How To Stay Focused During Long Queues & Crowds in Umrah?
Going for Umrah is a beautiful experience, but the long queues and crowded areas can sometimes feel overwhelming. With more people travelling through different All Inclusive Umrah Deals, the holy sites can get busy and it is easy to lose focus. This article will share simple, practical tips to help you stay calm, patient and connected to your purpose during those long waits.
Stay Consistent in Dhikr
There are certain times when you are surrounded by excessive crowds in the Haram. In this case, it often becomes difficult to focus on your prayers and you might feel irritated by waiting too long in the queues. We suggest keeping the dhikr of Allah on your tongue to avoid losing focus during long waits. There are many tasbeeh and mobile phone apps available that you can use to maintain a rhythm. Do not set a big goal but keep several mini goals like reciting Subhan Allah 33 times before starting the next recitation. This is best to redirect your mind and save yourself from falling prey to distraction.
Limit the Use of the Phone
Many people have the habit of checking their phone very often and they rush to open their messenger even after a tiny beep. You need to resist using your phone this much as excessive phone usage will give no benefit to you. We recommend disabling those apps that tempt you to scroll and waste your time. On top of that, we also suggest turning on the airplane mode, so that your focus remains on how to avoid heavy crowds and not on your notifications.
You might wish to open your camera and start taking shots of the Masjid al Haram. Refrain from taking pictures before completing your rituals and praying to the fullest as it will just break the flow and your spiritual motivation will also come down. You can thus keep your phone in your pocket or a secure bag to avoid taking it out too much.
Read Short Surahs or Dua
One of the best ways to prevent wasting your time while surrounded by the crowd in the Haram is to recite those surahs that you are comfortable reciting. The reason is that it helps you stay calm instead of stressing about recitation. A tip here is that you can focus on reciting the duas even in tight spaces. This can be made easy by keeping a booklet of different duaa that you can just take out to recite in the crowd. Moreover, you can also play smart by keeping screenshots of short surahs or duas in your phone and easily access them while standing in the long queue. These small prayers can be for ease in worship, for patience or acceptance of your Umrah. Keep reciting short surahs to keep your heart engaged even during times of no ritual performance.
Practice Deep Breathing to Stay Calm
This is an extremely helpful and effective technique to keep yourself relaxed and focused in the present. Practice breathing techniques, especially when you feel exhausted or tired of waiting in the long queues. We recommend using inhaling and exhaling methods during the rituals to diminish frustration. Millions of Muslims visit Makkah every month to fulfil the sunnah of Umrah. Therefore, the Haram is often crowded with pilgrims belonging to different nationalities and having different perspectives.
Staying patient and calm is the key here that helps to concentrate on tawaf and reflection. This is where deep breathing comes to play its role for you. We suggest matching your breathing rhythm with your dhikr to keep your mind settled. Many pilgrims panic in crowded regions in the House of Allah Almighty. If you also feel anxious, then implement your practice of deep breathing by inhaling and exhaling in a controlled pattern. We suggest this because deep breaths keep you vigilant in crowd conditions or packed lines by improving the oxygen flow in your brain.
Keep Your Body Hydrated
Hydrating your body plays a crucial role in staying vigilant during Umrah. We recommend carrying a water bottle with you because it is going to be your best friend during your stay in the Haram. Take a small and lightweight bottle with you so that you can handle it without getting tired. You can also refill it with Zamzam water to drink in the Masjid al Haram. The rituals of tawaf and sa’i are often very tiring as they require extensive walking. It is thus essential to take small gaps in between and take small sips of water to keep focus and avoid dizziness. Keeping your body hydrated prevents headaches caused by heat, crowds and exhaustion.
Preserve Your Energy
Now we are aware that one needs to be fully prepared to face crowds and long queues in the Haram. Pilgrims should look for those affordable Umrah deals that offer all the basic amenities to help them prevent fatigue. This also includes opting for those hotels that are close to the Haram. This way, a lot of your energy will be preserved by sufficient rest. You can also look for some All Inclusive Umrah Offers that include hotels located within walking distance from the House of Allah Almighty.
We have got some other small tips that make a huge difference in keeping pilgrims active. We suggest wearing only these clothes that are appropriate to the weather conditions of Makkah and Madinah. It keeps you comfortable during long waits and in a pool of pilgrims circumambulating the Kaaba. Do not just rush into the tawaf right after entering the grand Mosque but sit for a while to take rest before starting the rituals. This will not only prevent fatigue but also significantly boost your focus.
You can also save your energy by taking small steps and walking at a steady pace during sa’i and tawaf. Last but not least, there is no need to carry heavy bags. Just keep essentials in a small bag to stay relaxed throughout your spiritual journey.
Work on Mental Preparation
It is very important to prepare your mind well before you depart from your home country. You should be aware that delays are part of your Umrah journey. Pilgrims should prepare their minds to combat queues and heavy crowds in the Haram, especially when travelling during the peak months like Ramadan. Remember that delays are part of your spiritual test while entering the crowded areas.
Remind yourself that you will not just be focusing on your rituals amid a heavy crowd but also gathering the immense reward of fulfilling this sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Knowing the rituals of Umrah before starting your Umrah journey helps reduce anxiety at the time of actual performance.
Stay in touch with Your Group
Families can opt for group packages or affordable Umrah offers that are tailored to travel in a group. If you are also travelling with a group, these upcoming tips are for you. We suggest wearing abayas or wristbands of the same colour so you can stick to each other during an extensive crowd while doing tawaf. Families can stay satisfied that all members are walking together and are also easy to find if lost. Fewer doubts thus keep you more invested in ibadat.
You can also use different sign languages for stop, continue or instructions about changing directions. Decide on a particular spot in the Haram to stay to gather in case someone goes missing.
Sum Up
Long queues and crowds are part of Umrah and require proper preparation to stay focused. We have mentioned some of the tips to keep yourself vigilant during such moments instead of getting tired and diverting from your spiritual goal. The above article is also super helpful for you if you are opting for group Umrah deals. Choose Muslims Holy Travel to embark on a stress-free Umrah journey with your loved ones.