Guidelines on Umrah with Children or Elderly

Umrah with Children

Umrah is the most cherished dream for a Muslim and the trip has to be perfect. Women are only allowed to travel or to perform Umrah with a Mehram but a woman gets separated from the man who is accompanying her in Masjid-e-Nabawi and Masjid-ul-Haram where there are separate sections for men and women. Usually parents are skeptical about taking their kids on Umrah because of the separation and it becomes difficult for women to perform the rituals and also take care of the kids. But, Umrah with small children does not need to be stressful if you remember certain things. Here are some of the most important guidelines on going for Umrah with children:

Kids need to know the purpose of the trip. It is a good idea to talk to them about why the trip is being taken and the importance of Umrah. It is unlike any other vacation and there will be regular visits to the mosques. It is recommended to educate your children about certain supplications according to their age. There is no need to worry about taking smaller kids to Umrah as the local people often bring their children on Umrah and there are a lot of children all around.
It is really important to get the children vaccinated. It is compulsory for Infants, children, and even adults to get vaccination of meningitis ACWY135. Children between the age group of 2-15 years need to have meningitis and polio vaccinations. H1N1 vaccine is also needed. Doctors recommend these vaccinations to be taken few weeks or a month in advance as the kids might get fever or a side reaction. The last thing you want is to get your kids sick during Umrah.

A child’s dressing is quite important. People keep dressing their children in western clothes which might attract too much attention; therefore, it should be avoided. You can dress very small children in their everyday clothes. However, in the case of children above 6 years old, it is best to dress them in Ihram. Little girls should be made to wear a Hijab.
Carry some small toys to keep the young children busy during the mosque visits. However, dolls, action figures, or toys resembling living animals or humans, should not be taken, as these are confiscated at the mosque gates. Electronic gadgets like video games, mobile phones, or cameras are also taken away at the gates.
Masjid-ul-Haram is one of the most crowded places on earth. So remember to not let the children out of your sight. It is very important to keep the children close and hold their hands, especially at the gates. Most people make an arrangement to enter the Masjid alone, leaving the kid with the spouse and then allowing the spouse to do the same. If a person enters the mosque to pray with the kid, it is a good idea to find a less-crowded place.
Strollers are not allowed inside the mosques. However, wheelchairs are available for rent which can be used for seating children.
Take a shoe bag to carry your shoes inside the mosque. Children can be sensitive to losing their shoes and might throw tantrums. It is better to avoid the whole situation.
There are several activities and site-seeing that could pique the interest of the children during this trip. For instance, after the Fajr prayers, they can be allowed to feed the birds. In the Masjid-e-Nabawi, there are Islamic classes for children during Asr and Maghrib prayers. Children below the age of 6 years are allowed to sign up for the classes.
Food and water are not readily available so remember to bring snacks for the children, in case they get hungry. A small empty bottle to be filled up with the zam-zam water should also be carried. Other necessities should also be packed for the children.
Rest is extremely important for the children. Resting between the prayers is a great idea for the children as well as the adults who are responsible for taking care of them.

Umrah with Elderly Parents

Performing Umrah with family especially the parents can be an unforgettable experience. Helping your elderly parents to complete all the religious rituals not only gives you mental satisfaction but also the spiritual gratification. It is true that the trip could be a little overwhelming because your parents are dependent on you because of their lack of strength but the rewards are manifold. Try to be patient always and remember Allah rewards every deed that is done with a good intention and for His sake. Anas ibn Malik (RA) narrated that the Prophet (pbuh) said:

“If a young man honors an elderly on account of his age, Allah appoints someone to honor him in his old age.” (At-Tirmidhi)

Note: An elderly lady can perform Umrah alone without a Mehram. According to the rules and regulations of the Saudi government, a woman above the age of 45 is allowed to go on Umrah with her fellow pilgrims. But, she is required to submit No Objection Certificate from her Mahram and must travel with an organized group.

Umrah for Disabled / Differently Abled Pilgrims

Umrah is a preferred Sunnah and must be performed by those who are physically and financially capable of undertaking it. If a person suffers from chronic illness or permanent disability, he does not have to perform Umrah. However, disabled Muslims who wish to undertake this spiritual journey can fulfill their wish but adequate preparations must be made before going on Umrah. A disabled person should consult with his travel agent before making any booking. Jeddah airport and the Grand Mosque in Makkah is well-equipped for the disabled. Your travel agent should ensure that the airport staff is advised about your needs in advance. Wheel-chairs are available for free in Masjid-ul-Haram.