Umrah is a great way to get forgiveness from Allah for all the sins of the past, but how should you prepare for a healthy Umrah Trip?
Prepare For a Healthy Umrah Trip
Financially, Mentally, and physically, there are many things that you should take care of before going to Umrah, which is:
Mental Preparation
You have to prepare yourself mentally to do the Umrah; Because it is a spiritual trip, and mental preparation includes:
– Good intentions in seeking help from Allah on the Umrah trip.
– Ask forgiveness from Allah.
– Asking for forgiveness from people you may have offended in the past.
Good Intentions in Seeking Help from Allah on the Umrah
Good intentions are the most important thing to do before going for Umrah. Where your intention should be to do Umrah to please Allah only and not for any other purposes.
Asking For Forgiveness (Tawbah)
Part of preparing for a healthy Umrah trip is asking Allah for forgiveness for all sins, big and small. The following method is recommended:
– Ablution (Wudu) or washing (Ghusl).
– Performing two rak’ahs of the prayer (salah) of repentance (Tawba).
– Supplication and asking for forgiveness, with sincere repentance for all sins.
To do accepted repentance (Tawba) inshallah you must fulfill the following conditions:
– The real feeling of guilt for past sins.
– A sincere promise not to repeat these sins.
– Trying to compensate others for their loss if your sins caused them.
The Travel Documents
Always start preparing early in order to have a healthy and comfortable trip. For the healthy Umrah Trip, you must prepare the following documents:
- Passport: Make sure it is valid for at least 6 months after the expiration date of the visa.
- Visa: Applying for an Umrah visa according to the laws of your country.
- Travel Insurance: It offers you many travel-related benefits to maintain your safety and health.
- Flight and Place of residence: Plan your flight and Place of residence well either on your own or with the help of a travel company or travel agent.
- Verifying medication letter: It is a letter from your doctor stating your need for medication during travel, and make sure to take your medication with you.
Physical Fitness For a Healthy Umrah Trip
Umrah requires a lot of physical effort, so you should prepare physically by:
Practice Walking
To improve your endurance and breathing and your heart function, you should start practicing walking as follows:
- Start a walking program 3-4 months before departure.
- Walk slowly for short distances, 20-30 minutes, 3-4 times a week.
- Gradually increase your speed and distance until your fitness improves.
- Do some other exercises to strengthen your body muscles.
Get comfy shoes
In order to prepare for a healthy Umrah trip in the best way, you must get comfortable shoes that you wear for a long time and walk in them without feeling pain.
Healthy Diet
Follow up with a healthy and balanced diet, and here are some tips for that, following the example of the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh):
- Reduce or cut off foods that are harmful to your health.
- Eat more fruits and vegetables.
- Nuts and whole grains are very good for your health, so make sure to eat them.
- Don’t eat a lot of fatty foods.
Medical Preparation
While you prepare for a healthy Umrah trip don’t forget medical preparation such as:
Meningococcal Vaccination
The large crowd on Umrah increases the risk of meningococcal infection, so it is mandatory to take the vaccine at least 10 days before arriving in Saudi Arabia, and any other recommended vaccine.
Carry Your Medications With You
You should bring a medicine bag to take with you that includes:
- Painkillers.
- Your own medications.
- Bandage.
- First aid kit.
Umrah Preparation Checklist
All you need to have a healthy umrah trip:
- Photocopies of passport and passport.
- Flight tickets.
- Proof of identity and Photocopies of it.
- Vaccination certificates.
- Hotel reservation and transportation vouchers.
- Payment receipts, money, and bank card.
- Medicine.
- A self-made identity card includes(full name, passport number, contact information in Mecca, Madina and country of origin, name, and location of the hotel, contact information with a fellow traveler or responsible for the trip, and diseases or allergies if any).
- Comfortable and soft clothes, and a prayer rug.
- The first aid kit contains (antibiotics, cold medicine, analgesics, bandages, cotton, and a sterilizer).
- A small bag to wear during Umrah.
- Reusable water bottle.
- Self-care items (umbrella, sunglasses, sunscreen, tissues, soap, small scissors, toothbrush, and toothpaste).
- phones and chargers.
Tips To Maintain a Healthy Umrah Trip
Even during the healthy Umrah Trip, you have to do some things to keep it healthy and safe, such as:
- Do not walk barefoot; To avoid burns due to high temperature, it’s really hot.
- Avoid walking in the hot sun between 11 AM – 3 PM.
- Drink sufficient amounts of water, approximately 2-3 liters per day; to avoid dehydration, be sure to drink bottled water.
- Use an SPF 50+ sunscreen, even if you’re in the shade.
- Keep your hands clean and wash them regularly, and use hand sanitizer.
- It is better not to drink raw milk products, and not to eat raw meat.
- Take ORS with you; So you stay away from traveler’s diarrhea and dehydration.
- Take Vitamin C drinks or dissolving pills.
