I would like to share some of my experience in arranging/organizing Hajj and Umrah and during my trips recently:

O To most popular believe, Umrah is not only for the old and retired people. It is for the young as well. There are many young people and couples performing Umrah and Hajj each year. If you have the time, capacity (MYR) and capability (Health), it is best do it when you are young and healthy.

O There are no minimum stay requirements for performing Umrah but the Maximum stay will be not more than one month (Umrah Visa). But in order to have a complete Umrah, you will be recommended to visit the Phophet Muhamad SAW Mosque. Therefore, your journey will take you to Madinah and Mekah. The minimum stay would be 3 nights in Madinah and 3 nights in Mekah. You will have ample time to do the Umrah and Ziarah at this two Holy Lands. If you want to have a shorter trip, it will all depends on the Flight arrangements and availability. The standard Umrah duration is between 12 days and 15 days.

O Application for Umrah Visa will open from February/March till July (Before the Month of Ramadhan). The process will take about 1 month, subject to all the requirements are met. The Travel Agents will process the information through the Enjazid system (Ministry of Hajj, Saudi Arabia) and once it is successful, we will submit the documents to the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia. The approval is at the discretion of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia.

O Do a light training excercise before going for Umrah and Hajj. Brisk walking and jogging will improve your endurance. It is best to have an extra stamina as you will do a lot of waiting, walking, praying and ziarah. The extra stamina will help you keep your focus during your Ibadah.

O As you need to perform Umrah and Hajj, you need to eat to have the extra energy. Try to avoid Spicy and Oily food as it may upset your digestion system. The toilets are located outside the Holy Mosques and before each of the Fardhu prayers, the Mosques are normally full. As for Hajj, the toilets are limited in Arafah and Mina, so try to have a balanced meal.

O Drink a lot of water and if possible, eat a lot of fruits to avoid dehydration. For Ladies who is having mensturual (haidh/period), try to avoid oranges and citrus fruit.

O Bring an extra set of Ihram. You can also buy it in Mekah or Madinah, but it is better to get an extra Ihram from home (Size and quality differ).

O If you have the opportunity to go for prayers, try to go an hour early before the Adzan to avoid the rush. You can choose your favourite spot inside the mosque and do Sunat prayers or recite the Quran.

O Before you leave for Umrah or Hajj, take the time to learn the Funeral prayer (Solat Jenazah). You will be doing the funeral prayers after each of the 5 Fardhu Prayers.

O If you want to pray directly in front of the Kaaba, do the Tawaf sunat after the Adzan. Just before the Bilal recite the Qamat, just find a place as everyone will create a Saf. It will be a bit of shoving and it will be shoulder to shoulder position, but once you start your prayers, you will be at the closest point to Allah. If you did not finish your Tawaf sunat, just continue from the last point you stopped. Try it at least once, you wont be dissapointed.

O Women are allowed to go to the Holy Haram during Friday prayers, but it is not a must or Wajib. But for the Men, it is Wajib for them to perform Friday prayers. Women are advised to refrain from going to the Holy Haram during Friday prayers as to give some space to the Men.

O The Masjidil Haram has a prayer hall located on the Ground floor, Second Floor and the Roof Top. There are praying areas allocated for women inside Masjidil Haram in Ground Floor and the Second Floor. There are signs inside the Mosque but it is limited. All of the entrances into the Mosque are guarded. As you enter the Mosque, there are entrances for Women only. Men will know it when the door guards stop them and advise them to use another entrance.

O If the crowds during Tawaf are large in numbers, you can also do it on the second and third floor. The circumference is larger and the distance is about 700-800 meters (my estimation) for each complete circle. If you are in a good shape, you can complete the Tawaf on the second and third floor in about 1hr 30mins, InsyaAllah. You may take a longer time but there will be less crowd and a larger space. (Not during the Fardhu prayers though as there will be jemaah right at the edges and railings)

O When you enter the Holy Mosques, you can place your shoes/slippers on the shoe racks at the entrace. Or, if you won't be exiting at the same door, you can bring along your shoes/slippers inside the mosque provided you put it in a plastic bag/shoe bag. There will be numbered shoe racks inside the Holy Mosques. If you are not sure where to put your shoes/slippers, place it close to where you are praying or place it in between you legs feet during your prayers.