Umrah is an important pilgrimage that holds intense spiritual and religious meaning in Islam. If you have made up your mind to perform Umrah then it is time to prepare for your Umrah journey. The pilgrims seek Allah’s blessings and form a spiritual connection with the almighty in this religious journey. Every year, millions of pilgrims get the opportunity to worship Allah in the holy city of Mecca.
But, it is more challenging than it sounds. Getting ready for Umrah takes a lot more preparation than you think. No one should consider this as a holiday where you can go and enjoy. Everyone should learn the basic rules and understand the essential things to prepare for Umrah. Always pay attention to the details. From essential paperwork to toiletries, everything should be kept in mind when you are making an Umrah preparation list.
To prepare for your Umrah journey, you have to carefully pack the things that will be necessary for the pilgrimage. If you want to know about the tips to prepare and what you should add to your Umrah checklist then this blog is for you. In this blog, we have mentioned the necessary things for your checklist that will help you prepare for your Umrah journey. In addition, there are some important tips for Umrah preparation for ladies that every woman must follow. Read more to learn what to add to your checklist and how to prepare for Umrah.
Never Forget the Travel Documents
Before packing your bags and rushing to the airport, you must ensure to prepare for your Umrah journey. Checking the necessary documents is a must. No one is allowed to visit Mecca randomly and enter the pilgrimage. There are specific documents required for the pilgrims. Passports and visas are surely the most important things to prepare for Umrah. But after COVID, submitting your vaccination certificates had become necessary. Furthermore, Umrah preparation for ladies requires documents whether they are travelling with a companion or travelling with a group as a solo female. Here are the important documents to prepare for Umrah:
- Passport and Visa with copies
- Flight tickets
- Certificate of Vaccination
- Debit and credit cards
- Local currency (Saudi Riyal)
- Relationship certificate, if travelling with a spouse.
- No objection certificate and documents signed by the family, if travelling in a group without a Mahram.
- Confirmation documents of hotel bookings and transportation
Appropriate Clothing to Prepare for your Umrah Journey
Umrah is the worship of Allah that an individual must attend with pure intentions. So, you should dress appropriately to show your intention which should be nothing but praying to God. Once coming to the state of Ihram, men should drape themselves with unstitched white cloth throughout the journey. Other than that, here’s what they should pack:
- Extra pair of undergarments.
- Additional change of cloth
- Slippers and sandals
- Comfortable shoes
Women’s Umrah Preparation List
Umrah preparation for ladies is a little different from men’s. They must pack modest clothes that do not expose any part of the body except for the hands and face. Umrah preparation for ladies requires loose-fit clothes. Abaya will be the right choice of garment to prepare for Umrah. Also, wearing bright colours during the journey is not allowed as it would attract people’s attention towards you. Simultaneously, applying makeup and perfume is strictly prohibited during Umrah. Furthermore, women should avoid performing Umrah during their menstrual cycle. So, prepare for your Umrah journey after carefully evaluating the monthly cycle. Here’s what you should prepare for your Umrah journey:
- Extra pair of clothes, in case the ones you are wearing get dirty.
- Safety pins and clips
- Undergarments
- Slippers
- Shoes or runners
Never Forget Hygiene and Health Supplies
Never miss the supplies that promote health and hygiene when getting ready for Umrah. It should be the responsibility of the pilgrims to maintain hygiene while performing Umrah. Cleansing yourself properly and maintaining personal hygiene is a must. Other than that, paying attention to your health is the foremost important thing. When you prepare for your Umrah journey, you must ensure that you are not compromising your health. Maintaining solid and liquid intake is quite important to make sure your body is not suffering in the journey. Umrah takes a lot of energy, and staying hungry and dehydrating your body will not do you any favour. In fact, it will worsen the situation. Here’s what you should add to your checklist to maintain hygiene and health:
- Wet wipes
- Handwash
- Soap
- Toiletries
- Hand sanitiser
- Face towels
- Nail clipper
- Medicines
- First-aid kit
- Energy snacks
- Rehydration drinks
Add Gadgets and Accessories to the Umrah Preparation List
Just because you are going on a spiritual journey doesn’t mean you have to disconnect from the world. You can use electronic gadgets to connect with the world and capture memories. I would recommend buying a local SIM card to contact your family and friends. Prepare for your Umrah journey wisely when packing gadgets and accessories. What else do you need to pack?
- A smartphone
- Charger
- Power bank with universal charging cable
- Camera
- Batteries
- Local SIM card
- Headphones
Prayer Essentials
Getting ready for Umrah will be incomplete without the prayer essentials. These are the necessary things you will need when offering prayers to Allah and following the rituals. You will require the holy book, Quran to perform prayer. However, there are books available in the mosque but you should carry one as the mosque will already be too crowded with pilgrims. Thus, you might lose your spot. So try to be ready with your prayer essentials when you prepare for your Umrah journey. Below is the Umrah preparation list for prayer essentials:
- Pocket Quran
- Dua book
- Prayer beads called Tasbeeh
- Prayer mat
- Guides to perform Umrah
Carry Bags and Things to Keep With Yourself
Of course, you will not proceed to Umrah with everything on your hands. You will need a proper bag to keep the items. Opt for a spacious carry bag that you will keep throughout your journey. There are bags available online that are designed specifically for Umrah journeys. You can buy that and prepare for your Umrah journey with the required items in your carry bag. Here’s the list of items you should keep with yourself in your bag when you prepare for your Umrah journey:
- Water bottle (Prefer a reusable water bottle and drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration).
- Pen and notebook
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Umbrella
- Documents
- Emergency cash
- Debit and Credit cards
- Snacks, biscuits, and beverages
- Comb
- Tissues & non-fragrant wet wipes
