilling their desire to visit this holy site.
I want to remind myself to be grateful every single day.
Humbleness
No one fights or raises their voice in these 2 holy cities. While visiting Mecca or Medina, I have not seen a single person raise their voice or fight or argue.
While doing Tawaafs, there were moments when I got upset at others who were rushing and wanting to go past me. But slowly I realized that the more I care about such aspects the more I will be missing out on the spiritual connection. Everyone is here for the same purpose. Miraculously, when I stopped bothering, the tawaafs were much smoother.
Worldly Desires vs Spirituality
Spirituality can give you satisfaction that cannot be matched by any worldly possessions.
We were wearing the simplest of clothes without any make-up, without any jewelry, watches, or accessories, yet we were happy.
Unexpected Sightings
While many things were impressive, there were a few minor things I saw that raised questions. Nonetheless, these are nothing in comparison to the good things that you experience.
Inequality
There are different residential options you get based on what you pay. There is a Clock tower next to Haram which is the most expensive. You can view Kaa’ba even from the hotel rooms.
There are cheaper hotels that are far from Haram. In such cases, the guests have to rely on bus services/taxis to get to Haram.
That means, the wealthier you are, the closer you get to stay and thus, you get more time and convenience.
That felt so unfair.
I believe everyone should have the same experience. Everyone who intends to do Umrah should stay in simple rooms, eat simple food, and commute using the same modes of transport.
Even at such holy places, one should not be reminded of their social status.
Phone Usage
Congratulations to the Social Media app developers. You have managed to get your apps in Haram and Masjids too. Some crazy folks are posing in front of Kaaba and Masjid un Nabavi with pouts and smiles that can give Monalisa a run for money.
I am unable to “unsee” one particular sight. A lady was wearing a black dress imitating the black Kaaba cloth. She was posing in front of Kaaba with a huge smile, hands spread out, and had a cameraman taking pictures of her!
However, I also saw a lady on a video call with her sick mum lying in a hospital bed. The daughter who was in Haram was crying while showing Kaa’ba to her mum.
So am not sure if allowing phones in Haram is good or bad.
Shoes / Sandals
The strangest part is that you are allowed to wear shoes/sandals while doing tawaaf. Not sure what is the reason for this.
Wish you all the best! If you ever go, do remember me and my family in your “Doas” 🙏.