Birmingham is one of the popular cities in the UK, having approximately 29% of the Muslims community in its total population. According to this estimation, it’s not difficult to say that a lot of Muslims from Birmingham travel for Umrah each year. Many of them don’t know how to travel successfully for Umrah travel. So, here we will discuss the complete travel guide for Umrah from Birmingham that every single traveller should know.
No matter, in which part of the world Muslims live, Umrah attracts them towards itself. This is the beauty of Umrah, and most significantly, every Muslim can perform it regardless of their age or gender. Umrah travellers go with the mindset that they only have to perform four steps. This is actually not, although the four main rituals are necessary, but there are also other factors that you must know. Let’s see a complete Umrah travel guide if you are going to perform from Birmingham!
Complete the Booking of Umrah from Birmingham
The first step is to find an authorised Umrah travel agency in Birmingham. Many agencies in the UK provide reliable Birmingham Umrah packages to travellers, but you have to pick a trusted one. These agencies are authorised by the Saudi Ministry and ATOL protection. You can search online for any reliable and positive customer reviews agency. Actually, one of the agents will contact you and provide you with all the essential services required for Umrah, such as a visa, Umrah ticket, hotels, transport, and Ziyarats.
Umrah agencies normally have different packages which include duration (7, 10, 14, or 21 days), hotels (3*, 4*, and 5*), room type like quad, triple, or double, and package type (economy or luxury). Select the most suitable Umrah package from Birmingham and confirm your deposit, either half or full payment, depending on the agency’s policy. If it’s half, then you may have to pay 30-50% in the initial process. Within a few days, you will get your eVisa for Umrah, which confirms your Umrah booking.
Pack Your Baggage According to the Journey
The journey of Umrah is a religious travel in nature. You are going to perform Umrah in Saudi Arabia, so pack your bags according to the journey. Travellers usually carry two types of baggage on their flight journey: check-in luggage and hand-carry bags. Typically, each airline allows up to 23 kg of weight in check-in luggage and 7 to 8 kg in hand carry bags. There are some restrictions on specific items, so make sure you do not have them. You can check the guidelines on the airline website or ask for more information through your Umrah agent.
For a modest packing of Umrah trip, you can follow this checklist:
- One or two Ihram sets
- Light cotton clothes
- Two to three sets of Abayas for women
- Comfortable scarf and Hijab
- Simple but comfortable slippers, shoes, or sandals
- Pack a jacket if you are travelling in December or any month of winter
- You can pack medications if it’s necessary
- Electronic items such as a mobile phone, a charger, an adapter, headphones, etc.
- Make sure to have enough cash.
Setting Off for Umrah at the Airport
You need to reach the airport at least 3-4 hours before the departure of your international flight. The most famous airport for the Umrah trip in Birmingham is the Birmingham Airport (BHX). Your check-in process will start at the airline counter, where you will be given the boarding pass. After all the verification and baggage checking, set off to your terminal and take your flight for Umrah.
You may also be wondering about the time duration of your Umrah flight. From Birmingham to Jeddah via direct flight, it takes about 6 to 7 hours. However, an indirect flight can take approximately 10 to 15 hours. It’s totally your choice whether you choose a direct flight or an indirect one. Ultimately, make Duas for your Umrah journey and move on. If you didn’t wear Ihram at home, you must wear it before reaching Makkah. Flight staff may announce to wear it on the plane at Miqat.
Learn About the Umrah Rituals
Umrah is basically based on four main rituals, which are Ihram, Tawaf, Sa’ee, and Qasr. These are the mandatory steps that every pilgrim must perform. As you are going to Umrah from Birmingham, you must know these rituals and the way to accomplish them. Understanding all the steps of Umrah, their purpose, and learning the correct method is necessary.
Ihram is the attire or dress that men usually wear to start Umrah. For women, it’s simply an Abaya. Ihram actually is a state of purity in which a Muslim separates himself from worldly affairs and devotes himself only to Allah SWT. Make sure to take a bath before wearing the Ihram and don’t use fragrances directly on the Ihram dress. After wearing, you enter the Grand Mosque and perform the Tawaf around the Holy Kaaba. These are the seven rounds that every Umrah pilgrim performs in an anticlockwise direction.
The third main ritual is Sa’ee, which is performed between the Safa and Marwah hills. This act is again seven times. One lap is considered from Safa and Marwah, and back again is the second. Sa’ee is a symbol of a Muslim’s struggle and trust in Allah SWT. The last step is the Qasr (Halq/Taqsir), about hair cutting and shaving. This step is mandatory for both men and women; otherwise, your Umrah won’t be complete.
Ultimately, the journey from Birmingham to Umrah is not just a travel of miles, it’s a journey of heart and soul. Hence, this complete Umrah travel guide from Birmingham will help you a lot to make your religious trip memorable.