The Umrah is one of Islam's two most important pilgrimages. Umrah, unlike Hajj, is not required but is instead a Sunnah of the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SAWW). Therefore, a believer who has the wherewithal to do Umrah is under no obligation to do so. Those who wish to perform the religious rites in 2024 can do, so they have to book All-Inclusive Umrah Packages.
But the blessings of the Sunnah pilgrimage of Umrah are no less than those of the obligatory Hajj. Because of this, millions of pilgrims make the annual journey. Unlike the obligatory Hajj, the voluntary pilgrimage of Umrah can be performed at any time of the year.
Umrah visas are available year-round through the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. It is now possible to enter the kingdom on a tourist visa, business visa, or family visa and still do Umrah.
Travelling for umrah; how many km?
Tawaf
Tawaf refers to the ritual of walking three times around the Holy Kaabah in Masjid-la-Haram in Makkah. To do the Tawaf, pilgrims must make seven rounds around the sacred Kaabah, beginning and ending at the location known as Hajar-al-Aswad (the Black Stone) and always keeping the Kaabah on their left as they walk.
Tawaf requires a total of about 400 meters of walking, though this might vary greatly depending on where you are standing in relation to the Holy Kaaba. The Tawaf circumference is shorter for those in the inner circle, who are closer to the Kaabah, and longer for those in the outer circle, who must trek far to reach the holy site.
Pilgrims walk a total of 2.8 kilometers (7 x 400 meter circuits) while making their way around the Holy Kaabah.
Sa'i
Sa'i is the ritual of circumambulating the Masjid al-Haram in Makkah by walking between the hills of Safa and Marwa. Sa'i consists of a total of seven circuits, with the first circuit going from Safah to Marwah and the second circuit going in the other direction, from Marwah to Safah. Then they moved on to the seventh round in Marwah in such a way.
About 450 meters separate Safa and Marwa on a single circuit. Since each round is 450 meters long, multiplying that number by seven yields an approximation of 3.15 kilometers. Leaving any part of this distance uncovered will render your Sa'i ritual null and void.
Additional Movements
Pilgrims may engage in a wide range of other motions and activities besides Tawaf and Sa'i. As an example;
- Visiting the Masjid-al-Nabawi in Medina.
- The daily commute from your hotel to Masjid-al-Haram and back.
- Moving between different areas within the Haram for the daily obligatory prayers.
- Observing voluntary Tawaf.
- Travelling for Ziyarath, etc.
As a result, the overall distance covered throughout Umrah is roughly 6-10 kilometers, taking into account the distances covered during Tawaf, Sa'i, and other movements. On the other hand, the distance is determined by the;
- The specific route taken.
- Crowd density.
- Individual choices during the pilgrimage.
Therefore, it is difficult to provide a universally accepted minimum distance for doing Umrah with the coordination of best Umrah Travel Agency UK. To help you plan for the amount of ground you'll need to travel on your little pilgrimage, we've included some ballpark distances below.
The significance and blessings of Umrah transcend the physical distance traveled because the emphasis is placed on the pilgrim's commitment, intention, and sincerity throughout the rites.
Umrah pilgrims are encouraged to walk to each of the seven holy sites, but wheelchairs may be used if necessary due to illness or disability.
