The autumn month of November in Makkah has a relatively pleasant weather and is favourable for Muslims who arrive in this city from different parts of the world to perform their Umrah. This Islamic pilgrimage is also known as the ‘lesser pilgrimage’ or the ‘minor pilgrimage’, often in comparison with Hajj, which is the major pilgrimage. Rainfall also occurs during this time of the year in the holy city of Makkah, but it is often scant. The packages for the lesser pilgrimage offered by many of the travel companies based in the UK for this month give the country’s Muslims the chance to perform Umrah. They can also visit the important sites during their stay in the holy city.
An Umrah in November allows UK Muslims to visit Masjid-e-Taneem, which is located at a distance of about 5 miles from the Holy Kaabah. This particular mosque is also known as Masjid-e-Ayesha, as it is the place where Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) wife Ayesha (May Allah be pleased with her) had entered her state of ‘ihram’. Today, this place acts as the spot for putting on the pilgrim’s garments to enter the state of ihram for people residing in the holy city. This is one of the largest mosques in Makkah with facilities for pilgrims to take their bath, perform ablutions, and change clothes.
Muslims of the UK who book their November Umrah packages can also utilise the time spent in Makkah after their lesser pilgrimage to visit Jabal al-Noor. The name translates as ‘Mountain of Light’ or ‘Hill of Illumination’ in English. It is of great importance for Muslims across the world as Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had spent a considerable amount of time in the ‘Cave of Hira’ housed in this mountain. This cave is the place where he received his first revelation of the Holy Quran from the archangel, Jibreel (A.S).
While it is true that the opportunities for Umrah November month offers for UK Muslims are tremendous, it also gives them the time to explore the Islamic sites located in and around Makkah. Yet another important place worth visiting is Mount Arafat, also called the Jabal al-Rahmah. The name literally translates as ‘Mount of Mercy’ as it is the place where Adam (peace be upon him) was forgiven by The Almighty Allah for his sin. This mountain is also the place where Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had delivered his ‘farewell sermon’ towards the end of his life to the pilgrims who had accompanied him for Hajj.
During their stay in the holy city of Makkah, the UK Muslims can also visit a sacred mountain called Abu Qubais. It is located on the eastern frontier of the holy city and is the place where Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had performed the astonishing miracle of splitting the moon into two parts and then putting them together again. This mountain is believed to have been known as ‘Al Amin’ during the times when pagan Arabs inhabited the region surrounding it.
You can read on to know more about January Umrah packages and some important aspects associated with them.