Re: Umrah info needed
Peace Dosa Chick,
1- Better to go with tour operator because the tour operator will be responsible to take you all those places which recommended as Ziyarat. Otherwise, at your own you’ll have to pay taxi fares for each ziyarat places as well as for three time meals + other things. Usually, the tour operators will take you to Madina, Makkah and all the historical places of Ziyarat.
2- There is some saying or hadith but I think it is Dhaeef hadith, if so, that a person should stay 8 days in Madina and complete 40 Salat (5x8=40). Also it is said that a person should stay three days and four nights or three nights and four days in Makkah if he/she would like to perform more than one Umrah. Better to consult with an scholar/qualified aalim.
3- Lately, I applied for “Umrah Visa” directly, but the Saudi Embassy for Hajj & Umrah is now issuing Umrah & Hajj visa through approved “Umrah & Hajj Tour guiders”. Individual can’t obtain it by themselves. Not sure if it is for all of just for those peoples who live in Middle East.
Peace bisoux,
Either you obtain visit visa or Umrah visa. It doesn’t matter. Once you are there you should make intention (niyyat) of performing Umrah. You can obtain Umrah visa for a month and can obtain more than a month if you are going through a Umrah guider. Otherwise you can get visit visa till Makka which is not less then 6 months. Once you are in Makkah, make intention and perform Umrah. However, nowadays it is very difficult to obtain visit visa and you need a local residence to apply for it. Better to obtain Umrah visa from local tour guider and either do it alone or with a group.