A Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Perform Umrah from the USA

Are you travelling for Umrah from the USA? A lot of American Muslims travel for Umrah each year, and the most recent reports hold that this number of travelers is around 30k. Since Saudi Arabia introduced the Tourist e-visa and visa on arrival, many Americans take advantage of this and depart for Umrah. However, Umrah can also be performed on a valid Umrah visa, which is specifically for pilgrimage.

Well, Umrah, whether from the United States or any region of the world, the main focus should be on its performance and purpose. You should know how many rituals there are that must be performed during the pilgrimage. So, here we will talk over the complete and step-by-step guide to perform Umrah from the USA.

If you are an American Muslim citizen, resident, green card holder, or any visa holder, you must seek this guide. We really don’t know when we will be honored for this opportunity by Allah SWT, so you should be ready for it by keeping in mind its core rituals.

Do Necessary Preparations before Umrah Trip 

On the first stage, you have to arrange everything for your Umrah trip. This includes all the things and services required for pilgrimage, such as an Umrah package from USA, proper packing, visa process, having a valid passport, etc. For the very first, arrange your travel services from a trusted Umrah agency. Fulfill the travel arrangements, such as vaccinations or insurance, if required.

If we talk about the travel packages, you must secure your flight, accommodation, visa, transportation, and guided Umrah tours. All these services can be booked online for booking and it can cost you around $2000 to $3000, depending on the total trip duration, members, and the category of the services.

Moreover, packing is one of the most important factors of every trip. As this is your Umrah trip, you have to do modest packing according to the culture, traditions, and customs of Islamic teachings. The necessary things that you must pack are:

• Ihram attire for both men (two white clothes) and women (Abaya)
• Comfortable dresses for daily wear
• Jacket or shawl if travelling in winter
• Shoes, sandals, or slippers
• Hijab sets
• Toiletries (optional)
• Electronic items such as a mobile phone, travel adapter, headphones, etc.
• Your important and legal travel documents

Depart for Umrah from the USA

When going to depart for Umrah, it’s best to have a proper intention. You can intend by saying “I intend to travel to perform Umrah”. However, intention can also be made in the heart; saying verbally is not mandatory. Taking a bath is also a good habit before travelling, but you also have the option to bathe inside the hotel (Makkah or Madinah) before performing Umrah. Pack your Ihram in your bag or buy it from Jeddah or Madinah, as you must wear it before reaching the premises of Makkah.

Flights from the USA to Saudi Arabia are usually very long. Direct flight can take 11 to 15 hours, and a connecting flight can take more than 18 hours, depending on the US state from which you are travelling. Popular airports include New York (JKF/EWR), Washington, DC (IAD), Los Angeles (LAX), and Chicago (ORD). Once again, keep in mind, flights with layovers can be longer, so don’t panic as you are travelling from North America to the Middle East of the Earth.

Perform Umrah Correctly Step-by-Step

After travelling from the USA and reaching Saudi Arabia, get your hotel either in Madinah or Makkah. Take rest and prepare yourself to perform Umrah in the Grand Mosque of Makkah. Remember that Umrah has only four main steps that every American and other pilgrim has to conduct in order. Firstly, you have to wear an Ihram dress, which is specified different for both males and females. Men have to wear two white items of clothing, one for the upper part of the body and one for the lower part of the body. These two parts are also known as “Izar” and “Rida”.

Note: Both Hajj and Umrah pilgrims are required to wear Ihram before starting rituals; otherwise, the pilgrimage may become invalid without wearing it.

The second step of Umrah is to perform Tawaf around the Holy Kaaba seven times. Pilgrims perform Tawaf in an anticlockwise direction around the sacred Kaaba. Tawaf starts from the Hajar-e-Aswad corner and ends on the same. Older pilgrims can also undertake Tawaf in wheelchairs. Moving on, and now you will complete Sa’ee around the Safa and Marwah hills. Both hills are located inside the Masjid al-Haram, and again, you have to do the seven rounds between the hills. One round means from Safa to Marwah and vice versa. On green light symbols, men should walk fast or run, while women should be on their normal pace.

The last step of Umrah is Halq/Taqsir, which is also known as Qasr. This final step is all about the head’s hair cutting or shaving for all pilgrims. Men have to perform Halq (shaving), and women should follow the practice of Taqsir (cutting about the fingertip).

Visit Madinah After Umrah

Madinah is the second-holiest city of Islam after Makkah. This is the city where the beloved and Last Prophet of Allah SWT, Muhammad (PBUH), is buried. For Muslims, this city is most valuable to visit; hence, they book pre-arranged days from the Umrah travel agency in their packages to spend in Madinah. It’s an honor to visit Madinah after performing in Makkah. Pilgrims visit this holy city to pray, explore the places, do Ziyarats of sacred sites, and to do shopping.

Most importantly, Rawdah Shareef is located inside the Masjid an-Nabawi. Keep in mind, to visit Rawdah, pilgrims should have a valid permit. This Rawdah permit can be booked via the Nusuk mobile application, provided by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.

In conclusion, Umrah from the USA is an amazing opportunity to travel for religious pilgrimage. So, for traveling successfully, make sure to have proper planning and budget management. Also, keep some extra money with you while on a trip, you may need it in emergencies. May your pilgrimage from the United States go well!