Umrah — a beautiful journey of the heart and soul, a Sunnah of our beloved Prophet ﷺ, and a golden chance to wipe away sins and start anew. Yet, many people spend thousands to reach the sacred land but waste precious hours in idle talk, shopping or worldly distractions. Let’s not be among them. Let’s remind ourselves how to spend this sacred time wisely and reap maximum reward, In shaa Allah.
🕋 The Reward and Virtue of Umrah
Rasulullah ﷺ said:
“The performance of Umrah is an expiation for the sins committed between it and the previous Umrah, and the reward for an accepted Hajj is nothing except Paradise.”
(Sahih Bukhari, Book 26, Hadith 1; Sahih Muslim, Book 15, Hadith 79)
And Allah ﷻ says:
“…And perform Hajj and ‘Umrah for Allah…”
(Qur’an, Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:196)
So Umrah is not a holiday — it is an act purely for Allah ﷻ. This mindset alone protects your time.
⏳ How to Use Your Time Wisely in Umrah
1️⃣ Renew Your Intention Constantly
Remind yourself daily: I am here only for the sake of Allah. This guards you from distractions.
2️⃣ Fill Your Tongue with Dhikr (Remembrance)
Allah ﷻ says:
“O you who have believed, remember Allah with much remembrance.”
(Qur’an, Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:41)
Waiting in lines? Walking between places? Sitting in your hotel? Keep the tongue moist with tasbeeh: SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illa Allah. This is free reward!
3️⃣ Read Qur’an Generously
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever reads a letter from the Book of Allah will receive one hasanah (reward), and the hasanah is multiplied by ten…”
(Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Book 45, Hadith 3158)
What better place to read than in the Haram, where every salah is multiplied 100,000 times!
4️⃣ Make Long Dua
Don’t rush your dua. Pour your heart out. Rasulullah ﷺ said:
“Nothing is more honourable to Allah than supplication.”
(Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Book 48, Hadith 3370)
Ask for your needs, the Ummah’s needs, your family, the oppressed — and don’t forget to ask for acceptance of your Umrah.
5️⃣ Pray Salah in the Haram
Each salah there equals 100,000 prayers elsewhere! (Sunan Ibn Majah, Book 5, Hadith 1406)
Plan your day so you never miss this golden opportunity.
🤲 Don’t Waste It on Shopping and Selfies
Our pious predecessors valued every moment. Imam Ibn Al-Jawzi رحمه الله said: “Know that your time is your life, and your life is your capital.” Don’t let shaytaan deceive you into turning tawaf into a photoshoot or filling suitcases instead of your Book of Deeds.
✅ A Simple Action Plan
📿 Keep a tasbeeh counter or your fingers busy.
📖 Set daily Qur’an pages to finish.
📋 Write your duas before going — don’t rely on memory alone.
🗓 Plan your rest and meals to maximise Haram time.
🤝 Help others — guide a lost pilgrim, share water, make dua for strangers.
💡 Parting Reminder
This may be your last chance to visit the House of Allah. Who knows? So return with your heart washed, your sins forgiven, and your book of deeds heavier than your luggage.
May Allah accept your Umrah, protect you, and grant you wisdom to use your time well. Aameen.
References:
Qur’an, Surah Al-Baqarah 2:196
Qur’an, Surah Al-Ahzab 33:41
Sahih Bukhari, Book 26, Hadith 1
Sahih Muslim, Book 15, Hadith 79
Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Book 45, Hadith 3158; Book 48, Hadith 3370
Sunan Ibn Majah, Book 5, Hadith 1406
May your journey be blessed — may your deeds be accepted.
Molana Huzaifah Patel
