Nabil Hajj And Umrah

Tips Before Travel

1. Start preparing for Umrah at least 2 months before departure. Go through the procedure, learn some duas and azkaar by heart.
2. It is important to arrange the trip through a reliable and trustworthy travel agent.     You can check theApproved Hajj and Umrah Travel Agents the following ways. 
   1. Company History from Company House website UK www.companieshouse.gov.uk/
   2. Check UK company registration no. Our Company registration No is 5319552
   3. Check ATOL   Air Travel Organisers' Licensing Number by following www.caa.co.uk
   4. Check if the agent is IATA protected.  Our IATA No is  91-278902    www.iata.org
   5. Check if the agent is authorised from the Ministry Of Hajj Saudi Arabia by following their official websitewww.hajinformation.com
   • A   Check in detail what the Umrah  package includes, for example, hotel names, distances from Haram Shariff and Masjid Nabwi. 
   
   
   • B    Check if the package includes food, meals or buffets. 
   
   
   • C    Check exactly how many people will be sharing per room in all locations
   
   
   F     Check about your Transfer Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah.
3. Umrah is physically demanding and it is recommended to practice walking at least 15 minutes a day.
4. Learning basic Arabic will make your daily life easier as most Arabs prefer to communicate in Arabic.
5. Keep your luggage minimum, the less the better. Loading/Unloading luggage can be a hassle, especially whilst travelling by Car to Makkah and Madinah.
6. Carry a cloth/nylon bag for your footwear so that you can conveniently carry your slippers/flip flops around without worrying about them getting misplaced.
7. Take medicines, lots of them. As there are so many people there, coming from various parts of the world and bringing local viruses with them, its better to be prepared especially if you are travelling with kids. Normally take flu, fever, digestive, anti-allergy and general painkiller medicines with you
8. While in Haram or in Masjid, do not jump over people.
9. Crossing in front of people performing Salah is an excuse (in the Haram only), do not make it a routine.
10. Keep a photocopy of your passport and a ID card and card of the hotel you stay at in case stopped by police or lost.
11. Get a good understanding of your location of the hotel in respect of the Haram.
12. If you are travelling with children, have them wear ID Cards with your hotel’s address and contact information.
13. In order to maintain a communication link, use local mobile SIMs. (Provided in our package with 40RS)
14. Be careful when wearing the ihram, practice in advance and make sure you can walk properly and you do not accidently flash.
15. If you are sensitive to light bring sunglasses as it gets very bright and hot
16. A trick to kissing the black stone is to join the queue 10 - 15 minutes before the azan for Asar. The people pushing are shooed away and the line moves quickly.
17. For the Hijr Ismail for Zohar or Asar pray near the entrance and when salat is finished go near the entrance. After the funeral prayer they will open the gate up Maqbarah and it will be straightforward to go in.
18. Learn the funeral prayer (Salat Jenazah).
19. Ladies are allowed into the Ar Raudah section of the prophets mosque in the morning and night for an hour or so. The one at night is a lot less crowded
20. Smile in another Muslims face and say Salam to a stranger
21. Shake someone's hand and ask about their health
22. Guide someone and help someone, carry someone's bags for them
23. Lower your gaze
24. Remind people of the lives of the Sahaabah
25. Read Qur'an with the Tafseer
26. Do the authentic Dhikr of the morning and evening
27. Explain the importance of purifying ones actions for the sake of Allah
28. Don't allow Muslims to fight during Umra.
29. Remember - during the heat - the unending torment of hellfire
30. Say 'Laa ilaaha illa Allah, wahdahu laa sharika lah, lahul Mulk wa lahul hamd, wa Huwa 'ala kulli shay'in Qadeer' 100x
31. Say the dua of entering the market place when you go there
32. Give charity
33. After Umrah go home as better Muslims
34. Forgive people that wrong you
35. Focus hard on helping those immediately near you
36. Remember specific blessings Allah has bestowed upon you and say Alhamdulillah
37. Use a Miswak
38. Always intend reward from Allah for everything you go through during Hajj