Umrah

**Maya** · 23-05-2010, 14:29

Has anyone performed umrah?

I would be interested to hear what it was like for you so please share if you have done so.

I will be doing this by the end of the year Insha'Allah.

**shelim** · 23-05-2010, 15:03

A few close friends of mine went quite recently and they said it was amazing, seeing it on tv and actually being there is so surreal, I wanted to go but couldn't due to exams, inshallah will be going sometime soon.

**Maya** · 23-05-2010, 20:59

Aww, that's nice. Yeah, I know it will be a very special and memorable experience.

**Cheeky_Princess** · 23-05-2010, 21:14

I went when i was 10, have vague but amazing memories from it...
Like still remember the moment i saw the Kabbah

**BuzzB** · 25-05-2010, 23:16

Like Cheeky, I went when I was really young, like 8! But i remember it really well. Not something you forget.
Was a great experiance, inshallah hope to do Hajj one day! Hopefully not too far away!

**Maya** · 25-05-2010, 23:19

That's really nice to hear and good that you have some fond memories.

**Zero** · 25-05-2010, 23:54

I haven't gone! But I would want to go soon, perhaps after I graduate.

**BlackmaideN** · 26-05-2010, 00:15

I went 2 years ago and it was beautiflul. Just being around the kabbah and walking around at night when with so many people and the lights and coolness in the air makes one feel really spiritual and as if they are dreaming.

**Omario** · 26-05-2010, 12:35

i just come back from there last month, best place in the world, ummrah is very easy! Anything you need to know you can ask me!

**Maya** · 26-05-2010, 13:04

Thanks Omario. I might just do that.

**zanjeer** · 20-06-2010, 02:20

Can I comment in this thread? I want to comment on Hajj. Going to Hajj is the 5th pillar of Islam, but it is something which over 90% of Muslims will not be able to perform (through no fault of their own).

The Hajj happens once a year and every Muslim is required to perform Hajj at least once in their life.

If we consider that there are 1 billion Muslims in the world (an underestimate) then the calculations show how highly unfeasible this pillar of Islam is.

The average world life expectancy is 65 years old.

A Muslim who performs Hajj has to be old enough to remember it, ie they have to be baaligh. Most scholars would say that a Muslim is baaligh when they’re 15 years old.

65 – 15 = 50

So every Muslim has 50 years in which to perform Hajj.

If we divide 1 billion by 50, this shows that every year 20 million Muslims would have to go Hajj in order for this pillar of Islam to be feasible. That’s a LOT of people to accommodate every year. To put this in perspective that’s the equivalent of the ENTIRE population of a country like Sri Lanka or Australia going to Hajj EVERY YEAR.

At the moment the Saudi authorities can only accommodate 2 million pilgrims annually (10% of 20 million). I doubt they’d ever be able to increase this capacity much further.

The situation would be much much worse if the whole world was Muslim (which is what Islam wants afterall).

**Zero** · 20-06-2010, 02:46

Lol at arithmetic.

**Zero** · 20-06-2010, 02:48

Originally Posted by Omario

i just come back from there last month, best place in the world, ummrah is very easy! Anything you need to know you can ask me!

Did you get any special package deals dude?

**Iroquois Pliskin** · 20-06-2010, 03:10

I've been Umrah during Ramadhan. In Madinah the floor in daytime felt good to walk on coz it felt cool. During the night however you begin to shiver lol. So 2 pairs of socks and a prayer mat did the trick.

Being cut off from my usual habits of surfing the internet, watchin tv, music etc. I actually felt at ease without them. I felt little embarrassed to watch tv as I was literally walkin distance from the Mosque.

Saudis love yoghurt so much so that they'll STEAL them from you right under your nose! I bought a whole box of them and wanted to share it amongst strangers.

In Makkah it felt twice as hot. I've been squished too many times, at one point I clinged on to the Kab'ah in fear of being trampled.

Most of I can remember.

**Pac Man** · 24-06-2010, 00:53

I've been Umrah 3 times now and it was an amazing experience. Being surrounded by people from all walks of life. The one thing you do notice thought is the huge gap between the rich and poor.
Makkah is very different to Medina. The environment is alot cleaner and the people are friendlier in Medina than in Makkah. The weather is good, just as long as you dont end up reading Jumma namaz outside under the sun

I've learned more and taken more in each time I've gone, most likely because I've matured as the years went by.

I've went with guys who have completely changed their lives after coming back, and others who admitted it made no difference and wasn't really anything "special" for them. Fair play I guess.
You will definitely enjoy it Maya

p.s. Lots of beggers, some genuine...others are not. Don't get conned like I did INSIDE the mosque