We embarked on this incredible spiritual journey called Umrah during the December school holidays.
WHAT IS UMRAH
It is an optional pilgrimage Muslims take to the Holy Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The best way to describe it as a mini version of the pilgrimage Hajj which Muslims are required to take at least once in a lifetime.
Going for Umrah for the first time even as an adult can be an exciting yet overwhelming experience let alone when you have a child with you. These pilgrimages are not a requirement for kids but as parents wanting to experience this journey we have to take our children with us.
Personally, I do recommend taking kids as it is a fantastic learning experience especially seeing people of different races, backgrounds and cultures together in unity, showing how we are all equal.
Here are some key tips that worked for me and my then six year old
Preparation for Umrah
Preparation is key! Through age appropriate activities and books, my daughter was aware of the pilgrimage of Umrah and Hajj and was excited to go on this journey too.
I also bought her My First Guide to Umrah by Mama Teaches Me. I highly recommend this activity book, it has pages for your child to do pre Umrah, during your time there and after. It was informative and entertaining. She even shared it with her teacher and class on her return!
What to pack
Our trip was of 14 days, with two days travelling so I included six sets of outfits. Kids don’t have to be in special attire but can be in everyday clothes but I took one abaya and two scarves for her as she wanted to copy me. We also bought matching abayas from Madina which we wore there. If you feel like you have fallen short there are plenty of shops there at very reasonable prices.
In terms of medication, I took a bit too much! But just a calpol, ibuprofen and an allergy syrup is more than enough. Both Makkah and Madinah are very well equipped with pharmacies and medical facilities with well known brands so if in need you wouldn’t have to worry.
Keep a few snacks for prayer times but don’t overdo it, there’s no need to worry about water as Zam Zam is readily available inside the Mosques. Also, keep some entertainment with you especially if you will be at the mosque for a long time.
SAFETY
The most important; how to keep kids safe in crowds because it can get very busy. My daughter had her backpack with reigns, not only it contained snacks but also an airtag. I also placed a lanyard around her with my name, number and hotel details as well as during rush times having her tied to me with an anti lost band.
Both the Mosques have a centre for lost children which provide wristbands for your children with your details – if somebody were to find them they would know to contact you.
WHERE TO STAY
Book a hotel within ten minutes walking distance to the Mosques! Our hotel was not even a five minute walk and it was a game changer, especially if you are travelling with kids, the elderly or less abled.
Umrah requires a lot of walking, you can take your pram if you have small kids. As my daughter isn’t of pram age, she did take advantage of her Aunty’s wheelchair some of the time!
vaccinations
It isn’t a requirement if you are coming from the U.K., but we all had the meningitis vaccine just to be on the safe side. Do check with your GP if your vaccines need updating.
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