Re: Umrah - Cost & Accomodation
Wallaikum salam.
Ok my approach was a bit different, I first went to Pakistan and then bought my package from there. it cost me a total of 40,000 rupees, (about 800 cdn dollars). This was not including the 300 dollars i spent there for shopping and travelling and food, which means I spent 1100 on my umrah. (Plus the 2000 ticket to pakistan.)
That might be the expensive way.
But I do have some tips for you if you don't mind.
An alim I met over there told me that when you travel from a distant land, make hijrat to Mecca or Medina, you should only have the intention of the 2 masajids. Masjid-e-Nabawi, and the Haram. Its not permissible to make an intention to go visit mina or or something like that...or going there jsut to visit jannatul baqee etc.
Also, make sure when you go for ziarat, you get someone who speaks english or urdu, so they can clearly explain to you what everything represents, it was difficult in mecca for me as I had an arabic guide...
Lastly, performing umrah in seasons when Ramzan and Hajj are not major factors, is probably a better idea, if you are not planning on doing hajj.
When I went in august, it was crowded, but not as crowded as it would be in Hajj and ramzan times. This way, I had the opportunity of actually touching the Kabah, praying in the Hakeem, kissing hajr-e-aswat, touching the door, etc etc. All this is not possible in the crowded months of hajj and ramzan.
And plz take bags with you that cannot be stolen. In a crowd of that many, belongings are easily stolen, I almost had mine stolen. Lot of fraud stories and thievery goes on there, you have to be aware and careful of that at ALL TIMES.
Specially when you are doing tawwaf, be aware of your surroundings, people WILL try to steal your bags.
When you go to medinah, it is NOT necessary to pray 40 namaazes ba'jamaat there, as it is not something established in our deen. But do visit medinah as it you'll notice the weather is much better than Mecca, and the peace is very very soothing.
hope that helps even a tinsy bit.
salam
P.S. Take an umbrella, its insanely hot there.