Umrah is a once-in-a-lifetime dream for millions of Muslims all over the world. It is a process of purification, worship, and a deep connection to Allah. Unlike Hajj, which has fixed dates and a set schedule according to the Islamic calendar, Umrah can be performed at any time of the year as a minor pilgrimage. Many travellers from the US plan their spiritual journey through Umrah Packages from USA, which also helps them manage the flexibility and decide the number of days to spend on Umrah.
There is no easy figure that can be the answer. The pilgrimage is not only about the rituals of Tawaf and Sa’i, although the performance of the religious rituals can be easily conducted in a number of few hours. When travelling to the West, particularly the United States, some of the factors in logistics like the flight time, jet lag, and the desire to visit the Prophet Mosque in Madinah, are key factors to consider during itinerary making. The reasons are necessary so that your pilgrimage is never in a hurry and you have to enjoy the spiritual rewards of your visit to the Holy Cities to the full extent.
Navigating the Best Umrah Packages from USA
The first aspect to select the suitable time to spend on the trip is to select the suitable service provider. When you check out the available Umrah Packages from USA, you will realize that there is a lot of diversity in the time duration of the trip and this time usually begins with the quick 5 days visit and all the way to the extreme 21 days trip. Hajar Travels has come to the realization that pilgrims who are born in the United States have a different set of problems that are largely due to the duration of the long-haul travel that consumes over 15 to 20 hours either way. Because of this, even the small travels may tend to be tiresome rather than uplifting to the soul.
The Duration of the Rituals vs. The Duration of the Trip
In calculating the number of days you will need, it is necessary to differentiate on the time it will take the manasik (rituals) and the time required to make the trip.
Appropriately, the rites of Umrah may be accomplished within one day- usually 3 to 6 hours provided the number of people in Masjid al-Haram is low. Umrah has four major pillars:
- Ihram: The purity, called sacred (in most cases before or during the flight or at the Miqat station).
- Tawaf: There are seven circumambulations of Kaaba.
- Sa'i: Between the hilly lands of Marwa and Safa, there are seven circuits.
- Halq or Taqsir: To remove hair and shave or cut and abandon the state of Ihram.
You might get it through between the Zuhr and Asr prayers, had you been already in Makkah. Nevertheless, nobody will fly all the way to the Haram to waste four hours and go. Pilgrims always spend much longer time to have voluntary prayers, perform I’tikaf, and immerse themselves in the spiritual environment unavailable anywhere on the planet.
The 7-Day Itinerary: The "Express" Option
When leaving the USA, a 7-day trip is sometimes the shortest possible time that professionals can have, with scarcely any available vacation time. While tight, it is possible.
If you have a package of 7 days at your disposal you must remember that you are going to have two days of travelling. You will miss a day of an outgoing flight due to a difference in time and flight length and another day in the returning. This will give a time of about 5 days in Saudi Arabia. The general segmentation would be:
- Makkah: 3 Days. This will enable you to carry out your first Umrah, beat the jet lag and do daily prayers in the Haram.
- Madinah:2 Days. One can take a fast train ride or a bus ride to pay homage to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and visit the Rawdah.
Pros:Best suited to people who are strictly committed to work.
Cons: Can be physically draining. The worst day concerning jet lag is on day 2 and 3 when you are attempting to get into being focused on a worshiping day.You are too active in Ziyarat (making pilgrimages to historical places).
The 10 to 14-Day Itinerary: The "Sweet Spot"
The average amount of time recommended by most of the travelling gurus and spiritual guides is 10-14 days. This duration will enable the body to adapt to new time and weather so that pilgrimage becomes more concentrated and active.
There are two weeks between them and you are not in a hurry to move around. They have the luxury of time. You do not have to worry about an early morning flight the following day you can wake up to Tahajjud (night prayers). Spend time in the Mataf, making heartfelt dua and feeling the spiritual atmosphere.
In fourteen days, it is generally possible to visit:
- Makkah (7-8 Days):Those among you who are able to visit Makkah do so, and visit historical sites, including, Jabal al-Noor ( Cave of Hira) and Jabal Thawr, and perform all of the obligatory prayers in the Haram, and there the reward will be multiplied many times 100,000 times.
- Madinah (5-6 Days): One has a lot of time to visit the Quba Mosque (the earliest mosque built in the Muslim world), the place of the Battle of Uhud and pray innumerable times in the Mosque of the Prophet.
This time is just right, a combination of spiritual and restful immersion.
The 21-Day Itinerary: Deep Immersion
The longer trips of three weeks or more are well received with the retirees, the students on their summer holidays, or those who are travelling during the holy month of Ramadan. A 21 days trip will enable you to virtually be a resident of the Holy Cities.
The mental change which occurs in two weeks is intense. You no longer feel that you are a tourist or a temporary visitor. You know the way to the Haram, where you prayer Asr, and where your usual place is, and you become habituated. The period is very advisable to individuals who would like to carry out great feats of voluntary worship like reading the whole Quran or spending long nights in prayers.
Factors That Influence Your Stay
The following are the variables to consider in selecting the days to spend with Hajar Travels:
1. The Season
The crowds are at their peak during the Ramadan season especially in the last ten days of the month or during the winter break. The time of movement in the mosque is increased. Food, toilet and transport queues are longer. A week off during the prime Ramadan may seem three days due to the hours of traffic jam in search of shops and comforts. During down periods, you are able to get more done within a shorter period of time.
2. Family Composition
Do you carry young children or old parents? If so, you cannot rush. Older people might require to rest in between coming and doing Umrah. Children will need downtime. A brief and intense excursion is usually a recipe of stress when traveling with a group that has different levels of energy. Add an additional 2-3 days to your schedule in case you are in company.
3. Ziyarat (Historical Tours)
Makkah and Madinah are very historical. It is time consuming visiting the exhibition of the Two Holy Mosques, the museums, the date farms in Madinah and the different battle sites. In case you are a history lover, and would like to relate yourself to the Seerah of the Prophet (PBUH), you should also plan to spend at least two additional days, just on tours.
4. Visa Regulations
Now more than ever, citizens of the United States can easily obtain a tourist or Umrah e-visa. These are multiple-entry visas that last up to a year and they have a stay limit of 90 days. This eliminates the previous limitations that compelled the pilgrims to go after two weeks. Visa flexibility implies that the law does not legally restrict you to a brief trip and thus you have the liberty to stay longer as long as you can afford it.
Maximizing Your Investment with the Right Package
Finally, the right number of days is the number of days that does not burn you out but leaves you feeling spiritually satisfied. You may decide to take a week-long sprint or a month-long marathon of worship but the difference in terms of logistical support that you get makes all the difference. Browse Umrah Packages from USA, and you will want to find itineraries that are clear regarding the travel time and ground time. Hajar Travels deals with planning your itinerary and making the most out of your time in the Haram so that the briefest of trips are value-added, and the longest ones are maintained comfortably.
Planning Your Journey
Your Umrah time is also up to you and will assist you in balancing your religious goals with your contribution to the world. Even though the rituals do not last long, the experience is everlasting. Waste not money in such a journey so tedious to reach the start. Have time to breathe the Makkah air and relax in the calmness of Madinah.
Five days or twenty are as many days as you have decided to go and this is the most important day. May Allah bless you with an invitation to his house, and receive your pilgrimage.
