Yes, one week is typically enough time for Umrah. While the time taken by the actual Umrah rituals is 4 to 5 hours, one week offers a balanced experience. During this time, you can do various acts of worship, visit different historical sites, and shopping at several local markets or modern malls in Makkah and Madinah.
Umrah is a voluntary spiritual and religious journey in Islam. It can be performed at any time of the year, so it can be scheduled according to the circumstances you are facing in your life. It is often asked by new or first-time pilgrims, “Is one week enough for Umrah?” This blog is a complete guide to topics like the actual time taken by Umrah, places to visit after Umrah, what’s necessary and what’s not. Let’s get deep into the blog!
7 Days Umrah Package is the Most Popular
You may select fewer or more days to stay in Saudi Arabia, but a 7-day stay is the most popular Umrah package. People don’t select more than seven days because they can’t get more leaves from work, they have other business or personal schedules, or they can’t afford a bigger package. They don’t select less than seven days because they want to visit more places and they don’t want to get anxious or rushed by a less-timed or narrow schedule during the Journey.
Time Taken by Rituals of Umrah
It depends on the crowd density how long it will take to perform Umrah. But it’s a misconception that you are going to spend 7 days doing Umrah. It takes 4 to 5 hours to perform Umrah. If it’s a big crowd, it will take more time and if it’s an off-peak season, it can be performed quickly.
Here’s the breakdown of the whole time taken by the rituals:
Ihram
Why count the time taken by Ihram when it is worn at home or during the flight before the boundary of Miqat? Ihram is the first ritual of Umrah, which is performed outside the boundary of Miqat.
Tawaf
Upon reaching the Holy Kaaba, pilgrims take some rest in the hotel room and then head to the next ritual Tawaf. It takes 60-90 minutes to complete this ritual, depending on the crowd density.
Sa’i
Sa’i is often performed after the Tawaf and as a ritual of movement, it also depends on the density of the crowd and takes 45-90 minutes.
Halq or Taqseer
It takes 10-20 minutes to cut hair or shave a head.
After Umrah, it’s your choice either to stay in Makkah or move to Madinah.
A Short 7-Day Itinerary for Umrah
A short summary of doing Umrah in 7 days for US pilgrims is below:
Day 1: Arrival in Makkah and Perform Umrah
Arrive at King Abdul Aziz International Airport on day 1 and take the Haramain train to Makkah. Take a ride from the Makkah railway station to your hotel. Stay in your room to take some rest and go to the Haram for Tawaf and Sa’i. After this, go to a barber or shave off your head by yourself in the hotel room. Now it is suggested to take a rest and wait for the next Fajr prayer. You can set an alarm to wake you up.
Day 2-3: Stay in Makkah
It is not obligatory or a part of Umrah to visit other places in Makkah. However, if you are interested in visiting these sites, you can visit Jabal al-Noor and Jabal Thawr. You may take a short ride to Arafat and Mina. Otherwise, you can spend your time in Haram, doing Tawaf and other types of worship.
Day 4: Go to Madinah and Visit Masjid Al Nabawi
Take the Haramain train from Makkah to Madinah. You can reach Madinah from Makkah within 2 hours and 20 minutes. After arriving in Madinah, arrive at your hotel room. After leaving your luggage in the room, take some rest and go to Masjid Al Nabawi. Offer your prayers and spend your time till the Isha prayer.
Day 5-6: Stay in Madinah
In the next two days, take rides to multiple historic places in Madinah like Quba Mosque, Mount Uhud, Jannat al-Baqi etc. Spend your nights at your hotel room. If you don’t want to visit more places, it’s better to spend your time in Masjid Al Nabawi to do different acts of worship.
Day 7: Departure from Saudi Arabia
If you depart from Madinah Airport, spend more time in exploring the city. However, return to King Abdul Aziz International Airport on time to take your flight if you are departing from Jeddah Airport. You can reach Jeddah from Madinah within 3 hours by taking the Haramain train.
See also: Choosing the Right Travel Trailer for Coastal Trips
Historic Places to Visit after Umrah
After performing Umrah, you can visit the following places in Makkah and Medina:
Places in Makkah
Jabal Al Noor (Cave of Hira)
It is the place where Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) received the first revelation of the Quran from the God.
Jabal Thawr
The cave where the Prophet Muhammad and Abu Bakr (Radi Allahu Anhu) stayed while migrating from Makkah to Madinah.
Jannat ul-Mualla
A graveyard in Makkah where many companions and ancestors of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) are buried.
Places in Madinah
Masjid Quba
It is the first Mosque of Islam.
Masjid Qiblatain
It is the mosque where Qibla direction was changed. The first Qibla was Masjid al-Aqsa and the second one is the Holy Kaaba.
Jannat al-Baqi
The graveyard of Madinah, where many companions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) are buried.
Mount Uhud
The battle of Uhud took place here and a graveyard of many martyrs of this battle.
Tips for Transportation
For a reliable and smooth movement in Makkah and Madinah, here are some tips:
1. Try to book the hotels near the Haramain, within 5-10 minutes of walking distance.
2. Avoid travelling from the hotel to Haram 30-60 minutes before prayer time. It will be more crowded.
3. Travel late at night when crowd density is lower.
4. The Haramain High Speed Train takes approximately two hours, travelling from Makkah to Madinah. It will save your time and energy.
Conclusion
It takes 4-5 hours to perform an Umrah. In the remaining time, you can have your choice whether to perform Umrah by going to the Miqat again, perform other types of worship at Haramain or visit other historical places (which is optional). Avoid crowded traffic places during travel. Remember! Some travel agencies like Labbaik Hajj Umrah are able to book the transport for these visits to historical places, by charging additional costs with the Umrah package. May Allah accept all your worship!
