The bus will take you from Jeddah airport to Makkah. It will stop at the Mohassasah office in Ajyad in Makkah. There you will be given two things, a card and a wrist band. Both are important. This card will be plasticized with your photo on it, by your agent. When you receive this card you will officially become a Hajji. This card will gain you legal access to the tents in Mina/ Arafaat. It also has details of your tent location in Mina and Arafaat. The above will not be repeated for it is the same for those coming by bus from Madinah to Makkah. The entry procedure for them is the same as the one coming/ entering from Jeddah to Makkah.

If you decide to go by air from Madinah to Makkah via Jeddah, then this is the procedure to be adopted. Your agent will inform the necessary offices so that your passport reaches Madinah airport before your flight. You go to Madinah airport, hand your luggage in and receive you boarding pass. Before going into transit they will identify you via your passport and then you will be allowed to board.

After a 1 hour flight you are in Jeddah domestic airport, from here you will have to locate the office where your passport went, inform the officials. Now they will allocate a bus for you to take you to the Hajj terminal. This may take time, when you reach the Hajj terminal, go to your countries section. From there you will be put on a Bus to Makkah for Umrah.

Currently, our research shows that the airports of Jeddah are outside the Meeqat and the city of Jeddah is within the Meeqat.

That is why one does not have to adorn Ihraam when one goes shopping in Jeddah.

The trip to Makkah from Madinah via Jeddah by air can be lengthy, instead of saving time, one may actually loose time. However, it is good for the elderly, sick, very old and incapacitated who cannot manage the lengthy, tedious 8 to 12 hours journey from Madinah to Makkah by bus. These people can rest in Jeddah airport then proceed.

Your agent will inform you when you are to depart from Madinah.

Plan yourself carefully, prior to that go and present Salaat was Salaam to Nabi r and make duaa that Allaah brings you back again to Madinah. The ladies may go to the nearest wall adjacent to the grave of Nabi r and present their Salaat was Salaam.

Now make sure that your luggage is on the bus to Makkah. Get ready for an 8/ 12/ 16 hour journey. The bus will first go to Hijri, outside Madinah, for this major passport control/ check etc. Then the bus will go to Zul Hulaifah/ Masjid e Shahjara/ Bir e Ali +_ 12

miles from Madinah. This is where Nabi r adorned Ihraam under a tree; try to adorn your Ihraam here. The facilities are excellent.

Toilet, shower, wudhu, Masjid amenities are good. However, when you alight, take note of the following:- 1.) Where your bus is parked ; 2.) The number of the bus ; 3.) The colour of the bus ; 4.) Any other landmarks or signs around your bus.

Remember, all busses look alike, so do the drivers, in blue overalls.

This is an area where one can easily get lost, confused, worried and we have seen many weeping here. Men and women entrances are separate. One is not allowed to take any luggage into the Masjid.

Let valuables be secured somewhere in luggage, with wife etc. Take a ghusl of Ihraam, adorn two pieces of cloth of Ihraam, wear valid footwear, enter Masjid, head still covered, perform two rakaats Salaatul Ihraam, make intention, remove head gear, recite Talbiyyah. You are now in the state of Ihraam. All the restrictions and prohibitions must now be adhered too.

The following eight Jinaayaat are prohibited for both Umrah and Haj.

1) Using perfume.

2) For men to wear sewn clothing.

3) For men to cover the head or face and for women to cover the face.

4) Removal of hair.

5) To cut the nails.

6) Sexual intercourse.

7) To discard any Waajib act.

8) To hunt a land animal.

The women should take ghusl in hotel and then do the section above in Masjid. If they are in ‘Haiz’ or ‘Nifaaz’ then they only have to make intention and read Talbiyyah to enter the Ihraam. Children who can understand should be taught and explained as to what is happening. Children who cannot understand, the Ihraam should be put on them by their guardians. Then the tedious and generally tiresome lengthy trip to Makkah starts. Each trip is a miracle.

Various stops are made, some for Salaat, others for food, for refuelling, for spot passport checks. Generally the facilities on the road are not good. It is advisable to alight from the bus and walk around so that the blood circulation takes place. Nearing Makkah, one is given “padkos” – some light meal – zam zam, bread, cake, dates etc, carry an empty plastic packet to carry all this to your room in Makkah. Very near Makkah, one final major check point is done and a guide gets on the bus to take the driver to the South African Mohassasah in Ajyad in Makkah. The bus stops at Mohassasah. The driver is taken by the guide with the passports into the office, officials come and hand you a card and wrist band. Both are important. This card will be plasticized with your photo on it, by you agent. When you receive this card you will officially become a Hajji. This card will gain you legal access to the tents in Mina/ Arafaat. It also has details of your tent location in Mina and Arafaat.

The aids from the Mohassasah accompanying the driver and passengers are taken off at various hotels with their luggage. Make sure you are left at the right hotel, where you are booked in, and that all your luggage is off-loaded. You may have either a voucher for your stay or if you are lucky your agent or his representative will be there to receive you. We suggest that you go to your room and rest.

However, be careful you are in the state of Ihraam, do not have relationship with your spouse, or use perfumed soap, or itr or fragrant shampoo.

Do not forget to take a Hotel card when you are in either Makkah or Madinah. If you are misplaced then you can be re-positioned quickly.

Then generally one goes in a group, led by someone experiences to the Haram, many people will be seeing the Ka’bah for the first time.

It is good to enter from Babus Salaam, situated on Safa/ Marwah side. This is not compulsory. One does not need a valid reason not to enter through this door; there will be no sin or penalty. On seeing the Ka’bah, duaa is accepted. Imaam Abu Hanifa (R.A) would make this duaa: “Ya Allaah accept my duaas, wherever duaas are accepted.”

We make duaa: “Ya Allaah, accept our present duaa, past duaa and future duaas.” The duration of duaa depends on the temperament of your companions. Do not unnecessarily delay or even rush your companions. Be moderate.

There are two acts from the above which are Fardh:

1) To adorn the Umrah Ihraam which occurs on making the intention for Umrah and saying the Talbiyaah.

2) To make Tawaaf.

There are two things which are Waajib for Umrah.

1) To make Sa'ee between Safaa and Marwah.

2) To shave or to trim the hair after Sa'ee.

It is MASNOON to make Raml and Idhtibaa' in Umrah.

Umrah is Sunnat-e-Muakkidah.It is Sunnat-e-Muakkidah for that person who was destined to reach Makkah Mukarramah,to perform Umrah once in his lifetime.

More than this is Mustahab.

THEN MAKE UMRAH WHICH IS DESCRIBED BELOW.

1.) Make Istilaam properly, make intention, then extend your hands towards the Hajre Aswad and kiss the palms.

2.) Make Istibah for all seven rounds.

3.) Make Ramal for the first three rounds only.

4.) Do not hurt, push or harm others.

5.) In the state of Ihraam do not touch the Hajre Aswad or Rukn Yamani.

6.) Drinking Zam Zam.

7.) Make any permissible dua in any language whilst making tawaaf.

8.) Do not forget to make the 9th Istilaam before going for Saee.

9.) Do not sprint, dash between the two green lights whilst performing Saee.

10.) Ladies must not jog between the two green lights whilst performing Saee.

11.) Do not forget to perform 2 rakaats Waajibul Tawaaf after Tawaaf ANYWHERE in the Haram.

12.) One may combine tawaafs and then perform the Salaats in one session later.

13.) 2 rakaats Salaat after Saee is Nafl.

14.) Specify, stipulate and confirm the price that the barber is going to charge for shaving your head before sitting on his chair, generally they trick you by showing 3

fingers but end up, quarrelling, demanding 5 Riyals and they will tell you that 3 Riyals for “Qasr”(trimming) and 5 Riyals for Halq.

15.) Whilst your head is being shaved 3 acts are Mustahab:

a. Face Qiblal.

b. Smile.

c. Read Takbeer, Tahleel.

16.) After the men are out of Ihraam they can cut about 20/25 mm, finger tip length of hair, from the ladies, to take them out of Ihraam. This can also be done before you remove your hair.

Now if you want to you can eat ice-cream, drink tea/coffee and go back to the hotel room. Make ghusl and dress in normal Shari clothing.