Umrah in Ramadan: A Guide for Travelling in the Last 10 Nights

Performing Umrah during Ramadan is more significant and virtuous than Umrah in any other month. Islam has given great importance to Ramadan. Its blessing is also that if you perform Umrah in this blessed month, it’s equivalent to the rewards of the annual Hajj. It is mentioned in the Hadith (the second most valuable resource of Islam) that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:

“Perform Umrah in Ramadan as it is equivalent to Hajj in rewards.” – Sahih al-Bukhari: 1782

Ramadan is a month in the Islamic calendar that lasts either 29 or 30 days. This blessed month is divided into three stages, and each stage holds 10 days. These stages, also known as “Ashra” are divided into three periods: Mercy, Forgiveness, and protection from Hellfire. All three are significant to Muslims because they get closer to Allah SWT and ask for forgiveness. However, the last ten nights or days are more honourable to Muslims.

In the last 10 nights of Ramadan, the odd ones (21^st, 23^rd, 25^th, 27^th, and 29^th) are more precious. On one of these nights, strongly 27^th night, the Holy Quran was revealed by Allah SWT. That’s the reason, one of the nights is called “the night of decree or power”. In Arabic, it’s also called “Laylat al-Qadr”. The Holy Quran itself says about this night in the chapter 97:

“Indeed, We sent the Quran down during this night of decree.” – Verse: 1

A lot of Muslims take advantage of the last ten nights of Ramadan and depart for the Umrah pilgrimage. Performing Umrah this month is really a blessed and spiritual experience. When it’s performed in the last odd days or nights, it becomes even more than just performing rituals. So, here we will see a complete Umrah travel guide when you intend to undertake it in this blessed month during the last stage.

Travel Arrangement and Preparation Guide

Whether you plan to perform Umrah in any other month or during Ramadan, you must have to arrange your travel and prepare for every aspect. If you think that just booking an air ticket for Umrah and related services will fulfil your Umrah, then you are wrong. Although these are the essential services but a complete roadmap can make your experience smooth and fulfilled with worship. Travel arrangements include flight tickets, accommodation, visa, transportation, and Ziyarats. All these essential services will be included in the Ramadan Umrah packages during the last ten nights. You need to contact a trusted Umrah agency, and helpful agents will help you with the booking process.

Try to reserve your tickets and visa as early as possible. The last ten nights of Ramadan are very busy for booking as well as inside Makkah city. This is the peak time when flight costs are more than usual. The demand for a visa is also high during this period, so apply at least 4 to 6 months before.

Apart from travel arrangements, you should also prepare for your religious trip in terms of spiritually, physically, and mentally. Set your intentions for Umrah before travelling: “O Allah, I’m just coming for Umrah to worship you”. You can also say in your own words, just making Duas is the key to a successful pilgrimage. For physically and mentally fitness, you can practice being hydrated (Saudi Arabia is warm in summer), improving your stamina, and enhancing your sleep schedule.

Procedure of Umrah in Ramadan (Step-by-Step)

Umrah in Ramadan does not consist of just a single step that you will perform and complete the process. Instead, it’s a combination of four different steps or rituals that you have to perform step by step. Even these have to be performed in various places, but inside the Grand Mosque of Makkah, except for the last ritual, the Qasr. Look at the four main steps here!

1. Wear Ihram attire
2. Perform Tawaf around the Holy Kaaba
3. Perform Sa’ee between the two hills (Safa and Marwah)
4. Do Halq or Taqsir (Qasr – hair shaving for men and cutting for women)

To make your travel religious and purely for the purpose you come to Makkah, first of all, you have to wear the Ihram dress. Ihram is a condition of purity which have a specific dress code; two white clothes for males and a traditional Abaya for female travellers. The Ihram state has some dos and don’ts that you must obey. Even while fasting, you have to follow them (not using perfume directly, avoiding quarrelling, staying politely, etc.).

The second ritual is performing Tawaf around the Holy Kaaba. Tawaf includes only seven rounds in an anticlockwise direction. During the last 10 nights of Ramadan, there are more and more crowds performing Tawaf around the Kaaba. So, focus on your ritual and recite Duas while conducting the ritual.

Sa’ee is again the walking step between the Safa and Marwah hills. This step must be done seven times, which means seven laps or rounds. During Ramadan, the stamina of pilgrims typically is down because of fasting. As Umrah rituals require an energetic and active body, elderly travellers may face minor problems. So, maintain your stamina while fasting and appear before Allah SWT’s house in a new spiritual state.

Special Prayers in the Last 10 Nights of Umrah

As we discussed, the last ten nights of Ramadan are so special. During this period, the worship and deeds done in Umrah give more mysterious rewards than a normal Umrah performance. As an Umrah traveller, you can do many special prayers in the last ten nights. One of them is Qiyam-ul-Layl (Tahajjud), which is performed in the last third of the night. This is special because Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to engage in Tahajjud during the 10 days of Ramadan.

Search for Laylat al-Qadr in the last 10 nights, in which prayers are equivalent to 1000 months of worship. Do prayers in this blessed night and make Dua of the third (last) Ashra. Special prayers also include reciting the Holy Quran and repenting for your past sins. You should know that Ramadan is the month of the Holy Quran.

If you are in Masjid al-Haram or Masjid an-Nabawi, you will have plenty of time to recite prayers. Keep in mind, this time is precious for you, and try not to waste it on other stuff like shopping and eating. Try to recite “Astaghfirullah” 100+ times daily.

One of the popular special prayers is Itikaf, which can only be performed in the last ten days of Ramadan. Itikaf means “to adhere” or “to devote”. You can do this in Makkah and Madinah inside Mosques within a designated area. In this, one only spends time in worship, prayers, and reciting the Holy Quran.

Practical Tips and Guidelines to Follow During Umrah in Ramadan

In this final section of the blog post, we will see some practical tips and guidelines that you should follow to enhance your Umrah rewards in the blessed month.

• Umrah during Ramadan is a very good act to get more spiritual rewards. So, perform it at least once in your life.
• Choose your accommodation near to Haram boundaries. It would be easy for you to conduct prayers on time. However, in the final ten days of Ramadan, accommodation near to Haram will be costly.
• Avoid dehydration while fasting and increase your water intake during Suhoor, but not too much.
• Makkah is crowded during Ramadan, so make all your arrangements in advance. Also, improve your patience practices.
• Perform Tawaf and Sa’ee in the early morning or late hours of the night, when crowds are less.
• If you can afford or possible for you, you must do Itikaf in Makkah or Madinah.
• Help others and give charity to the needed ones before starting your Umrah travel. It will be highly rewarding for you.
• Try to avoid using mobile phones or any other digital device inside the sacred areas, and respect the Mosques and cultural practices.

In conclusion, Umrah in the last ten nights of Ramadan is not just a physically journey but a major spiritual one. Hence, this lesser pilgrimage in the blessed 9^th month of the Islamic calendar makes your experience memorable and blessed.