January Umrah Packages Help Pilgrims Visit Sacred Mountains


Many of the Muslims residing in various corners of the world make their journey to the holy city of Makkah every year to perform their Umrah. It is one of the Islamic pilgrimages, which has a special significance in Islam as it is Prophet Muhammad's (peace be upon him) Sunnah. Although it is not compulsory as compared to the major pilgrimage of Hajj, it is highly recommended and is known as the 'lesser pilgrimage'. As it involves lesser rituals, Umrah can be accomplished within a few hours. It can also be performed at any time of the year in contrast to Hajj, which is performed in the month of Dhu al-Hijjah.

January is the month when Makkah experiences a pleasant climate and this is the reason why many Muslims, especially those living in countries of Northern Europe prefer this time of the year for fulfilling their dream of performing the lesser pilgrimage. The January Umrah packages offered by most of the tour operators make their journey to the holy city easy and affordable in recent times. Many of such tour operators also have significant discounts offered on these packages if they are booked early. The amount saved on these bookings can be utilised while exploring the famous Islamic sites in the holy city and around it.

Among these sites are the three sacred mountains and one of them is Mount Arafat, which is also known as 'Jabal al-Rahmah' or the 'Mountain of Mercy'. This mountain is located in the plain of Arafat, about 20 kilometres to the east of central Makkah. This is the place where Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had given his famous 'Farewell Sermon' to all those who were with him for Hajj towards his final days. According to the Islamic tradition, it is also the place where Allah had forgiven Prophet Adam (peace be upon him) for his sin. Today this place has been denoted by a pillar erected for the purpose.

Yet another sacred mountain is Jabal al-Noor and the name translates as 'Mountain of the Light'. It is located in the Hejazi region near the holy city of Makkah and is home to the renowned 'Cave of Hira'. In this cave, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had spent a considerable amount of time in deep contemplation. He also received his first revelation of the Quran from the archangel Jibreel (A.S) comprising Surah Al-Alaq's first five ayats. About one to two hours of hike is required to reach this cave and it is visited by millions of pilgrims every year.

On the eastern frontier of Makkah is located another sacred mountain called Abu Qubays. The exact origin of the name of this mountain is still unknown, but it is believed to have been called 'Al Amin' during the times when pagan Arabs inhabited this region. Another legend states that it was the very first place on earth where the first of men lived and died. This mountain, according to the Islamic tradition, is the place where Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had shown pagans the miracle of the 'splitting of the moon'.

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