One of the best plans you can make for your long summer vacation is to visit Makkah to perform Umrah. It’s a unique, delightful experience that cannot be compared to any country in the world; your soul will enjoy a feeling of serenity and spirituality, and your heart will feel at peace and close to Allah. The Shaza Makkah Hotel is here to offer you some tips for a smooth, easy Umrah (God willing).
Ihram at the Miqat
You can reach the state of Ihram from five Miqats selected by the Prophet (PBUH), who said: “They are for them and for those who have come to them other than their natives who seek to perform Hajj or Umrah.” The five Miqats are: the Juhfa, Dhu’l-Hulayfah, Qarn al-Manazil, Yalamlam, and Dhat Irq. Reaching Ihram from these Miqats is therefore required for anyone passing by them through land, sea, or air. To find out which Miqat you need to pass by, you can call the Shaza Makkah Hotel or ask your flight attendant on the plane to identify the Miqat you will need to pass through.
If you are worried your journey will be too rushed and there won’t be enough time to dress in the Ihram clothing (rida and izar), we recommend preparing in advance, as this clothing is obligatory in the Miqat itself. Be prepared; arrive bathed, clean, and ready with your ihram clothing at hand.
If you enter the Miqat with the intention to perform Umrah, say: “O Allah! I intend to perform Umrah. Make it easy for me and accept it from me,” followed by: “O Allah, my place of exiting ihram will be where You caused me to be prevented [from continuing].” That way, it will not be sinful if you do not complete your journey due to circumstances beyond your power, such as sickness, God forbid.
Welcome to the Shaza Makkah Hotel
When you enter your room at the Shaza Makkah Hotel, make sure to rest on your comfortable bed; performing Umrah is tiring and needs energy. Turn on your TV and tune in to the Holy Quran channel, which airs live coverage of the Haram Al Sharif so you can find out the estimated congestion of the Mataf and the Mas’a to take your precautions before going out.
We’d like to let you know that the Shaza Makkah Hotel includes a Kid’s Club so you don’t need to leave the little ones alone in your room. We’d also like to reassure you that the hotel is very close to the Holy Mosque and so you will not need to take a lot of personal belongings with you, as they might overburden you or they could get lost. These are the items that will prove useful while you’re at the Holy Mosque:
• Tissues
• Prayer booklet
• Some cash
• ID card for emergencies
• Cellphone
• Sunglasses and a small fan to protect you from the heat in the Mataf
• Socks (or you could replace them with the new, clean pair of slippers you will find in your closet)
• Bag for your shoes (you can use the hotel’s laundry bag)
Tawaf in Mataf
When you decide to go to the Holy Mosque, look for the doors designated for pilgrims as they directly lead to the Mataf. As soon as you find yourself in the Mataf, walk with the crowd around the Kaa’ba until you see a green light on your right; this indicates the presence of the Black Stone. Start saying “Bismillah” and “Allahu Akbar”; this is when your true Umrah journey begins. You have seven rounds awaiting you, followed by two Rakats to greet the mosque. Ask Allah everything you desire and read this verse at the end of each round: “Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.” Make sure not to put yourself or others at risk when you’re trying to touch the Kaa’ba, kiss the Black Rock, or look at the Maqam for Ibahim. After finishing the seven rounds, try to get out of the Mataf gradually within the two designated pathways, and don’t intercept someone’s way too sharply for your safety. Afterwards, follow the instructions of the security personnel and supervisors to go to the Mas’a.
The Safa and Marwa
There are three floors for performing Sa’ee, and we recommend asking about the first and second floors as they are usually less crowded than the ground floor. Upon reaching the Mas’a, make sure you are in the Safa path so you can start these rituals the right way. If you find yourself in the opposite path (Marwa) try not to walk opposite the direction of Sa’ee so that you can reach the beginning of the Safa smoothly. Afterwards, receive the Qiblah and read the verse: “Indeed Al-Safa and Al-Marwa are from the places of worship of Allah,” followed by the Duaa: “Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest, there is none worthy of worship except Allah. Allah is the greatest and to Allah is all praise.”
Remember that the Safa is considered one step and the Marwa another; you’ll start the first round at the Safa and end the seventh there as well. Many pilgrims usually rush to the Haram as soon as they are done, but we would recommend thinking about the next place you’ll go first; perhaps your route is already towards the Marwa so you’re not obligated to go outside; you can instead stay in the air conditioned area until you reach the exit that will lead you to wherever you want to go.
May Allah Accept Your Good Deeds
When you exit the Haram, remember that you’re still a pilgrim even though you’ve left the mosque. Wearing perfume and sewn clothes is still forbidden for men, and wearing gloves and the niqab is forbidden for women. Rush over to the hair salon to shorten or shave your hair; women pilgrims on the other hand need to shorten all their hair at the length of a fingertip. As soon as you are back at the Shaza Makkah Hotel, you can check on your little ones at the Kid’s Club, then get a foot massage to start your journey of pampering and relaxation after a long, hard day of worship.
