Umrah is considered a “lesser pilgrimage” than Hajj, but it still has huge spiritual importance in Islam. Umrah is an act of worship and a Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), which holds a huge reward for a person who performs it. To be able to perform Umrah with ease and comfort, there are a few things that you should keep in mind, and one of them is packing.
If you’ve booked one of the demanding Umrah Packages 2025, packing wisely becomes even more important to make the most of your spiritual journey. One thing to remember is to Pack lightly; it will allow you to travel easily, and you will not be a person carrying only luggage instead of enjoying it. So, let’s discuss this in detail!
- Travel Documents: These are Must
The first thing you should pack is your travel documents; if you are travelling with family, ensure packing their documents as well. Upload your documents to the cloud in digital form, so if you don’t have them in Saudi Arabia by any chance, you’ll be safe by showing these digital-form documents.
Your documentation should include:
- Original Passport and its photocopies
- Visa to get entrance into Saudi Arabia.
- Flight tickets to travel to Saudi Arabia.
- Vaccination certificates to prove you are all fully vaccinated.
- Hotel booking confirmation copies.
- Receipts of payments made for Umrah
- Passport-size photographs
- Prayer Essentials: Clothing and Footwear for Rituals
A pilgrim can only perform Umrah in Ihram dress. Two pieces of unstitched white cloth are called Ihram; you should buy one and pack it. This Ihram requirement is only for Men and Women, who are allowed to wear normal clothes but should be modest and loose-fitting, avoiding covering the face and hands. Pack comfortable shoes or sandals that you can wear on long walks, as many Umrah rituals involve walking. You should avoid fancy shoes as they are not a modest one. Some other essentials for Umrah include a prayer mat, a compass for the Qiblah, and an Umrah guidebook.
- Clothes and Accessories
There are Muslims all over the world, and some are quite far from the Holy City, and they have to take quite long flights to come to Makkah. A person should wear and pack lightweight clothes that are quite comfortable. When packing clothes, pack according to the Makkah weather conditions, which are mostly quite hot, so you should pack light clothes that are comfortable to wear in hot weather. Women should pack modest clothes that are appropriate for Saudi culture, like Shalwar Kameez and Abaya.
Also, pack useful accessories like Sunglasses, a hat, a waist pouch, bathroom slippers, safety pins, a prayer mat, and a folding Umbrella. These are some other essential items for Women:
- Five to ten light and breathable hijabs
- Hijab Under-caps
- Hijab pins
- Hair accessories
- Socks
- Slips or light clothing for wearing under an Abaya
- Blister patches
- First Aid Kit and Personal Medication
Packing first aid with you is undoubtedly a great idea as it will allow you to get instant medical help if needed. Your first aid kit should include bandages, painkillers, antiseptic cream, cotton gauze, etc. Also, pack the medications recommended to you by a doctor and get your prescription with you to avoid any emergency conditions. This is quite important. If you lose your medicine, you can get a new one from local medical stores.
- Self-Essential Items (Toiletries)
The self-essential items will be needed, so pack them according to your needs. Here is the list of useful things:
- Large and small towels
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste (Fragrance-free for Ihram)
- Unscented shampoo and conditioner
- Fragrance-free soap (bar or liquid form)
- Pocket tissues
- Fragrance-free wet wipes for Ihram
- Hand sanitiser
- Hairbrush/comb (only to be used outside the Ihram state)
Your smartphone will be one of the most important things in the Umrah Journey, allowing you to connect with your friends and family. You can learn Umrah rituals from the internet using your phone, and many other useful applications like prayer times and route guiding will ease your journey. Don’t forget other useful items like a travel adaptor, mobile charger, headphones/earphones, wristwatch, and a flashlight.
Conclusion
To conclude, packing is essential in Umrah or on any journey. You should pack light and pack all the necessary things that are a must for you on the journey. Reminder: Umrah is not about having fun, so pack things according to that so you can get ease of mind and perform all rituals with focus and devotion. Happy Travels!
Courtesy by: Labbaik Hajj Umrah (Umrah Travel Agency)
