An Umrah is a sacred journey that pilgrims perform voluntarily for the sake of Allah. It's a highly rewarding Ibadah when performed exactly according to the Sunnah. But do you have any idea that even a single mistake can ruin the spirituality of your journey? Well, it's true that many pilgrims make common mistakes during an Umrah journey that can question its acceptance.
So, if you are planning your Umrah now, go through the following list of possible mistakes you have to avoid. No matter if you have performed Umrah earlier or are going for Umrah for the first time, this blog post is going to help you anyway.
Mistakes to Avoid during an Umrah Journey
Here's a list of common mistakes you can avoid easily. It's a way to make your entire journey rewarding and exactly according to the Sunnah.
Not Learning the Proper Umrah Rituals
It's a common mistake that pilgrims go for an Umrah journey without knowing about rituals properly. It's true that Ihram, Tawaf, Sa'i and Halq or Qasr are Umrah rituals, but an Umrah is more like a journey. So, pilgrims must know how to perform Umrah step by step from entering Ihram and making niyyah to entering Masjid al-Haram and completing Umrah.
How to avoid it?
Plan your journey earlier and get yourself free for learning the basics of Umrah. Get in touch with any scholar locally or find YouTube lectures or guides. Also, consider watching proper tutorials of performing rituals and learning Dua's before going for Umrah.
Not Considering Proper Financial Planning
An Umrah journey also involves the financial aspect that it requires proper budgeting and planning. However, many pilgrims don't consider financial planning and end up helpless during the pilgrimage which also impacts the spirituality of the journey.
How to avoid?
Remember that an Umrah journey involves a fixed cost of Umrah Packages that every pilgrim has to pay. After that, it involves the cost of eating, shopping and traveling for ziyarat during the pilgrimage. So, it's better to have a set budget for all such essentials and sticking to it to have a fulfilling spiritual experience.
Missing Obligatory Prayers
Many pilgrims visit Masjid al-Haram only to perform rituals of Umrah. However, they don't consider offering obligatory prayers with congregation in Haram. It's a big mistake because praying five times a day is an obligation while performing Umrah is a voluntary Ibadah. Pilgrims can't ignore an obligatory act for a voluntary thing.
How to avoid?
Remember that offering prayer in Masjid al-Haram is a sacred opportunity where the reward of praying Salah increases up to 100,000 times. Schedule your routine in such a way that you can take rest of visit the hotel room between prayers but join the congregation in Haram five times a day.
Focusing on Quantity Over Quality
Pilgrims make a mistake when they prefer quantity of rituals over quality and sincerity. So, performing Umrah multiple times in a journey only leaves pilgrims overwhelmed. Similarly, rushing for Nafl Tawaf multiple times a day without considering supplications or even rest is a big mistake every pilgrim needs to avoid.
How to avoid?
Performing one Umrah in a journey to Makkah is a Sunnah act. So, don't rush for multiple Umrah in one journey to increase the count. Instead, perform Umrah rituals sincerely from heart and ask Allah for acceptance and it's enough. Pilgrims can also perform second Umrah after returning from Madinah.
Lack of Patience and Tolerance
An Umrah is a journey that also teaches patience. However, many pilgrims get overwhelmed in the Haram due to the crowd of fellow pilgrims. Some pilgrims push the crowd while others become impatient and out of control. It's a big mistake that harms the pilgrimage like nothing else. Even using foul language or engaging in useless arguments violate the ihram restrictions.
How to avoid?
Treat every fellow pilgrim in Haram as a guest of Allah. So, be kind and generous to others or at least stay away from arguments. Practice patience throughout the journey and it will make your pilgrimage highly rewarding.
Choosing Hotels Too Far From Haram
Pilgrims often choose hotels far from Haram to save on Umrah packages which is a big mistake. This is because it's not practical to walk a long just to enter Haram where you actually have to perform rituals and walk a lot. Similarly, this also makes it impossible to join congregational prayers in Haram five times a day. It all ends up with a compromised pilgrimage.
How to avoid?
Compare Umrah deals from USA carefully and always go for all-inclusive package options. Also, make sure that you choose hotels within 500 meters of Haram. You can save package cost by booking in advance or going with a group.
Overpacking Luggage
Overpacking the luggage and keeping every random item in a backpack is a big mistake for Umrah pilgrims. It makes travelling a challenge and also waste a lot of time. This is because pilgrims have to travel with their luggage during airport transfers and inter-city travel which is not easier at all with a heavy luggage.
How to avoid?
Always follow Umrah travel checklist while packing luggage for an Umrah journey. Only pack routine items that you have to use on a daily basis. Pack smartly which doesn't mean tossing everything in a backpack. Lighter the luggage, easier will be the journey.
Overspending on Non-essential Items
An Umrah is a spiritual journey that also involves the financial aspect. But it doesn't mean that pilgrims have to spend a lot to complete an Umrah journey. Many pilgrims overspend on things they don't need to carry to go for Umrah which is a mistake. Similarly, overspending during the pilgrimage or shopping a lot is also a problem.
How to avoid?
Have a set budget and include only essential things to get for an Umrah journey. Don't overspend on buying new items to pack your luggage. Similarly, don't buy everything pretty from Makkah or Madinah shops as it's a waste of time and money.
Focusing only on Rituals
Pilgrims who focus only on rituals make a mistake. This is because an Umrah journey is a complete spiritual package that involves rituals, pure intention, sincerity, gratitude and humility. So, completing only rituals of Umrah without any spiritual awareness isn't what's the purpose of this sacred journey.
How to avoid?
Remember that Umrah involves rituals but it doesn't all about rites. In fact, it's the niyyah and humility that matters too. So, keep following the Sunnah method to perform rituals, recite Sunnah Dua's and supplications and have a time to reflect on every step to get the most out of it.
Neglecting Dhikr and Dua
Doing dhikar and making Dua's is the soul of Umrah pilgrimage. Even important rituals like Tawaf and Sa'i involve Sunnah supplications. However, many pilgrims make a mistake when they ignore the importance of Dhikr throughout the journey. Doing Dhikr and reciting supplications is a way to be in a constant state of worshipping. So, don't neglect this opportunity anyway.
How to avoid?
Make a list of Sunnah Dua's and supplications to recite during Tawaf and Sa'i. Similarly, include Dhikr in your routine when you are in Haram waiting for prayer or in the hotel.
Excessive Shopping
Many pilgrims think that shopping is a critical part of the pilgrimage. It becomes a big mistake when pilgrims spend hours shopping goods and even ignore obligatory prayers. It doesn't only waste time but also affects the spirituality of the pilgrimage.
How to avoid?
Make a list of things or souvenirs you have to buy before departure. And visit any shopping mall or a Souq in Makkah of Madinah to buy everything in one place. The best way is to visit the shopping places either after Fajr or Isha prayer.
Wasting Time in Hotels
Hotels in Makkah and Madinah are the places to take rest between rituals and prayers for pilgrims. However, many pilgrims waste their precious time in hotels while sleeping or resting even during prayer times. It's even one of the mistakes pilgrims make during Ramadan Umrah. In reality, that's not how pilgrims should plan their pilgrimage.
How to avoid?
Plan your days and nights and make a schedule for both rituals and rest. Adjust your sleeping hours between Isha and Tahajud prayer or between Fajr and Zuhr prayer. Spend the remaining times in Haram while performing rituals, offering prayers or reciting Quran.
Not Balancing Rest and Worship
Pilgrims make a mistake when they don't balance resting and worshipping hours. In this situation, pilgrims either get exhausted while performing rituals or become lazy and start wasting time in the name of rest. It's not the way how you should plan your pilgrimage time.
How to avoid?
Take frequent gaps between rituals and sit for a while. Also, plan some time for reflection and Quran recitation. Adjust your sleeping hours between Isha and Tahajud prayer or between Fajr and Zuhr prayer. Don't let anything affect your health or distract you from Ibadah.
Final Words
In conclusion, an Umrah is a sacred journey that pilgrims perform voluntarily for the sake of Allah. And performing Umrah according to the sunnah is a key to its acceptance. For this, every pilgrim has to avoid common mistakes while performing Umrah. By the end of this post, we hope that you'll perform your Umrah in the right way as recommended.
