Umrah
Ramadan: Holiest cities Makkah, Madinah flooded with Umrah visitors
Muslim devotees from across the world are coming into Saudi Arabia in large numbers taking advantage of the holy month of Ramadan contributing to huge crowd at the two holiest cities- Makkah and Madinah.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is witnessing a growing number of Umrah pilgrims from countries around the world, including from Bangladesh, since the beginning of Ramadan.
Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, offers the best weather, and this holy month, dedicated to prayer, self-reflection, and religious devotion, also traditionally marks the peak season to perform Umrah.
Though Makkah is well-known for its excessive hot days, surprisingly, this March offers a pleasant weather.
Thousands of Muslim devotees offered their Jummah prayers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah on Friday (March 15), the first Jummah of Ramadan.
All the floors of the Grand Mosque and its adjacent courtyards were full of devotees, and the rows of devotees spilled over to the streets of the Central Haram area.
Many of the Muslims offered Jummah from their respective hotels, which are connected with the Grand Mosque through audio transmission.
Meanwhile, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman approved hosting 1,000 Umrah pilgrims from countries around the world during the year 2024.
The guests representing the fourth and final batch of 2024, which includes 250 prominent Islamic Umrah pilgrims, male and female, representing 16 countries from the continents of Europe and Asia, are visitng the kingdom to perform Umrah.
Read more: Saudi Arabia offers Nusuk platform for Bangladeshi visitors to increase accessibility and simplify Umrah Journey
Islamic scholars, journalists, students, and influencers like the founder and CEO of 10 Minute School, Ayman Sadiq; and author, speaker, English teacher Munzereen Shahid are among the Bangladesh delegation members.
"To be honest, I feel so lucky. I knew about the stories of these historical places. Now I had the opportunity to see in my own eyes," said Munzereen Shahid.
She said there is no language barrier or cultural divide here.
"I see an extraordinary unity among people. I have a desire to come again," said Munzereen who performed her first Umrah together with her husband Ayman Sadiq.
"Had the honor of visiting the King Fahd Quran Printing Complex in Madinah, where millions of copies of the Holy Quran are printed every year. Madinah is peaceful," Ayman shared his experience of visiting the historic place in Madinah before performing Umrah.
Talking to UNB, Musa Takai from New Zealand said, "It is quite unimaginable. I am grateful to Almighty Allah first and then to the Royal family for giving us this opportunity to perform Umrah."
Musa expressed his sincere thanks and great appreciation to the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques and the crown prince for graciously hosting him to perform Umrah.
He added that the kingdom always provides care and attention to the guests of Allah providing integrated services and stressed that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Umrah and Visitation Program is a wonderful model.
Bangladeshis can perform Umrah with transit visa: Saudi Hajj Minister
Bangladeshi passengers on stopovers will be able to perform Umrah with transit visa, said Saudi Arabia's Minister of Hajj and Umrah Affairs Dr Tawfiq bin Fawzan Ar-Rabiah on Wednesday (August 23, 2023).
He disclosed the information while talking to reporters after a meeting with State Minister for Religious Affairs Md Faridul Haque Khan at the Secretariat in the afternoon.
Read: Biman's last hajj flight arrives in Dhaka with 358 pilgrims
Minister Md Faridul Haque said Bangladeshis will be allowed to perform Umrah even in transit. “Passengers will avail this benefit only if they use Saudi carriers. The transit visa will be valid for four days.”
Read: KSA to allow over 127,000 Bangladeshis to perform hajj in 2024
Besides, the validity of Umrah visa has been extended from 1 month to 3 months. Bangladeshi passengers can also travel the country on this visa, he added.
The state minister also said that discussions were held on increasing the Hajj quota and reducing the Hajj cost for Bangladeshis.
Read: 117 Bangladeshi hajj pilgrims died in Saudi Arabia till July 27: Ministry
Death toll of Bangladeshi pilgrims who died in Saudi bus accident rises to 18
At least 18 Bangladeshi pilgrims were killed and 16 others were injured in an accident that killed 24 omrah hajj pilgrims and injured around 23 people in the southwestern region of Saudi Arabia on Monday, said a Foreign Ministry official on Wednesday.
The deceased were identified as Shahidul Islam, son of Shariat Ulla in Senbagh from Noakhali district, Mamun Mia, son of Abdul Awal and Russel Molla of Muradnagar in Cumilla district, Mohammad Helal of Noakhali district, Sabuj Hossain of Laxmipur district, Md Asif and Shafatul Islam of Maheshkhali in Cox’s Bazar district, Md Imam Hossain Rony, son of Abdul Latif in Gazipur district, Ruk Mia, son of Kalu Mia of Chandpur district, Gias Hamid of Debidwar in Cumilla district, Mohammad Nazrul Islam, son of Kawsar Mia and Rony, son of Iskandar of Jashore district and Mohammad Hossain of Cox’s Bazar district, Ruhul Amin, Khairul Islam, Tushar Mazumder, Miraz Hossain, Sakib, son of Abdul Awal and Rana Mia.
Previously it was confirmed that 13 Bangladeshis were killed. Later another five Bangladeshi nationals have been identified among the 24 omrah pilgrims who died in the crash, according to information provided by the foreign ministry.
At least 16 Bangladeshi nationals are receiving medical treatments in four different hospitals across the country.
The bus was carrying 47 omrah hajj pilgrims to Makkah and among them thirty-five passengers were Bangladeshi nationals.
The accident occurred in Saudi Arabia’s Asir province - around 650 km away from Jeddah - at around 4:00 PM on Monday.
According to media reports, the bus collided with a bridge following a brake failure, overturned and burst into flames.
Hospital authorities said that it is very difficult to determine the nationality due to the burning and disfiguring of the bodies.
Two officers of the Bangladesh Consulate General, Jeddah visited the area immediately after the incident and are trying to identify the victims and contact their family members in Bangladesh, according to a press release sent from Bangladesh Consulate General in Jeddah.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs extended its heartfelt condolences to the relatives of those who have lost their lives in this tragic accident and remains connected with the wounded and hospitalized and is working for the early repatriation of the dead.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday said the number of Bangladeshi nationals who died in the crash could rise as many of the wounded -- who are receiving medical treatment in different hospitals across the country -- are in critical condition.
He hoped that the bodies of the Bangladeshi nationals would be returned as soon as possible.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday expressed deep shock and sorrow at the horrific bus crash that killed around 24 omrah hajj pilgrims and injured around 23 people in the southwestern region of Saudi Arabia on Monday.
In a condolence message, she prayed for the eternal salvation of the departed souls and quick recovery of the injured persons.
She asked the Foreign Ministry officials and the Saudi Mission personnel to take necessary actions for recovering the bodies of Bangladeshi nationals and ensure proper treatment for the injured.
Saudi ministry urges pilgrims to limit Umrah once during Ramadan
The Hajj and Umrah Ministry of Saudi Arabia has recommended pilgrims to perform Umrah just once during the holy month of Ramadan.
To avoid crowding and guarantee that pilgrims have a simple and straightforward travel to the sites, the ministry recommended Muslims to undertake Umrah just once throughout the holy month, reports Al Arabiya.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, Saudi officials were concerned about overcrowding at the holy sites because they wanted to make sure that travelers were safe at all times, it said.
Read More: Saudi govt reduces Umrah insurance cost for foreign pilgrims by 63%
The Nusuk app allows Muslims from all over the world to apply to participate in the pilgrimage and plan their whole trip there, including applying for a eVisa and arranging accommodations and flights, the report also said.
Except for during Hajj, any period of the year is permissible for Muslims to go to Makkah to perform Umrah.
Many people aspire to do Umrah during the holy month of Ramadan, when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset.
Read More: Route to Mecca: MoU signed to make Bangladeshi pilgrims' Saudi visits easier
Saudi govt reduces Umrah insurance cost for foreign pilgrims by 63%
The Saudi government has announced that the cost of comprehensive Umrah insurance for foreign pilgrims has been reduced by 63 percent.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of KSA has cut the cost from SR 235 to SR 87 – with effect from January 10, reports Saudi Gazette.
The insurance for Umrah is a unified policy that is covered by pilgrims from Muslim countries of the world, including Bangladesh.
Read More: 7 million Umrah pilgrims facilitated in Saudi Arabia in 2022
It is included in the visa procedures and covers emergency cases such as treatment, admission, hospitalization, pregnancy, emergency childbirth, emergency dental cases, traffic accident injuries, dialysis cases, and internal and external medical evacuation.
It also covers general cases such as accidental permanent total disability, cases of death and death due to natural disasters, returning the body of the deceased to his country, and blood money issued by a court ruling. It also includes covers for flight delay compensation and flight cancellation compensation, it said.
The insurance coverage period is 90 days, starting from the day of entering Saudi Arabia, and the scope of its coverage is only within the kingdom.
Read More: Umrah e-visa: Biometric data must for pilgrims from Bangladesh, 4 other countries
Intending Umrah performers can visit the website of the Comprehensive Insurance Program for the Guests of Rahman to view the Umrah insurance policy, verify its validity, and know services providers.
7 million Umrah pilgrims facilitated in Saudi Arabia in 2022
Saudi Arabia has offered services to seven million Umrah pilgrims from around the world in 2022.
Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah allowed people with tourist visas to perform Umrah during their stay in the country for the first time last year, reports Al Arabiya News.
The ministry also released 13 awareness guides, including Umrah comprehensive guide, for pilgrims in 14 different languages that facilitated pilgrims of all religious, medical, and procedural information before their arrival in the country.
Read more: Route to Mecca: MoU signed to make Bangladeshi pilgrims' Saudi visits easier
Citizens of 49 countries, who applied for tourist visas online and upon their arrival at airports, were also facilitated with service.
It also facilitated pilgrims with all types of visas – instant visa on arrival, family visa, personal visa, and Schengen, UK and US visa holders, which were all issued electronically.
Besides, the Umrah visa had been extended from 30 to 90 days.
Read more: Joint working group to resolve passport renewal issues of Bangladeshis living in Saudi
The ministry launched “Nusuk platform,” which includes 121 services to book and design the Umrah program and issue visas electronically to all countries, as per the media report.
This platform has allowed five countries – Britain, Tunisia, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Kuwait – for the quick issuance of online visas through the Saudi Visa Bio smartphone application of the Saudi Foreign Ministry.
A comprehensive insurance service for the pilgrims was also launched last year to cover the health emergencies, accidents and cancelling or delaying flights.
Read More: How to Perform Umrah from Bangladesh?
Umrah e-visa: Biometric data must for pilgrims from Bangladesh, 4 other countries
Umrah pilgrims from five countries including Bangladesh must provide their biometric data, including “fingerprints” in order to get an electronic Umrah visa, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has announced.
The four other countries are the UK, Tunisia, Kuwait and Malaysia.
Read more: Age limit for Hajj pilgrims may be lifted from next year: State Minister
Interested pilgrims will have to use the Saudi Visa Bio app that allows for visa registration via fingerprints and selfie biometrics to attend significant Muslim pilgrimages, reports The Gulf News.
The new app delivers on a commitment made by the Saudi government late last year to allow biometrics enrolment through mobile devices so pilgrims to Mecca can avoid visiting visa centres in person, and makes the country one of the first in the world to accept biometrics by mobile for visa issuance.
Read more: How to Perform Umrah from Bangladesh?
In February 2022, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) released an electronic passport with a chip that stores the user’s biometrics for authentication purposes.
Route to Mecca: MoU signed to make Bangladeshi pilgrims' Saudi visits easier
Bangladesh and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have signed a bilateral document on ‘Route to Mecca’ which will ease visit of Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims to the kingdom.
Under Route to Mecca service agreement, Hajis (Pilgrims) would be able to complete their immigration in Dhaka prior to their departure to Saudi Arabia.
Bangladesh is the first country with whom Saudi Arabia has signed Route to Mecca service agreement considering "excellent relations" between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia, said the government.
Another MoU on secirtuy cooperation was also singed between the two countries.
Read more: Joint working group to resolve passport renewal issues of Bangladeshis living in Saudi
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan briefed reporters after a meeting with visiting Deputy Minister of Interior of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Dr Nasser bin Abdulaziz Al Dawood at the Home Ministry on Sunday.
Security cooperation includes capacity building, skills development and exchange of visits between members of the security forces.
The Home Minister said earlier Bangladeshis had to wait in long queues for the immigration process to go to Saudi Arabia for performing Hajj. But from now, the immigration process for going to KSA for Hajj will be completed in Dhaka due to signing ‘Route to Mecca’ MOU .
About Rohingya issue, the Home Minister said that about three lakh Rohingyas are staying in Saudi Arabia and many of them have Bangladeshi passports.
“The Saudi government wanted the renewal of their passports. We have given them assurance to consider the issue. Besides, we also sought the cooperation of the Saudi government to send the Rohingyas back to Myanmar,” he said.
Read more: Saudi Arabia assures assistance in commercial supply of LNG to Bangladesh
How to Perform Umrah from Bangladesh?
After Hajj, Umrah is another important thing for devout Muslims. If you want to go for Umrah from Bangladesh, either you can process yourself or process through a travel agency. Various travel agencies in Bangladesh offer all packages for performing Umrah. But the price of these packages is relatively high. So, if you can do all the processings of Umrah yourself, then you can reduce the cost. However, you cannot apply for a visa by yourself, and you need to contact government-approved agencies to apply for an Umrah visa. Stay with us to know the procedure of performing Umrah from Bangladesh.
Who Is Eligible to Go for Umrah?
It is obligatory for financially capable Muslims to perform Hajj once in a lifetime. Capable Muslims should also perform Umrah. However, apart from financial capability, there are a few basic conditions a Muslim should fulfill before performing Umrah and Hajj.
The first condition is that the person must be a Muslim and a believer. If a person does not have faith and Islam in his heart and if he has not become a Muslim and is hypocritical about Islam, then Hajj is not obligatory on him. If such a person performs Hajj, then his Hajj may not be granted by almighty.
Read Saudi Arabia opens Umrah pilgrimage to vaccinated worshipers from abroad
Another condition is that the person should be an adult, but you can take your child with you. In Islam being an adult means that a person can understand the difference between two things. Although there is a dilemma on this point. According to a hadith of Hazrat Abu Dawood (RA) the age of an adult person is 10 years. If a person is promoted to this age, then he can perform Hajj, then his Hajj will be acceptable.
The Season of Umrah
The literal meaning of Umrah is religious deeds, worship, pleasure, service, pilgrimage, and desire. The person who performs Umrah is called Mutamir. The specific activities of Umrah are Ihram, Tawaf, Sai, Halak, Qasr, etc. Umrah is performed in Kaaba Sharif mainly. It is Sunnah for the Afaqi, that is, the one who comes from far places to perform Umrah, to visit the Rawza Sharif of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in Madinah.
There is no specific time for performing Umrah. Anyone can perform Umrah all year round. However, it is not obligatory to perform Umrah at the specified time of Hajj (5 days from 8 Zilhaj to 12 Zilhaj). Umrah can be performed at any time of the year except these five days.
Read Bill placed in JS to deal with irregularities in Hajj, Umrah sector
How Bangladeshi Citizens Can Do Umrah?
As we have mentioned earlier, Bangladeshi citizens can go for Umrah by themselves or through an agency. If you don’t have time to do all the processes by yourself, you can take Umrah packages from different agencies. However, make sure you contact the government-approved agencies. There are many agencies that are not approved by the Bangladesh government.
Usually, travel agencies may charge you BDT 1 lakh to BDT 1.5 lakh, depending on the season. But, you can reduce the cost by doing everything yourself. But you must contact an agency for the visa. Depending on the situation and season, agencies may take BDT 15,000 to 20,000.
The required documents for an umrah visa are,
- Valid Bangladeshi passport (must have 6 months validity)
- One passport size photograph less than six months old with white background (one copy).
- Application form.
Read How to Get E-Passport in Bangladesh: Things you need to know
Going with groups or if you can go with your family or friends will help you to reduce the cost. After getting the visa, you will need to make the tour plan by booking hotels, airline tickets, and more.
Umrah visas are usually issued for 14 days, 21 days, 30 days, and 45 days. However, it does not actually take more than 2 to 3 days to perform Umrah. So, you can plan according to your budget and visas.
For example, if you plan for 10 days, you can first go to Medina for 4 nights and then to Makkah for 6 nights. And, accordingly, make hotel bookings in Medina and Mecca. More than one person can stay in one room in the hotel. Most of the rooms have 5 to 6 beds.
Read E-Passport for Children in Bangladesh: Application process, necessary documents
So, if you go in groups, the hotel cost will be 70-80 Saudi Riyal. And same goes for the plane tickets too. The return plane fare will be around BDT 60,000. However, if you buy a group ticket, this could be reduced to BDT 50,000 or less.
For the food, there are many hotels where you can do breakfast, lunch, and dinner for 25-30 Saudi Riyal per person.
You can also visit Islamic landmarks (called Ziara) in Medina and Makkah. For this, you can take a reserve car in Madinah for 150-200 Saudi Riyals so that 6 people can go, and you can take a taxi microbus in Makkah, which will take 100-120 Saudi Riyals. Using these vehicles, you can see all the sights.
Read Nominees of pilgrims unable to attend hajj 2022 can withdraw deposited money
According to this tour plan, if you stay there for 4 nights in Medina and 6 nights in Makkah for a total of 10 nights, you will get two Juma prayers and participate in one Medina and another in Mecca. These 10 days, tour plans will cost you around BDT 80,000-90,000.
However, this cost may vary depending on the seasons. For example, the cost during Ramadan is a bit higher.
Beware of Scammers
There are also serious allegations that many travels and Hajj agencies have been cheating travelers in the name of helping them perform Umrah. In particular, the Muslims are deceived by the glamorous advertisements of taking responsibility for all matters of performing Umrah for very little money.
Read Bank officials can travel abroad for Hajj, treatment, foreign-funded workshop: BB
These attractive advertisements are advertised in newspapers or through social media. As per the advertisement, they are supposed to provide services like three-star hotels, guides, transportation, etc., in Saudi Arabia. But in reality, travelers do not get any of them. In addition, some of these agencies may charge more money in the name tax and surcharges.
Moreover, brokers are also active in Saudi Arabia. They extort large sums of money from tourists in the name of various services or sightseeing. So beware of them.
Final Words
Performing Umrah is an important sunnah that applies to both men and women. There is no provision that Hajj becomes obligatory after doing Umrah. If you want to do Urah from Bangladesh, this guideline will surely help you out. And if you want to go through an agency, make sure you choose a reupdated one.
Read Online Hajj Registration from Bangladesh: Procedure and Costs
Saudi Arabia opens Umrah pilgrimage to vaccinated worshipers from abroad
After about a year and a half of not receiving overseas worshippers due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Saudi Arabia will gradually begin receiving Umrah pilgrimage requests from abroad for vaccinated pilgrims starting Monday.
With a capacity that would rise to 2 million pilgrims from 60,000 pilgrims per month, Islam's two holiest sites Mecca and Medina will start welcoming visitors from abroad to their mosques while maintaining Covid-19 precautionary measures, Saudi Press Agency reported Sunday.
Domestic and overseas pilgrims will have to submit authorised Covid-19 vaccination certificates along with their Umrah request, an official of the Hajj and Umrah ministry said.
Vaccinated pilgrims from countries, which are on Saudi Arabia's entry-ban list, will have to undergo institutional quarantine upon arrival, the official added.
On July 25, Saudi Arabia said it would allow pilgrims living outside the country to undertake the Umrah pilgrimage starting August 10.
Read: International Umrah pilgrimage resumes on August 10
However, Umrah for Saudi citizens and residents in the Kingdom restarted that day.
In early July, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah stopped receiving applications for Umrah to prepare for Hajj, which began on the 17th of the month.
As Saudi Arabia announced the resumption of Umrah service for pilgrims worldwide from 1st Muharram 1443 after the end of the Hajj season, all countries were allowed to send direct flights except for nine.
Pilgrims from India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Egypt, Turkey, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa and Lebanon would need to undergo a quarantine of 14 days in a third country before arriving in the Kingdom, the authorities said.
Read: Pilgrims return to Mecca for ‘umrah’ after 7 months
Also, it was made mandatory to be vaccinated against Covid-19 with complete doses of either Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca or J&J; complete doses of China's vaccines with a booster shot of either Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca or J&J.
Umrah is a voluntary Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina undertaken any time of the year. In February last year, it was suspended over fears of the Covid-19 outbreak.
However, the Kingdom reopened Muslim holy sites for Umrah after a six-month pause in October same year for domestic worshippers.