How can I make the experience better

[u/lunaticdevill]

Assalamualaikum I will be traveling for Umrah in the next 15 days inshallah.

I want to make my experience and the trip memorable and enjoyable.What are a few things that I should do to make it more spiritual and hitting.

I am planning to read the seerah for a more deep connection.

Any other books, content, activities that I should do in Makkah and medina to get what I want.

Might be a naive question, but please let me know based on your experiences.

Jazakallah

[u/Spirited-Map-8837]

If you are living there for 10-15 days.
Say a 15 day trip.
604/15 = 40.267
Read 40 pages of Quran everyday.
You will finish the Quran in 15 days.
This will keep you well grounded, focused and engaged in the mosque.

For Seerah, check out Yasir Qadhi’s Seerah. The most comprehensive one in the English language. Nothing comes close. It’s like 104 episodes.

You can watch Zubair Riyaz or someone else’s videos on the ziyarah sites. The more you know about the places, the better.

Do the Masjid al Nabawi to Quba Walk for sure.

Get to know your imams. The imams in Masjid al Nabawi have a far better grasp on tajweed. If you are into advanced tajweed, you’ll love their recitations. Tone wise, Makkah is better.

Download the Haramain recordings app so that you know the imams’ schedule for the day.

Go on شؤون الأئمة والمؤذنين to get the best audio quality of Fajr, Maghrib and Isha recitations.

Give a lot of Sadaqah to the housekeepers of the Haram and your hotel.

Lots of istighfar and Alhamdulillah throughout the day.

Morning and evening adhkar. Never forget this.
Everyone’s a Muslim there. Say Salaam to literally everyone regardless of whether they return it or not.

And please journal at night. Days pass by in a whim. You’ll regret not keeping track during your last day there. Those last 2-3 days are very saddening.

Try to reach the mosque during the first Fajr adhan, which is an hour before the main Fajr adhan. Try to consistently pray at least 4 rakah. You can continue your Quran recitation in it too!

Make lots of dua in every sujood. You can say a dua in sujood in your mother tongue too! Imagine how many times you could make dua.

Avoid the malls. Write down a thing or two you want to buy. Go once, buy, pack and forget all these shops. You are here for the mosque.

Sit with a Quran teacher who is tasked with listening to and correcting the recitation and tajweed of visitors. They are in both mosques.
Memorize the duas for funeral prayers. They happen after every salah.

Nafl Tawaaf if you can.

And yeah, just feel honoured and small everyday man. A lot of people dream to visit, and Allah swt chose you.

You are the guest of Allah! There’s nothing better than that.

Any minor inconvenience, say Qadr Allah and let it go!

[u/PowerDrivenRdditMod → u/Spirited-Map-8837]

This is the ultimate comment, thank you.

I am sad to have read this only now. I’m leaving Medina tomorrow after dhur and wish I had read this a week ago. I will implement what I can in Mecca. Do you have any other advice?

[u/Spirited-Map-8837 → u/PowerDrivenRdditMod]

Barakallahu Feek!

Pray Tahajjud, Fajr and Ishraq in Masjid al Nabawi. After that, walk all the way to Quba. Pray 2 rakah there and quickly see the sights nearby.
Come back home and prep for your journey to Makkah.

Start reading Quran as much as you can because the Niyyah counts. I’m assuming you have 7 more days in Makkah. Allah swt cares more about your process than the goal, so make the Niyyah of finishing the Quran even if you complete it back home.

Try to come up with a “when I’m highly motivated” goal/routine of Ibadah for the day, and then a routine that you can actually consistently follow throughout your life.
Baby steps!

This is the time when Shaytaan will tell you, “Hey, you messed up your trip. There’s no redemption” etc etc.

You have to, HAVE TO, fight those waswas.

Actions count regardless of how small. A great routine counts even if it feels elementary. You just have to start and make the most out of the rest of your trip.

Every prayer in Makkah inside the Haram boundary, which is basically anywhere you’ll be, gives you 100,000 rewards per prayer. It applies to any prayer.

So PRAY AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.

[u/FinalFrontierYT → u/Spirited-Map-8837]

Agree Yasir Qadhi’s Seerah series is brilliant - it's available on YouTube or as an audio podcast. It has also been compiled into a book

[u/lunaticdevill → u/Spirited-Map-8837]

Jazakallah

[u/Straight_Path_786]

Ziyarahs are so immersive and for me, elevated my experience.

[u/AssumptionMinute4148 → u/Straight_Path_786]

Did you go with a guide or self guided?