What is the best time to do Umrah in Ramadan?

Hadith for Umrah during Ramadan

There is a hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ that ranks performing Umrah during Ramadan as equivalent to Hajj due to which Masjid al-Haram remains crowded during Ramadan. What is the best time to perform Umrah in Ramadan?

• Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: Umrah during Ramadan is equivalent to Hajj. – Sunan Ibn Majah 2993

Masjid al-Haram remains crowded

As most of the local Muslim residents and all the Umrah pilgrims want to perform Umrah during the month of Ramadan, it makes the Masjid al-Haram even more crowded. Whatever time you go to the Masjid al-Haram, you will always find it full of pilgrims.

It also means that performing Umrah becomes more difficult during the month of Ramadan. Sometimes Masjid al-Haram administration doesn’t let you go inside the courtyard, other times your access to the Mataf is restricted and you have to perform Tawaf on the upper floor which makes it longer in distance.

What is the best time?

At this time, a question comes to our mind, what is the best time to perform Umrah during the month of Ramadan? Well, it is a tricky question and everyone has his own interpretation but in my opinion, you can focus on two timings.

In the first 10 days

Everyone believes that if you want to perform Umrah during the month of Ramadan, the earlier is better. It is recommended to perform it in the first 10 days of Ramadan. If you are a local resident, you can plan to do it on the first weekend of Ramadan.

Just after Fajr prayer

If you don’t have an issue in performing Umrah while fasting, I think the best time to perform Umrah is just after the Fajr prayer. I ate my Suhoor in Jeddah today and left for Umrah, it took me two hours to reach Masjid al-Haram as in the holy month of Ramadan, they ask pilgrims to park in the Shumaisi parking area.

I started Tawaf at 7:15 and by 9:15 am I was free from everything including cutting my hair. At this point in time, the sun just rises so it is not that hot in Mataf. So I would personally recommend this time.

Just after Taraweeh prayer

If you want to perform Umrah during the time you are not fasting, I think the second best time is just after the Taraweeh prayer finishes. This is the time when most people seek to leave the Masjid al-Haram so there are a lot of vacant places to fit in.

If you are living in Jeddah, you can leave just after Isha prayer from Jeddah and you will be in Masjid al-Haram at the time when Taraweeh ends. People living in other parts of Saudi Arabia can also plan accordingly.

However, in this case, it will take you around 3,4 hours to perform Umrah. Let’s say if you start it by 11 pm, you would be able to complete it by 3 am. You will have to rush for the Suhoor. A better idea is to keep some sandwiches with you in case you are not able to reach a proper restaurant.

Don’t go after Duhr

If you are planning to perform Umrah just after the Duhr prayer while fasting under the scorching sun, I think it is one of the worst ideas that come to your mind this year.

Don’t go for after Asr

If you go just after Asr, once again you will have to perform Tawaf under the sun which brightens up, even more, when you are fasting. However, it is not a bad idea to start Tawaf 1 hour before Iftar, pray Maghrib, and then start Saee. But you will be interrupted many times due to prayers.

Don’t go after Maghrib or Isha

If you are planning to perform Umrah just after taking your Iftar as you are fully energized this time, it is a very good idea but there are two small problems with it.

• You are not the only one planning for it so at this point in time, the mataf is the most crowded. Moreover, people who come to Masjid al-Haram to pray Maghrib don’t go back before completing Isha’s prayer.
• Your Umrah will be interrupted by Isha prayer

All of this is based on my personal recommendations, if you want to share some ideas, please leave a comment below.