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Importance & Benefits of Performing Umrah During Ramadan

03 July 2024

Performing Umrah during Ramadan is a privilege and if you are still on the fence about it, here are the importance and benefits of it. Umrah is a sacred pilgrimage, an act of worship that Muslims perform by visiting the Holy Kaaba in Mecca. It is a journey to renew faith, rejuvenate the soul, and seek repentance for your past sins. Umrah is a Sunnah that brings peace and happiness if performed with the purest of intentions.

Ramadan is a sacred month for Muslims and holds great importance in Islam. It’s a month of blessings. Muslims fast each day from dusk till dawn during this month. The entire month is an exercise in self-control and diligently following the teachings of Islam. Allah promises great rewards for those who observe Ramadan with pure intentions. Now imagine the blessings you’ll get performing the pilgrimage in Ramadan. It’s the reason Muslims try their best to perform the pilgrimage in Ramadan. The Prophet (PBUH) said that performing Umrah in Ramadan equals performing Hajj with him. Here we will discuss the importance and benefits of performing Umrah during Ramadan.

Purpose of Umrah

The holy pilgrimage isn’t an obligatory act of worship, but Muslims perform it to gain Allah’s blessings and bounty. The purpose of this Sunnah is to have Allah as your host and strengthen your connection with Him, ask the Almighty to forgive your sins, and renew your faith.
Nowadays, Muslims don’t give much importance to Sunnah, but the Quran says that following Sunnah makes you eligible for Allah’s love.  There is no incentive or reward bigger than this to perform Umrah.

Strengthens Connection with Allah

The main purpose of the holy pilgrimage is to renew your faith in Allah by strengthening your connection with him. Praying in front of the Kaaba is an overwhelming experience, you can feel the divine presence.Pilgrims often describe how calmness takes over them when they visit Mecca. Muslims consider the Kaaba the house of Allah. When you perform Umrah, you have the Almighty as your host.

Seek Forgiveness

Islam emphasizes that Muslims exercise self-control and refrain from sin. Humans aren’t perfect, and sometimes the allure of sin blinds us. That doesn’t mean we are condemned, as Islam also emphasizes repentance. What better way to seek forgiveness than to ask for it directly in front of the Kaaba? The pilgrimage is a chance to seek forgiveness for our mortal sins. It cleanses our souls and lifts an invisible burden from our shoulders.

You are Performing Jihad

Jihad is the noblest of acts in Islam. It’s usually associated with fighting for the cause of Islam, but it’s so much more than that. It refers to any struggle or effort to conform to Allah’s guidance. In essence, anything can be Jihad, the act of self-control in our daily lives, or standing up for the weak. Umrah is a physically challenging pilgrimage. You are facing physical hardships to attain Allah’s bounty and conform to His will. The holy pilgrimage is a form of Jihad. The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Whoever leaves his home only for Hajj or Umrah and dies, nothing will be presented to him nor will he have any accountability on the day of judgment, and it will be said to him, enter into Jannah.”

Gift of Wealth

One of the rewards or blessings of the holy pilgrimage is the eradication of poverty. Allah grants the gift of wealth to the pilgrims for their physical and financial exertion. If your financial situation isn’t satisfactory and nothing in the world is working for you, perform Umrah and ask Allah to grant you financial well-being as you stand in front of the Kaaba. The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Perform Hajj and Umrah consecutively, for they remove poverty and sin as bellow removes impurity from iron.

Reaffirms Faith

The purpose of the holy pilgrimage is to strengthen your faith in Allah. In our daily lives, we tend to drift away from the teachings of Islam. It’s the small sins that weaken our faith little by little. You don’t necessarily need to perform the pilgrimage to reaffirm your faith, but it’s the best way to do it following Hajj. During the pilgrimage, you are the Almighty's guest, and you can feel the divine presence. There is no better way to reaffirm your faith in Allah.

Benefits of Umrah during Ramadan

Till now, the topic of discussion has been the purpose, and benefits of Umrah and how it helps Muslims reaffirm their faith and gain Allah’s blessings. Performing the pilgrimage during Ramadan is an entirely different experience. There is a sense of blessing during the holy month, and it’s increased tenfold during the pilgrimage. Here are the importance and benefits of performing Umrah during Ramadan.

It’s Like Performing Hajj

Hajj is obligatory worship, but only for those who are physically and financially capable. Islam is considerate of one’s circumstances and doesn’t force anything upon its followers. Everyone can’t afford or get a chance to perform Hajj due to their circumstances, but performing Umrah during Ramadan is the next best thing. Performing the pilgrimage during the holy month is equal to performing Hajj.

Special Events During Ramadan

Ramadan is a special month that brings Muslims closer to their spirituality. Performing the holy pilgrimage in Ramadan is itself an event. One of the benefits of performing Umrah during the holy month is getting to experience special events in the heart of the Muslim world.

Laylat al-Qadr

Laylat al-Qadr is a night of forgiveness when Allah forgives all your sins. During your time in Mecca and Medina in the holy month, you get to observe Laylat al-Qadr in Haram or Masjid e Nabawi. Asking the Almighty for forgiveness is one reason to perform the Holy Pilgrimage, and observing Laylat al-Qadr during this time increases your chances tenfold.

Itikaf

Itikaf is a Sunnah where Muslims spend the last ten days of Ramadan inside a mosque. It’s a spiritual retreat that is spent worshiping Allah. It ensures Muslims are there when the night of Laylat al-Qadr occurs. Isolated from the outside world, Muslims spend their waking hours praying and reading the Quran. Is there any bigger blessing than to observe Itikaf in the holy city of Mecca? It’s a privilege to observe Itikaf inside Haram with Allah as your host.

Taraweeh

Taraweeh is a special Sunnah as it can only be performed during Ramadan. Allah promises the gift of forgiveness to those who perform it. Muslims practice this Sunnah for the entire month. Perform Umrah during Ramadan, and you’ll offer Taraweeh in Haram and Masjid e Nabawi. It multiplies the blessings and grants you a sense of calm.

Eid ul Fitr

Eid ul Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and is a celebration of observing fast during the holy month. Muslims offer communal prayer at daybreak on the first day of this celebrated event. Celebrating this special event with their family is a joyous occasion for every Muslim. But celebrating it in the holy city is a different experience. No matter if you are celebrating it alone or with friends. Perform the holy pilgrimage at the right time with the right travel package, and you’ll get to celebrate Eid ul Fitr in the holy city.

Increased Reward

The entirety of the holy month is a blessing. It allows Muslims to reconnect with their spirituality, and the rewards for every act of worship are increased. This is also true for performing the holy pilgrimage during Ramadan. Performing the Umrah during Ramadan is equal to Hajj. This means the rewards for performing the pilgrimage during the holy month are increased.

Forgiveness

Allah is the most forgiving and grants forgiveness to anyone who asks for it with pure intentions. During the holy month, Allah’s forgiveness knows no bounds, and he forgives for the smallest of acts of kindness.

Tips for Planning Your Umrah Trip

Umrah is a special act of worship, and pilgrims must be prepared before embarking on the journey. Before you book your package and get a flight to Mecca, consider these tips for the Umrah trip in Ramadan 2025.

Consider Multiple Packages

Travel agencies offer special packages for Umrah in Ramadan. Some packages are better than others, or you get the same service for a lower price. Don’t settle for the first package you get. Do research and compare packages from different agencies, ask in clear terms what services are included in the package, and make a decision.

Pack Smartly

Saudi Arabia’s weather is hot for most of the year. Before leaving for the holy pilgrimage, check the weather and pack according to it. Don’t overburden yourself with things that you won’t need. It’ll make it difficult for you to commute from the airport to the hotel. Also, pack two pairs of comfortable footwear. You’ll be walking a lot during the pilgrimage, and it takes a toll on your feet. A comfortable pair of footwear will ease the impact of continuous walking.

Increased Crowds

Haram remains crowded throughout the year, and you’ll find it even more crowded during Ramadan. This is because Muslims prefer to perform Umrah during Ramadan. This means you won’t easily find a spot to offer prayers, and there will be long lines for rituals. Combined with the hot weather, it’ll get difficult if you perform the pilgrimage. You must stay calm and patient, as the pilgrimage demands it.

Schedule

As mentioned, the crowds increase during Ramadan, but you do get an opportunity to perform the Umrah rituals with minimal crowds. During the holy month, the schedule of the day changes. Pilgrims tend to stay in the hotel during the day because they observe fast and the hot weather isn’t favorable for most. During this time, there is less crowd in Haram, and you can perform the pilgrimage rituals if you are physically capable of it. This way, you perform the rituals in peace.

Arrive Early for Jummah

Friday is a special day for Muslims, as they make preparations for their congregational prayer, Jummah. Mecca is already overcrowded during Ramadan, and you won’t find a suitable spot to perform Jummah if you arrive late. Ensure that you arrive early to easily find a spot to offer prayers.

Safety

Even in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, one needs to be cautious and observe safety practices. Pickpockets are common, and they use the crowd to their advantage. Don’t keep cash with you while performing rituals. Considering, you can pay for everything with a debit or credit card, it makes it easy for pilgrims to go cashless. If you must keep cash with you, then only keep enough cash that you need for the day. This way, if you get pickpocketed, you only lose a fraction of your money.

Conclusion

Umrah is a sacred pilgrimage, and performing it during Ramadan is a different experience. Not only are the blessings increased tenfold, but pilgrims also get to participate in special events like Taraweeh and Itikaf. These are the importance and benefits of performing Umrah in Ramadan.

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