Umrah literally means “visit” in Islam to holy lands outside of the hajj season. Umrah is a form of worship that you can perform at any time of the year except for the day of Arafat and the four days of Eid al-Adha. It is recommended to perform Umrah in the month of Ramadan.
Time for Umrah – When Should You Perform?
Umrah worship usually begins in September and ends with the Shawwal Umrah. The quietest periods of the Umrah season are October and November, while the busiest period is Ramadan. Ramadan Umrah is considered the most virtuous Umrah.
How to Perform Umrah?
Before the miqat borders, the ihram is put on. The person reaches the Kaaba with the takbir, tahlil, talbiyah and salawat. After the tawaf around the Kaaba, you need to perform tawaf prayer and also perform the sa’i between the hills of Safa and Marwa. You have to shave and take off the ihram to complete the Umrah..
Tips for Those Planning to Perform Umrah
Perhaps you are planning to make the Umrah pilgrimage in the near future. For this reason, we thought it would be useful to take the time to write down some tips for those who are planning to make the wonderful Umrah journey in the near future.
One of the most important Umrah tips in the first place is something that requires the utmost attention: your passport. First of all, it is extremely important to have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months. This requirement ensures a smooth journey and prevents possible problems at immigration checkpoints.
As a precaution, it is recommended that you check the expiration date of your passport in advance and renew it if necessary. Also, make sure that your passport is in good condition, without any damage and missing pages.
🔐 Note: Keeping your passport safe and secure throughout your journey is extremely important as it serves as your primary form of identification.
📘 Homework
Generally, people prepare for the trip, and collect various books about Hajj and the virtues of performing it. However, you will find it difficult to find information about Umrah. Of course, the books about Hajj had footnotes with small texts about Umrah, but these fragments will not satisfy your thirst to know more. We do not intend to promote one book after another to you, but we want to advise you to read what you are about to experience.
Also, make copies of your passport and other important documents and send these copies to yourself and your loved ones by email. This way you will have copies if something suddenly goes wrong.
🧕 Learn the rules of Ihram
There are some rules that people may unknowingly break. For example, know that you cannot use scented soap in the state of ihram, so try to find unscented soap before you leave.
** Another rule: do not cover your head in your ihram (for men). So even if it is very hot, do not cover yourself with a towel to protect yourself from the sun.
** Another issue: It is very important to cover your awrah in the state of ihram. Do not uncover yourself when you are in ihram, be careful about this.
💈 Hygiene in the hairdresser’s
After completing Umrah, it is obligatory for both men and women to cut their hair. Men can cut their entire head short if they do not want to shave it completely.
If you decide to shave your head completely, which is recommended, make sure your barber uses a new razor on you. This is a Saudi Arabian government requirement, and most barbers follow it, but it’s still best to be careful and make sure your barber opens the blade in front of you, because you don’t want to catch certain blood-borne diseases.
As a woman, you should not cut your hair near the Kaaba. Wait until you return to the hotel and only then can you remove your hijab and cut your hair. Do not sacrifice your modesty to finish Umrah quickly.
🕌 Visit Ar-Rawda
The best time to visit Ar-Rawda in Medina is at night. Ar-Rawda is considered a piece of Paradise in the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina. You can easily identify it by the green carpets laid out, but it is not so easy to use. Many people intending to pray here fight for a small place in Ar-Rawda.
After talking to the people of Madinah, the best time to pray in Ar-Rawdah (for men) is at night. If you wait a few hours after Isha prayer or a few hours before Fajr, then at that time the rush in Ar-Rawdah is less and it will be much easier for you to pray and you will have some time to reflect without the noise and bustle that occurs at any other time.
🏞️ Visiting historical places in Medina
The best time to visit historical places is in the morning, between sunrise and Zuhr prayer. You can visit places like: the site of the Battle of Uhud, or the Quba Mosque, built by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), which is the first mosque.
** Note: Don’t forget to pray 2 rakats in Quba Mosque and get the reward of one Umrah when you are there.
📱 Communication with family
If you have a smartphone, download WhatsApp, Viber or related apps to your phone and you will easily be able to call home for free via WiFi, which is provided in almost all hotels. Switch your phone to airplane mode and turn on WiFi, then you will not be charged for roaming.
🤝 Communicate with people
There are people from all over the world. Mecca and Medina are places where people from all over the world gather. So, ask people where they are from, and in this way, you can meet people from countries you never expected to meet. You will definitely be inspired by the beautiful brotherhood of our amazing religion.
🙏 8. Make dua
Easy to say, much harder to do. Make dua for yourself, for others, for the entire Ummah. You have been given the blessing of visiting the sacred lands, so take advantage of this and make lots and lots of dua.
How to Go to Umrah?
In the USA, Umrah services are provided by the Presidency of Religious Affairs and authorized agencies. After you intend to go to Umrah, it will be sufficient to apply to the Presidency of Religious Affairs or one of the authorized Umrah travel agencies. You can review our Umrah service page to learn about our Umrah tours and to apply.
How To Find The Best Umrah agency in Plano, TX?
Umrah is a journey that includes Muslims visiting holy lands with the intention of worship. It includes deep spiritual feelings and worship. In addition, it also includes all tourism behaviors. Thus; customers have many expectations from Umrah agencies.
Keeping promises, necessary material support, comfort, being solution-oriented, etc. increase the reliability of Umrah performers to companies. So, how can the best Umrah agency be? How can you tell? What should you pay attention to?
1. The Umrah agency Must Have Authorization Documents
First of all, the Umrah agency that leads the way in pilgrimages such as Hajj and Umrah must have all the authorization documents. In addition, the agency must strictly comply with the updated regulations.
It is impossible for agencies that do not comply with official rules to leave a positive image. When viewed from this perspective, it is easy to reach the following conclusion: the best Umrah agency is the one that pays maximum attention to the rules.
2. Always Keeping Comfort and Safety First
Since Umrah is a form of worship that includes travel, comfort is very important. People being comfortable during travel will allow them to spend healthier time on their worship. Therefore, the best Umrah travel agencies take care to carry out all activities of their guests such as travel, accommodation, nutrition and rest in the most comfortable way.
The expectations from a good Umrah travel agent are that the buses are comfortable and well-equipped, the rooms are air-conditioned, clean and airy, the food is varied, fresh, delicious and healthy, and the employees are respectful, reliable, helpful and competent in their field.
3. Competence in Guidance Service
Guidance is one of the most important issues in Umrah. It is the most natural right of Muslims who want to visit the holy places for Umrah to receive accurate and understandable information. For this reason, you should select the Umrah guide from experienced, regionally competent, and eloquent people. In this way, the spiritual satisfaction of Umrah performers will be maximized. You should note that the guides of the best Umrah agency are also the best in their field.
4. Keeping promises
Before going to Umrah, every travel agency makes some promises to its guests. These are accommodation conditions, fee schedules, technological device support, etc. The best Umrah agencies will not make any changes after the journey has started by fully complying with these conditions.
They must meet the agreed price, the specified conditions, the departure and return dates, and the promised places to visit. Keeping all of its promises is a positive step taken by an Umrah agency towards becoming the best company.
5. Accessibility, transparency and institutionality
The best companies always maintain the principles of being accessible, receiving support and having access to satisfactory information about their services. In this regard, you can examine the corporate website of the Umrah agency you want to travel with, look at the comments made on their social media accounts and reach them through their phone numbers. Having major problems at these stages, being unreachable and not responding to messages is detrimental to the company’s image.
The Best Umrah Awaits You with iTravelBest!
Having carried thousands of Umrah pilgrims for many years in Plano, TX, iTravelBest has all official authorization documents since the day it was founded. It hosts pilgrims and Umrah candidates in the holy lands under reliable, comfortable and economical conditions. We have male and female guides who are experts in their fields and who are experts in the Mecca-i Mukarrama and Medina-i Munawwarah regions.
Within the framework of the 24-hour service approach, we are with our guests at all times with our consultants. We have been supporting our Umrah pilgrims for years with our economical Umrah concepts and options suitable for every budget. All our personnel serving our guests in our travel agency in Plano are cheerful, sincere and helpful. You can reach us at any time for detailed information by calling at (972) 837-5009.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
What is the best time to perform Umrah?
The best time to perform Umrah is during the month of Ramadan, as it holds the most virtue. However, you can perform Umrah any time of the year, except on the Day of Arafat and the four days of Eid al-Adha.
How do I prepare for Umrah from the USA?
To prepare for Umrah from the USA, apply through the Presidency of Religious Affairs or an authorized Umrah travel agency. Ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months, learn the rules of Ihram, and read about the rituals and spiritual significance of Umrah.
What are the steps to perform Umrah?
Umrah includes entering Ihram before the miqat, performing Tawaf around the Kaaba, praying the Tawaf prayer, doing Sa’i between Safa and Marwa, then cutting or shaving the hair to complete the rites.
How can I find the best Umrah agency in Plano, TX?
To find the best Umrah agency in Plano, TX, check for authorization documents, comfort and safety provisions, expert guides, transparent communication, and strong customer reviews. Agencies like iTravelBest meet all these criteria.
What are some important tips for first-time Umrah pilgrims?
Important Umrah tips include: carry a valid passport, avoid scented products during Ihram, ensure hygienic shaving practices, visit Ar-Rawda during quiet hours, and use hotel WiFi apps to stay connected with family.
