Hajj & Umrah Tips

I went for Hajj in 2012 with my wife. Before going, I read a lot of books and asked a lot of people for tips. I got many useful things, but I still found out a lot of things on my own. I would like to share these tips with you. Disclaimer:  I am not a religious scholar so be careful about anything ‘religious’ I mention, and just see these as practical tips that worked for me. May be they will work for you, may be they won’t. In any case, I pray to Allah to make your Hajj/Umrah acceptable and easy, and I request you to make Dua for me.  Please let me know (riazshaikh-at-hotmail-dot-com) if I have made any mistakes. And share your tips and experiences.

1.       Intention for Hajj/Umrah

1.1. Make an intention to go for Hajj as soon as possible.

1.2. If you have the money, health, and Mahram (in case of women), you don’t have an excuse to delay Hajj.

1.3. It is much easier to do Hajj while you are young and healthy.

1.4. Make Dua all the time to Allah to make Hajj possible for you.

1.5. Going for Umrah in the off-season is much cheaper and also easier because it is less crowded. But your obligation of doing Hajj will remain. If you can do both, great. Otherwise, try to fulfill your obligation of doing Hajj as soon as possible.

1.6. Start saving up for Hajj expenses if you need to. It will be a constant reminder and prepare you for Hajj.

2.       Choosing your Hajj Tour Operator

2.1. Going through Hajj Committee seems a much better choice than going with private tour operators if possible. Unless you have special needs or cannot cook for yourself and cannot tolerate hotel food, etc.

2.2. Even with Hajj Committee, the more expensive Green class is not as good an option as the ordinary class. Green class gives you closer accommodation, but the ordinary class gives you better local transport even though the accommodation itself is further away.

2.3. If you go by Hajj Committee, be sure to do all the necessary paperwork properly well in time. The application process starts about 8 months before Hajj season.

2.4. If you go by private tour operator, shop around. There can be big differences in tour prices, but sometimes the differences may be justified if they provide you better accommodation and food. Get references from people you trust who have used a particular tour operator.

3.       Learning about Hajj: This is very important. Try to find a scholar of your Madhab that you trust and discuss with him about how to do Hajj, Umrah, Salat, etc., according to your Madhab. You will find people of other Madhabs there doing things differently and you might feel uncomfortable and doubtful about whether you are doing things right. Even if you don’t feel doubtful, they will try to make you feel so. They will tell you that only their Madhab is right or that all Madhabs are wrong and you should only follow the Quran and Sunnah instead of some Imam. I am not trying to tell you what is right, but just talk to a scholar you trust at home instead of getting all confused in a new country. Try to have this scholar on speed dial so that every time you have a doubt (and you will have plenty) you can talk to him instead of asking 10 scholars who will give you 10 different opinions.

3.1. If you are a Hanafi (like most Indians), you will probably find some things different there. You might want to find out about them and also about some other confusing issues.

3.1.1. Niyyat by just intending in the heart instead of saying it in detail in words

3.1.2. Praying without a cap

3.1.3. For women – is it better to pray in the mosque or at home/hotel

3.1.4. Recitation of Surah Fatiha in Salat even behind the Imam

3.1.5. Rafyadain – raising hands before Ruku

3.1.6. No Dua by the Imam after Farz Salat

3.1.7. 2 Rakat Sunnah prayer after Maghrib Azaan

3.1.8. Nafl prayers offered after Asr if there is a reason for it

3.1.9. Method for Salat-ul-Janazah (there will be one or two after almost every Farz Salat in Makkah and in Madina)

3.1.10.    Praying with women around you (in front or beside you)

3.1.11.    Special Duas during Tawaf and other rituals

3.1.12.    Doing Umrah by going to Masjid-e-Aysha or Masjid-e-Juraana

3.1.13.    Combining Zuhr-Asr and Maghrib-Isha prayers during travel

3.1.14.    When and where should you pray Qasr salat

3.1.15.    Going to see other ‘religious’ places in Makkah and Madina (Hira cave, Mt Uhud, etc.)  and what you can do there

3.1.16.    Doing Tawaf or Umrah for others (Isaal-e-Sawaab) – alive or deceased.

3.2. Also, find out how important it is to kiss the Hajr-e-Aswad. And the importance of avoiding jostling and pushing in the crowds. You will have to pick one of the two – either you can do Tawaf in a reasonably dignified manner, or go in like a frenzied maniac and kiss the Hajr-e-Aswad (still no guarantees as there will be bigger frenzied maniacs there).

3.3. And there are many other things people do which don’t all seem very likely to be recommended acts, but just make sure with a scholar.

3.3.1. Touching the walls of the Kaaba during tawaf

3.3.2. Touching the Maqaam-e-Ibrahim

3.3.3. Praying behind the Maqaam-e-Ibrahim while Tawaf is going on

3.3.4. Praying inside the Hijr (Hateem)

3.3.5. Rubbing your body, clothes, caps, prayer mat, etc., on the Kaaba walls

4.       Preparing for Hajj

4.1. Get all the information you can get. Talk to people who have been there, read books, research on the internet, attend classes, etc.

4.2. Plan your schedule, set targets for Ibadat (Tawaf, Umrah, Quran recitation, fasting, Nafil Salat, Sadaqah, etc.). This will help you use your time better. But don’t be hung up on the plan; be ready to change if necessary or if it is for the better.

4.3. Get a map of Masjid al Haram and of Makkah city and all the places of Hajj (Mina, Arafat, Muzdalifa), and also for Masjid an Nabawi and Madina city. Find out where you will be staying and whether the tour operator has any travel arrangements. The most common mode of transport there is walking and shared taxicabs.

5.       Shopping for Hajj

5.1. Prepare a shopping list and get done with your shopping early.

5.2. Before you shop, find out from you tour operator if they will be providing anything.

5.3. Before buying the ihram, see if you can get somebody’s old ihram and try it. Wear it and walk around in it. Ihram is available in several different kinds of cloth, and you have to decide what is comfortable for you. I got a set of heavy towel cloth ihram and put it away. Luckily just before going, I tried it on and found it too heavy and uncomfortable. I tried a lighter towel cloth which felt comfortable. I got a set of medium and a set of light towel cloth ihrams, and I used the heavy one for tying around my waist and the light one for covering my upper body. Women can get their ‘ihram’ which is just a head scarf; take two to be on the safe side.

5.4. Before buying/packing your clothes, find out from your tour operator whether they will have laundry facilities. In any case, don’t count on that and try to take clothes that will be easy to wash and dry in your hotel. 4-5 pairs of light cotton-mix dresses (simple, modest, color-fast) should be ideal for men or women.  And 2 Burqas would be appropriate for women.

5.5. Two pairs of slippers. There are many different opinions on what is allowed in ihram. Try to get simple washable slippers with cross-belts. If you plan to socialize, you might want an extra pair of fancy footwear. But I recommend you to not waste your time socializing and use every possible moment in Ibadat instead.

5.6. A bag for carrying a few essential items like your prayer mat, water bottle, snacks, etc. If this bag does not have a separate pocket for slippers, you can get another bag for slippers. A backpack is best as it frees your hands and is easy to manage in a large crowd or during tawaf.

5.7. A money belt for carrying money, cell phone, hotel key, and any other important documents. This is absolutely essential in Ihram when you don’t have pockets, and safer even when are not in ihram and have pockets in your normal clothes.

5.8. Shops sell a small pouch for carrying the pebbles for stoning the Satan. I feel it is unnecessary and a small water bottle is much better for that.

5.9.  Find out about your airline baggage allowance. Travel as light as you can. You will not have much luggage while going, but while coming back you will probably have stuff that you buy there (dates, prayer mats, gifts, Zamzam water, etc.). Try to carry extra empty bags/suitcases unless you plan to buy bags/suitcases there.

5.10. If you are going through the Hajj Committee and will be cooking on your own, you will need to carry a lot of grocery stuff. Please consult somebody with this experience for tips on what to take. I went with a private tour operator who provided good food, so I didn’t need to carry anything with me. But carry a meal, snacks and water, as you might be stuck in Jeddah airport for a long time before you can get to your hotel in Makkah.

5.11. You can take razors for shaving your head after Hajj and Umrah and scissors and for cutting women’s hair. You can always go to a barber shop for shaving your hair, but if you plan to do a lot of Nafil Umrahs, you might want to save 15 riyals each time.

5.12. Personal hygiene and Toiletry items. Soap, toothbrush, nail cutter, etc.

5.13. Medicines. If you take any prescription medicines carry the medicines for the entire duration of your stay along with the prescription. Also carry medicines you are familiar with for common ailments like headaches, fever, cold, cough, diarrhea, motion sickness, allergies, etc. You can get all these medicines at pharmacies there too, and there are free clinics as well. But if you can treat simple common ailments with medicines you have, you will be saving yourself the time and bother of visiting clinics and pharmacies. The most common ailment there is cough, but medicines don’t seem to provide much relief anyway. Also carry some petroleum jelly (Vaseline) in case your thighs get chafed from the ihram when you walk a lot in it.

5.14. Foreign exchange. I did not spend much time finding out the best rate and just got what I needed from a recommended exchange shop in Hyderabad. You might want to research a little bit. Be sure to get some change (low denomination bills) as you might have to buy snacks/water at the airport and you will need small change.

5.15. Cell phone. You will need a Saudi SIM card which will be provided to you by the Hajj Committee or your Tour operator. Think about whether you want to carry a cheap phone that you don’t have to worry about losing, or an expensive phone with lots of features that you are going to use. Your charger will work fine without any convertor there.

5.16. Camera. I did not want to take pictures on this trip, so I did not use my cell phone camera. Most scholars there also commented about it being forbidden/disliked to take pictures in the Haramain. I myself thought it looked very undignified and disrespectful when people were taking pictures there. If you want to take pictures elsewhere, it is up to you.

6.       When you put on the Ihram, you can intend one of 3 things:

6.1. Hajj-e-Ifrad where you intend to perform only Haj not Umrah,

6.2. Hajj-e-Qiran where you intend to perform Umrah and Hajj without taking off your Ihram,

6.3. Hajj-e-Tamattu in which you first perform Umrah, take off the Ihram, and then put on the Ihram later for Hajj. Tamattu is the most common and what the Prophet (saw) recommended us (though he himself performed Hajj-e-Qiran).

7.       When you land in Jeddah, expect long delays due to the heavy rush. Be patient, have some snacks and water with you. Get your cell phone recharged at the airport as they have special kiosks there and there is nothing else to do there anyway.

8.       After you get to your hotel at Makkah, try to go to the Kaaba for Tawaf-ul-Qudoom without much delay. Your tour operator will probably have local transport arrangements and take you there as a group.

9.       There will be huge crowds at the Masjid-al-Haram, especially around Salat time, but getting inside to the Kaaba is not as difficult as it looks.

10.   Tawaf

10.1. You will see people getting ready for Salat 100s of metres away from the Kaaba. But try to get into the Masjid, and you will find some space.

10.2.  If you cannot it in the Mataaf or on the main floor, try the basement or the first floor or the second floor.

10.3. Most people go through Gate #1 or the gates near there, so that area is very crowded; but if you try to go by other gates (like Bab-us-Salam or King Fahd gate) or go to the opposite side (towards the Hateem), you can expect to find space.

10.4.  If you study the map carefully, you will get an idea after a few trips.

10.5. When you go for Tawaf, you may be daunted by the huge crowds, but if you join in it is not that bad.

10.6. Try to combine Salat and Tawaf and it will be much easier. At Salat time, the whole place is extremely crowded, but if you go even half an hour in advance you can get to the Mataaf. When it is close to Salat time, many people will stop Tawaf and it will be easy for you to do a few rounds.  Stop a few minutes before actual Salat time and find a place for yourself. You can resume your Tawaf after Salat. This way, you can get Salat in the Mataaf area and you can also do the Tawaf easily.

10.7. In the days before Hajj, the Kaaba will be most crowded for the five Salat. The most convenient time for Tawaf is just after Isha. (I never tried doing it later than that because I had get back to my hotel before it got too late in the night).

10.8. It is also less crowded soon after Fajr.

10.9.  Surprisingly, it is quite crowded before Fajr as a lot of people come for Tahajjud.

10.10. After Hajj, the rush will decrease. But don’t count on it. When I was there, it was just as crowded for 8-10 days after Hajj. But most people get to move to a hotel closer to the Haram after Hajj, so it becomes more convenient.

10.11. It takes anything from 15-45 minutes for the Tawaf (7 rounds) in the Mataaf (Main Floor). When it is extremely crowded and you are on the outer edge, it can take longer than an hour. It takes about 70 minutes from the First Floor (Second Floor for Americans) and about 60 minutes from the Second Floor (Third Floor for Americans) if you walk briskly.

10.12. The upper floors are convenient for women, the elderly, the handicapped, and those with children, but it is much longer than the main floor. You walk probably 4-5 times more but it takes only about twice as long since there is less rush.

10.13. There is a separate lane for wheelchairs on the Second Floor.

10.14. The Second Floor covered, so it is quite convenient even when it is hot and sunny.

10.15. The Third Floor is open, so it can be quite hot when the sun is out. But otherwise, it is quite pleasant. It is much less crowded than the Main Floor, and you don’t have to go through a lot of columns as in the Second Floor.

10.16. When you try to judge the size of the crowd doing the Tawaf, look from all angles. Generally, it seems extremely crowded between  the Hajre-e-Aswad and Rukn-e-Iraqi. It is relatively quite sparse between Rukn-e-Shaami and Rukn-e-Yamani.

10.17. After you make the Tawaf, it is Sunnah to come out and pray 2 Rakat, drink Zamzam and make Dua. If you want to go back for Tawaf, it takes a long time to get back through the crowd. I heard a scholar in Madina say that you can do multiple Tawafs (odd number) and after you finish them all, you can come out and pray the Sunnah. Please check this with your Imam and if you feel comfortable with this opinion, it can save you a lot of time and allow you to do many more Tawafs.

10.18. People seem to be very concerned about avoiding the sun. So it is easy to find space in the Mataaf for Zuhr Salat (and even for Jumuah), because it is not shaded. I had gone for Hajj in October, so it was not very hot. But the sunlight can be dazzling off the white flooring, so better carry sunglasses.

11.   Try to pray as many Salats with Jamah at the Kaaba as possible. The reward is 100,000 times that of Salat elsewhere. People are obsessed with praying 40 prayers in Masjid an Nabawi (on the basis of a ‘Daeef’ Hadith), but are quite lax about praying at the Kaaba.

11.1. Try to pray Nawafil – Ishraq, Duha, Awwaabeen, Tasbeeh, etc., regularly. Give Tawaf the highest priority since that is something you cannot do elsewhere; but you will get overwhelmed if you try to do only one thing, so pray Salal, recite the Quran, fast, give charity, smile and greet people, etc. Try to do as much good as you can; don’t waste the ‘multiplier effect’.

12.   Hajj: You will find plenty of information about the Hajj itself in books, booklets, websites, people, etc. So, I am not going to go into detail on this. The below tips assume you are doing Hajj-e-Tamattu.

12.1. Mina

12.1.1.     Men and women are put in separate tents that hold 50-100 people each

12.1.2.    Mina is full of tents that all look the same, so it is easy to get lost here. Mark your tent number, Muallim (Mutawyf) number and zone letter. There are maps posted everywhere; learn to find directions from a map. Don’t rely on other people to give you directions; they are as lost as you are.

12.1.3.    Be careful about your Ihram and all the things you are not allowed to do in Ihram. In addition to behaving well (which you are supposed to do as a Muslim all the time), you will have to avoid things like contact with women (which is easy since you are in separate tents) and perfumed things (which is tough because everything these days seems to be artificially flavoured/scented).

12.2. Arafat

12.2.1.    This is the cornerstone of Hajj. Forget everything else and just make Dua all day here.

12.2.2.    You will probably be taken by bus early morning of 9^th Zilhaj, or even the previous night to avoid the rush.

12.2.3.    There are no cooking facilities here, so your tour operator will carry lunch for you. You are also provided food/snacks by the Saudi government.

12.2.4.    There are adequate toilet and water facilities here now. It seems, you needed to carry your own bucket/water in the past. Drinking water is of poor quality, so you should stick to mineral water. I drank from the water fountains because I love cold water, but developed a bad sore throat.

12.2.5.    It is almost impossible to go to Masjid Namirah for prayer. This Masjid is opened only once a year. And millions of people try to get here at the same time. It took me to an hour to walk to the Masjid from my tent, fighting the crowds. And there was no space when I got there. The return journey took me over an hour. I could have used that time in prayer at the tent instead.

12.3. Muzdalifa

12.3.1.    Millions of people go by bus from Arafat to Muzdalifa on the 9^th evening. Most of them get stuck on the highway, and have to get off the bus and walk. Be prepared for it.

12.3.2.    Try to familiarize yourself with the area by looking at maps in advance.

12.3.3.    There are toilets and Wuzu (ablution) facilities near the Muzdalifa train station.

12.3.4.    Muzdalifa will be unbelievably crowded. Just spread out a sheet wherever you find space and start praying (making Dua).

12.3.5.    You need to collect pebbles from here before returning to Mina.

12.3.6.    You are very likely to get separated from your group, so make sure you can return to your tent in Mina from Muzdalifa.

12.4. Jamarat

12.4.1.    As you return to Mina from Muzdalifa, you will be facing huge crowds of people leaving for Jamarat. If you are adventurous, you can join them. Otherwise, you can wait a little at your tent in Mina before starting for Jamarat.

12.4.2.    Ideally, you will need to go to Jamarat before Zuhr for stoning the pillars. Depending on where your tent is located in Mina, it could take you over an hour to walk to Jamarat. Don’t look for a bus/taxi if you can walk. You could wait till around 10am and then start for Jamarat. The crowd will still be huge, but it will be better than going at 7-8am.

12.4.3.    Much of the Mina-Jamarat pedestrian walkway is covered. So it will be shady even under the hot sun.

12.4.4.    Jamarat used to be the most dangerous part of Hajj earlier. Now, they have made amazing improvements and it has become very easy in spite of the huge crowds.

12.4.5.    There are 4 levels for stoning the pillars, and you can do it from any level you wish. The pillars have been extended and a big pit is built around the pillar; you only need to drop your stone in the pit and don’t have to actually hit the pillar. Also, there is a one-way traffic system, so you will keep walking in one direction and do not have to face people returning from the stoning.

12.4.6.    On the 10^th, you need to stone only the largest pillar, and you need to do it before Zuhr. There is a concession for women, aged, handicapped so they can do it anytime during the day. They can even ask somebody else to do it for them. There are also Fatwas that allow everybody (including the young and able bodied) to do it anytime.

12.4.7.    On the 11^th and 12^th, you need to stone all the 3 pillars, and you need to do it only after Zuhr. There are Fatwas that allow you to do it earlier too considering the huge crowds. But you might prefer to do it after Zuhr, since it is not too inconvenient now. Try not to go there in advance (before Zuhr), because the guards might ask you to quickly complete your stoning and go away.

12.4.8.    If you wait in Mina till the 13^th, then you are required to do the stoning on the 13^th too. If you leave for Makkah on the 12^th, then you don’t need to.

12.5. Sacrifice (Qurbani)

12.5.1.    Ideally, you should be doing this yourself. But that is too impractical in a strange land amidst all those crowds. Your tour operator can probably find somebody to take care of this for you. It will cost you about 300-500 riyals. You can also buy a coupon from Bank Al-Rajhi which takes care of the sacrifice for you.

12.5.2.    The proper sequence requires you to shave your head only after completing the Qurbani and that you should do the Tawaf-e-Ziyarat after that . But there are many scholars who say that the sequence is not critical.

12.5.3.    After the Qurbani, you will get your head shaved and change out of the Ihram into your ordinary clothes. But be careful; some restrictions of Ihram still remain till you finish the Tawaf-e-Ziyarat.

12.6. Tawaf-e-Ziyarat

12.6.1.    This is the 3^rd ‘pillar’ of Hajj (after Niyyat/Ihram and Arafat), and your Hajj is not complete without it. You need to do this as soon as possible – preferably on the 10^th. If you want to follow the proper sequence and are not able to complete your Qurbani on the 10^th, you might want to delay the Tawaf-e-Ziyarat till the 11^th or 12^th. Many people don’t seem to realize its importance and miss it. The penalty for missing it is extremely hard and your Hajj is not valid without it.

12.6.2.    Taxis are very difficult/expensive to get on the 10^th, but they should be a little easier to get on the 11^th or 12^th.

12.6.3.    There will be huge crowds at the Kaaba, and Tawaaf will be very difficult. You might consider doing it from the upper floors, even if you have to walk for longer.

12.6.4.    After completing Tawaf-e-Ziyarat, you will need to do Saee. There is no shaving of the head again after Saee, if you have already done it after the Qurbani.

12.6.5.    After Tawaf-e-Ziyarat, you might prefer to go to Jamarat for stoning before returning to Mina (since Jamarat is between Makkah and Mina).

12.6.6.    There are buses/taxis to take you to Jamarat from Makkah. If you prefer, you might want to walk from Makkah to Jamarat. They have cut a tunnel through a mountain between Jamarat and Makkah, reducing the walking distance considerably. It will probably take you 2-3 hours to walk from Makkah to Jamarat because of the crowds.  I went for Hajj in September, so it was cool and easy to walk around; I expect it to be tough in summer.

13.   Umrah

13.1. You can perform additional Umrahs by going to Masjid-e-Aysha (aka Masjid-e-Taneem) about 5km away, entering into Ihram there, and coming back to the Kaaba for Tawaf and Saee.

13.2. You can also do Umrah by going to Masjid-e-Juraana which is about 18km away.

13.3. These Umrahs are very popular among Muslims of certain nationalities (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Afghani, Turkish - all Hanafi?), but are not recommended by Arab scholars. Check what your scholars say.

13.4. The Masjid-e-Aysha Umrah is much easier. It is much closer and there are plenty of sharing taxis and buses available. You can plan on completing the Umrah in 2½ - 4 hours. The most convenient times are after Fajr and after Isha.

14.   Madina

14.1. Madina is about 350 km from Makkah towards the North.

14.2. Some tour operators take you to Madina after Hajj and some do it before Hajj.

14.3. A visit to Madina is highly recommended, but it is not mandatory or a part of Hajj.

14.4. Unlike in the Kaaba, there are separate sections for women here with separate entrances.

14.5. Riyaz-ul-Jannah

14.5.1.    The Riyaz-ul-Jannah (garden of paradise) is the space between the sacred chamber of the Prophet (saw) and his Mimbar (pulpit).

14.5.2.     According to various scholars, it is either actually a garden of paradise or like it, so it has great virtue.

14.5.3.    There is a mad rush by people to pray in this space. It is like the Hajr-e-Aswad of Madina, in terms of the rush.

14.5.4.    Men can visit it any time. Women are taken in batches at certain times of the day (after Fajr, after Zuhr, and after Isha).

14.5.5.    There is always a rush, but it is relatively a little easier to go here a little before Asr. You cannot pray Nafl prayers after Asr, but at least you can sit here and make Dua. 

14.5.6.    At the time of women’s visit, the Riyaz-ul-Jannah is partitioned into two. A curtained pathway is made from the women’s section of the Masjid all the way to the women’s section of Riyaz-ul-Jannah.

14.5.7.    For women, the biggest rush is after Isha. Even at the best of times, it take 3-4 hours.

14.5.8.    Women need to combine Ziyarat of the sacred chamber of the Prophet (saw) with their visit to Riyaz-ul-Jannah.

14.5.9.    Men can do Ziyarat of the sacred chamber of the Prophet (saw) anytime during the day with minimal effort. There are separate lines for Ziyarat and for Riyaz-ul-Jannah; the line for Ziyarat is always much shorter.

14.6. Masjid Quba

14.6.1.    It is the first mosque built by the Prophet (saw).

14.6.2.    It has great virtue, and there is a Hadith that promises a man who prays here the reward of an Umrah.

14.6.3.    It  is 3km from Masjid-an-Nabawi. There are shared taxis available from the South gate (5-10 riyals per person).   

14.7. Mount Uhud was the site of the second great battle of Islam. It is within the boundary of the Haram of Masjid-an-Nabawi. You can visit here to re-live the great battle.

14.8. There are many other Masajid and wells and other historical sites around Madina. You may visit them to remember our history, but there is no religious significance to such visits. 

15.   Shopping

15.1. Try to give little importance to shopping here. You can shop anywhere in the world, but these places are special where you should try to maximize Ibadaat and Sawaab.

15.2. If you do want to shop for gifts to give to your relatives and friends when you get back home, try to restrict yourself to only those gifts that have an Islamic flavor. Dates, perfume, Miswak, prayer mats, Tasbeeh, caps, scarves, Burqa, Quran, etc. These are easily available in Makkah and Madina.  If you try to shop for other things too, you will be wasting a lot of time.

15.3. I see a lot of couples arguing over shopping. Typically, the men feel they have already spent a lot on the Haj and want to avoid additional shopping expenses. The women feel that since they have already spent so much money to come here, they might as well spend a little more on shopping for things and benefit from coming here. I don’t want to take sides, but I think both should be in a ‘forgiving’ mood. Try to see the other’s point of view, and don’t get hung up on your opinion only. You will end up arguing, fighting, spoiling each other’s mood, and wasting the precious time on this great occasion.

15.4. Prepare list of people you want to give gifts to, make a list of possible gifts, decide on a budget, and try to spend as little time on shopping as possible. Since there is a little less to do in Madina (no Tawaf or Umrah), try to save the shopping for Madina. Prices are the same everywhere, and things are available right near the Haramain.

15.5. To help you prepare a budget, here are the approximate prices (2012) in Riyals: Prayer mats 10-15, Tasbeeh 1, caps 1-2, dates 15-25 (Ajwa dates cost about 70/kg), perfumes 1-5.

16.   Miscellaneous

16.1. There are many historical sites around Makkah and Madina. You may visit them  to get a historical perspective, but there is no religious significance to most of these sites. You will see many people indulging in acts of Shirk and Bidah, but be careful not to imitate them.

16.2. Shoes: Try to carry your shoes with you in a bag, when you go into the Haram. I used to carry them most of the time, but I would leave them in the shoe rack once in a while. I lost 3 pairs. Though you can get a new pair for 5-10 Riyals, the inconvenience of having to walk around barefoot in the hot sun can be a big nuisance. If you feel uncomfortable carrying shoes during Tawaf or Salat, put your shoes in a distinctive bag and memorize the shoe rack number you are leaving them in. And if you still lose them, don’t blame me.

16.3. If you are travelling with family/friends, you are likely to lose each other when you go for Tawaf/Salat. Cell phones make it easy to contact each other, but have a backup plan. Designate a few default meeting points in different locations.