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Umrah, known as the minor pilgrimage and beloved Sunnah of the holy Prophet (PBUH), is a form of worship that Muslims around the world observe with dedication and love. This holy pilgrimage helps them attain inner peace and spiritual awakening. The most popular seasons for performing the holy pilgrimage of Umrah are December and Ramadan, especially among the UK-residing Muslims.
Many Umrah service providers offer Ramadan and December Umrah packages from UK, which gives the UK-residing Muslims an opportunity to utilize their winter holidays to perform the holy pilgrimage of Umrah and revive their connection with their creator. The UK pilgrims are often confused about the time of the year that they must choose to travel for the Umrah pilgrimage. The following guide gives a thorough insight into what the pilgrims can expect when travelling during various times around the year for the Umrah pilgrimage.
Weather and physical conditions
Ramadan
Pilgrims who are planning on performing Umrah in the month of Ramadan for the increased reward must understand that the Ramadan weather will be very harsh, especially if it is the summer season. The temperature in Ramadan can go up to 45℃ to 47℃ during the day, making it difficult for the pilgrims to perform the Umrah rituals correctly.
December
Pilgrims travelling for Umrah during December will be able to navigate through the rituals of Umrah and crowds due to pleasant weather conditions. The Christmas and New Year’s break during December in the UK provides a perfect chance for families to travel to the holy city of Makkah to perform Umrah with their family. The temperature in Makkah during December is often 30℃ to 31℃ during the day and 18℃ to 20℃ during the night, making the nighttime a bit chilly for performing the Umrah rituals. Pilgrims can also add their preferred itinerary and utilize this weather by booking Umrah packages with tour guide via a trusted Umrah service provider.
Spiritual significance and religious experience
Ramadan
There is no doubt that Ramadan provides an unmatched spiritual experience to the pilgrims. A famous hadith of the holy Prophet (PBUH) elaborates that if a Muslim offers Umrah in the month of Ramadan, that Umrah will be considered equal to performing Hajj with him, in terms of the reward. This is one of the main reasons why Muslims tend to choose Ramadan for performing Umrah. This allows pilgrims to avail the opportunity of offering Taraweeh in the holy mosque. Pilgrims will get a chance to perform Laila-tul-Qadar at the Haram and Iftar as well.
December
December is the season that offers an unmatched comfort to the pilgrims due to the lower crowd density and pleasant weather conditions. Pilgrims can perform their Umrah rituals freely at any time in December, while they have to follow a strict timetable when performing Umrah during Ramadan. December is the best time to take this journey with the family, as the schools and offices are on winter break. The pleasant weather will help the pilgrims focus on prayer and performing the rituals.
Crowd levels and comfort
Ramadan
Every Muslim wants to be in the holy Mosque during the month of Ramadan. This gives them a chance to offer prayers and have iftar and suhoor with their fellow pilgrims. Umrah in Ramadan often creates a sense of brotherhood and union among all the pilgrims. The environment and energy of Makkah during Ramadan are unmatched, but the crowds are huge and harder to navigate during this season. Pilgrims might face difficulty at the entrance every day due to the long lines.
December
The crowd of pilgrims during December is a lot more manageable than during the month of Ramadan. Many people get some time off from their work in December, and kids also get holidays. The majority of the families prefer taking this journey with their family in December specially if they are travelling with the elderly family members. Performing Umrah in December is quite a smooth and manageable experience as compared to other months.
Cost and travel expenses
Ramadan
The majority of Muslims aspire to perform Umrah during Ramadan, due to which the price of Ramadan Umrah packages rises, which makes it extremely expensive to perform Umrah during this holy month. The price of the Ramadan Umrah packages starts from £700 and goes all the way up to £1500 per person. The price variation usually depends upon the package type and amenities you choose to include in your Umrah package.
December
The demand for December Umrah packages is quite high due to the holiday season, but it is still a lot cheaper than the Ramadan Umrah packages. The crowds are a lot more lenient, so most of the hotels will be able to give you discounts during the holiday season. Pilgrims will be able to book the hotels close to the Haram at an affordable price. The majority of December Umrah packages cost between £1000 and £1600 per person for an extended stay of 14 nights with the guided ziyarat tours.
Both of these seasons have their own significance, but they are significant in terms of spirituality. Pilgrims must choose the season according to their needs, budget, and preferences.
