As any good follower of Allah knows, everybody has to make a pilgrimage to Mecca as part of the Hajj. The Hajj is the ultimate act of worship for any Muslim as it involves traveling to the holiest of places. It’s the fifth pillar of Islam and this journey must be undertaken during the month of Dhu al-Hijja. That’s why it’s a good idea to take a look at a Hajj package in the UK that can take any able-bodied Muslim to the centre of Islamic worship. These packages usually fly from most major airports in the UK and include the return journey, as well as accommodation.
Is Pilgrimage Safe?
Absolutely. There have been many tragedies during the Umrah and the Hajj over the years, but there are now mechanisms in place to help worshipers avoid tragedy. For example, the Black Stone used to have to be kissed, but now it’s acceptable amongst Muslims to simply point at the stone with the right hand on every circuit.
The Hajj
As already mentioned, every able-bodied Muslim is expected to make the journey to Mecca where the great Kaaba is held. The Kaaba is what every praying Muslim looks towards during this process each day. There are many rituals that are performed during the Hajj (too many to list here), but the main ones are the Tawaf, Ramy al-Jamarat, and the Eid al-Adha.
The UK Hajj Package
Due to the fact that the Hajj can only be performed at a specific time of the year, these packages generally range from about the 20th of October to the 10th of November. However, it should be noted that people don’t have to stay for the whole period. Many people choose an extended Hajj package in order to visit the nearby location of Medina where the Prophet Muhammad’s tomb lays.
These packages generally include flights to Jeddah, which is the nearest airport to Mecca, and will include the cost of accommodation. Costs are generally quite wide in range due to the discrepancies found in the quality of hotels and flight classes. But they all provide the same basic provisions, which are: flights to Jeddah, accommodation for 1-3 weeks, and flights back to the UK.
The Umrah
The Umrah is not obligatory but is highly recommended for all Muslims who are able to carry it out. This is similar to the Hajj except it can be done on any month of the year and is generally shorter as it encompasses fewer rituals. Those who decide to carry out the Umrah will usually do it either just before or after the Hajj, but this isn’t necessary.
The UK Umrah Package
Finding an Umrah package is simple as many are actually added on to a Hajj package due to how closely many worshipers associate them. These packages will include flights from all the major UK airports to Jeddah, as well as providing flights back to the UK. This will allow all believers to perform the Umrah with the greatest of ease.
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