Performing Umrah with Kids

One of the biggest concerns for parents remains handling their kids when they take them along for Umrah. It is easier to manage the entire Umrah trip if the kids are above 5 years of age but if they are younger it becomes difficult deal with them. Certain factors and precautionary measures are to be taken in order to take proper care of them and avoid any sort of inconvenience during Umrah.
The very first consideration is to avoid taking more than 1 child (Under 5 years) with you on Umrah. Taking more children along is not a good idea as it may create a lot of trouble for you such as taking care and keeping an eye on them will become difficult, they might wander around and get misplaced. If you have your spouse along, if will become easier for you to handle the child.
Travel agents generally have traveling discounts offer for children. Do ask your agent to provide you with concessions for kids that are accompanying you on Umrah. The travel agencies also device certain Umrah Packages which offer discounts when you travel for Umrah with family and/ or kids.
 Tips for the visit to Madinah:
Ask your travel agent to accommodate your family near Masjid-Al-Haram.
At all times, ensure that you and your family, especially kids under 5 wear and ID card with all the information listed on it such as Name, Parents’ Name, Passport Number, Saudi Contact Details,Name of the Hotel, etc.
God forbid, if your kids get lost in Madinah, they are usually found by the security personnel of the Mosque. In case such an event happens, contact them.
Keeping an eye on kids is vital while praying, in case they run away from you.
It is not mandatory for the kids to wear Ihram, unless they attain the age of puberty. However, if you decide to make them wear it, tell them about the restrictions of Ihram. There is no penalty on the child or parents, in case if they violate any rule. If you decide to go otherwise and dress them in regular attire, ensure that you do not make them wear anything flashy or too attractive. The simpler the dress is, the better it is.
To avoid running around here and there for water, food etc, keep a baby a baby bag with you. Put all the necessary stuff in the bad such as bottles, diapers, powdered milk etc. Ensure to keep plenty of water in case if you are performing Umrah with kids in hot weather.
During summers, the weather of Makkah and Madinah is extremely hot and kids tend to get irritated in extreme conditions. Hence, when aiming to perform Umrah with kids, plan it for October, November, December or January because the weather is comparatively pleasant in these months. The interior section of both Masjid-al-Haram and Masjid-un-Nabwi are fully air-conditioned.
The prayer areas for both women and men are separate and children usually accompany their mothers. If you are traveling with your spouse or any female member of the family, it is highly advised to take children in the prayer area for women. It is easier to handle kids there because there are several other kids there as well.
Performing Tawaf and Sa’yi with Kids:
One of the most important rituals of Umrah is performing Tawaf and Sa’yi. Sa’yi is referred as to run around Mount Safaa and Marwa. If you are performing Umrah with a toddler, then carrying him/her while performing Tawaf is not going to be an issue. If you prefer, you can perform Tawaf of the second level as it is less crowded. If your child is unable to walk or run, him/herself, you can put them in the wheel chair.
Note: There are no daycare centers in Makkah for children, so you will have to watch them out on your own.
Many people are reluctant in performing Umrah with kids, but taking them along can prove to be a very wise decision. This will bring them closer to Allah and Islam and will be add numerous advantages to their future life. If handled and guided properly, performing Umrah with children can prove to be a wonderful experience.

 Article by: dawntravels.com

The Conference Legislated by Allaah

The Conference Legislated by Allaah

When Muslims sight the crescent of the month of Thul-Hijjah, they leave for the House of Allaah from every distant place and remote country. They come on foot, riding camels, by ships and planes in order to witness the divine Islamic conference that Allaah has prescribed witnessing once in one's life in order to bring hearts together for His sake, fraternize among people who are upon the truth, and strengthen people’s relations every year through kindness and solidarity. It revives hope and determination. It unites the various complaints of the people stricken by material politics, an automated civilization and colonial aspirations. They chant their complaints in one supplication that is echoed in the desert and the sky.

Muslims today badly need to witness this conference as the colonialists have long confined them in their extorted lands and cut relations and communications among them and separated them from their inspiring past and promising future through obliterating their history, destroying their language, and extinguishing the torch of religion. Muslims have had no opportunity to gather except in the Hajj season if they could. However, there have been overt and covert schemes that resulted in Hajj not culminating in the wisdom that is intended behind the Hajj and thus many Muslims did not obtain the expected benefit from Hajj.

This was the case when Muslims were disunited, disagreeing, and under foreign occupation. Now that the colonial powers and invaders have been evacuated and Muslims have assumed the reigns of the Arab countries, only geographic and political lines separate Muslims in the east and west of the Arab lands without separating their hearts, hands, tongues, or brotherhood. These borders do not impede them from meeting in Makkah to mention the name of Allaah The Exalted in known days. They thank Allaah for His favors upon them including Islam, faith, answering the supplication of Ibraaheem (Abraham) may Allaah exalt his mention ransoming Ismaa‘eel (Ishmael) may Allaah exalt his mention and the prophethood of Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) , the final Messenger of Allaah.

Hajj and Zakaah (obligatory charity) are the two social pillars of the religion. Upon these two pillars, there is a relation between the individual and other individuals and between the individual and society. The other three pillars of Islam focus on the relationship between the individual, his Lord and his heart. Zakaah establishes the social system upon sympathy and mercy. Hajj, on the other hand, establishes it upon the basis of acquaintance and familiarity. Hence, Zakaah achieves the meaning of fraternity by preventing undutifulness while Hajj establishes equality by removing differences.

Fraternity and equality are mottos of Islam, the rule of peace, the head of freedom, the meaning of true civilization and the spirit of sound egalitarianism.

Hajj was and still is the purifier of worldly life through clearing it from the fetters of desires and the filth of materialism.

Hajj was and still is the spring of safety that cools down exhausted nerves and hearts.

Hajj was and still is the place of security where souls feel at ease in the land of revelation, where the conscience becomes tranquil in the birthplace of creed and where feelings delight in the divine blessings of this heavenly land.

Hajj was and still is the meeting for Muslims from all over the world at ‘Arafah, sincerely loving each other, equally standing before Allaah with a modest appearance and humble souls, and raising hands invocating Allaah with similar words. Their supplications rise like incense and perfume. Muslims stand in this worldly gathering where the Prophet, his Companions, Muslim kings and princes and millions of pilgrims  from different places speaking in different languages stood. Muslims commemorate this event with Thikr (mentioning Allaah) and reflecting on how the religion, in a certain age, was revealed in this land, and how the heavens here made contact with the earth, and how in this arid desert grew gardens and fruits - in the east and the west.

Each spot in the land of Hijaaz has a quality for sacrifice and heroism. Hajj to this land is an inspiration of pride, a motivation to dignity, an urging of liberty and a reminder of unity. There is the Cave of Hiraa’, the first place where revelation descended; there is the House of Al-Arqam, which is a symbol of sacrifice; The Cave of Thawr, which is the rise of glory; and there is the house where Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Ali, ‘Amr, Sa‘d and Khaalid may Allaah be pleased with them were sitting. Then there is Bat'haa’, whose sands had the footprints of world leaders and the guiding lamps of humanity.

Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And [due] to Allaah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House - for whoever is able to find thereto a way.} [Quran 3:97] Nowadays, a lot of people meet the conditions of ability due to welfare and security. You can perform Hajj with a small amount of money in a short time by car, ship or plane without jeopardizing your life, wealth or health.

Due to the extreme hardships of Hajj in the past, it was almost confined to the labor class of farmers and artisans and the opulent and gentle people of authority did not think about it. So, the benefit of Hajj was seen as slight and did not exceed the limits of performing rituals.

But what prevents the Arab and Muslim leaders now from setting an appointment to meet at Hajj in order to achieve the goal of Hajj where they could sincerely discuss worldly and religious affairs and common causes?

Were they to perform Hajj year after year, they would raise the status of the religion, encourage people to perform this obligatory act of worship, and unite the Muslim word. The Ancient House, from which light spread and from whose heaven revelation came down, is still a beacon of light for the Ummah (Muslim nation) and the place from which its glorious and joyous future will rise!

article by: islamweb.net