Pious, noble and revered Muslims are striving to achieve closeness to Allah. So, they offer different worships including regular five times prayer, charity to poor, Fasting in Ramadan, and pilgrimage to the sacred house of Allah. Thus, Umrah is lesser pilgrimage that holds high significance in Islam for its historical perspective and spiritual significance. Muslims visits the holy House of Allah, first sight at the Holy Kaaba is a source of peace, serenity and tranquility among Muslim pilgrims.
Moreover, it is Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), he performed Umrah 4 times in his life, so Muslims perform this sacred Umrah pilgrimage to follow the footsteps of Allah Almighty. Islamic Travel Agency also understands the importance of Umrah, so it offers numerous opportunities for pilgrims to perform the Umrah pilgrimage. It has introduced the most affordable Umrah packages from UK, and offers a variety of 3-Star, 4-Star, and 5-Star Umrah packages with full amenities.
Spiritual benefits of Umrah
The sacred rituals of Umrah pilgrimage act as a building block for spiritual purification and faith renewal. The rituals of Umrah holds a strong historical background that plays an important role in the character building of pilgrims and personality transformation. Starting from making intention and making pure Niyyah to perform Umrah, Umrah emphasizes on purification of the soul, heart and mind.
The main purpose of performing Umrah is expiation of old sins and renewal of faith. As Muslim pilgrims ask forgiveness from their relatives for all bad deeds and misbehaviors before starting the Umrah pilgrimage. Islamic Travel Agency is one of those reputable and trusted Islamic Travel Agency that have hired well experienced agents that teaches Muslim pilgrims the spiritual importance of Umrah.
It is bringing Umrah packages from UK to strengthen the faith of Muslims, as they are capable to offer Umrah as per the guidelines of the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet after expert teachings of agents of Islamic Travel. Furthermore, Tawaf, Sai and Halq are also symbols of submission, patience and renewal of faith respectively. The Holy Quran also states the benefits of pilgrimage:
لِيَشْهَدُوا مَنَافِعَ لَهُمْ وَيَذْكُرُوا ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ فِيٓ أَيَّامٍۢ مَّعْلُومَـٰتٍۢ
That they may witness benefits for themselves and mention the name of Allah on known days.
(Surah Al-Hajj 22:28)
- Soul purification: Umrah is building block for soul purification. Shedding away old sins and performing deep worships of Allah are cause of soul cleansing and purity of heart and mind. Muslims pilgrims learn at each step of Umrah pilgrimage.
- Repentance and forgiveness: During Umrah pilgrimage, respected British pilgrims repent for their bad deeds in past and ask forgiveness from Allah by repeating several Duas from the Holy Quran and meaning kalimat from Hadith of Holy Prophet PBUH.
- Faith Renewal: After repentance and seeking forgiveness for sins, the faith of Muslims get renew and consider themselves as new souls without burden of sins.
- Action of worship and devotion: Umrah and it’s all rituals are action of deep, profound and affectionate worships. Whereas Muslims pilgrims show this devotion in their worships.
Achieve closeness to Prophet (PBUH)
Our beloved Prophet (PBUH) performed Umrah four times in his life. He performed Umrah after treaty of Hudaibiyyah with his companions in 629 CE. The Holy prophet performed Tawaf of Holy Kaaba with the intention to Please Allah SWT. Other rituals include Ihram wearing, Sai and shaving of the head.
Thus, from his time till now, Muslim pilgrims are following his footsteps to perform Umrah and earn blessings and rewards. Muslims can revive the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet PBUH and the Sunnah of Hazrat Ibrahim A.S/his family by performing Tawaf of Holy Kaaba with pure intention to achieve closeness to Allah SWT. According to teachings of our beloved Holt Prophet PBUH, Muslims should perform Umrah in the Holy Ramadan to get more rewards and blessings. Islamic Travel is also offering numerous Ramdan Umrah Packages so pilgrims can get as equivalent rewards to Hajj by performing in the month of Holy Ramadan.
Hadith of Prophet (PBUH)
Performing Umrah in Ramadan is to Hajj in rewards. (Sahih al-Bukhari 1256)
Unity and brotherhood
Umrah is a source to gather millions of Muslims from around the world to perform the most sacred Umrah pilgrimage in House of Allah. All of them are wearing the same Ihram in the same color. All are offering similar rituals in the same manner. This shows unity among Muslim pilgrims and Muslims from diverse backgrounds are uniting in faith and Umrah ritual, shows brotherhood among them.
- Cultural exchange: Pilgrim’s visiting from different places to perform the Umrah pilgrimage can exchange their cultures, religious experiences and way of communication. It is a huge source to get interconnected with each other.
- Personal transformation: Muslim pilgrims learn multiple lessons from each Umrah ritual. Such as wearing clean Ihram shows the importance of purity in Islam. Making pure intention after asking forgiveness shows the importance of renewal of faith. Circumambulating around the Holy Kaaba shows submission, devotion and subdue of pilgrims in front of Allah. Sai between two mountains symbolizes importance of patience, perseverance and tolerance in perspective of the story of Hazrat Hajra A.S. Final ritual Halq is a sign of shedding away old sins and renewal of faith. That’s how Muslims can achieve complete personality transformation after Umrah.