Travel Planners Offer Programs to Muslim Pilgrims
Muslim travel groups often seek to go on Hajj or Umrah pilgrimage trips. Able-bodied Muslims are supposed to make a Hajj trip at least once in their lifetime.
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and is the pilgrimage Muslims take every year to Mecca, Saudi Arabia before the Muslim holiday Eid Al Adha. Hajj can only be performed at this time of year and is the eighth to 12th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, which is the last month of the Islamic lunar calendar. As a result of following this calendar, the dates change every year. At the conclusion of Hajj, Muslims celebrate the four-day Eid Al Adha.
Hajj rituals include walking seven times counter-clockwise around the Ka’ba, the central cube-shaped building toward which they pray. Within the Ka’ba is the black stone that some pilgrims kiss. The Ka’ba is located in the center of The Holy Mosque, Al-Masjid al-Haram or al-Haram Mosque. The mosque can accommodate up to four million during the Hajj.
The Umrah pilgrimage can be taken at any time of the year. Rituals include circling the Ka’ba counter-clockwise seven times.
Another religious attraction in Saudi Arabia is the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina. This mosque is on the site of the mosque built by the Prophet Mohammed. In the center of the mosque is the Green Dome where Mohammed’s tomb is located.
The following is a sampling of Muslim tour planners to choose from.
One tour operator offering annual trips for Hajj and Umra is USA Hajj Mission, a service organization in operation since 1994 and registered in Edison, NJ. USA Hajj Mission specializes in Hajj and Umra trips. About 150 participate in these religious trips every year. Umra trips are about eight to 10 days long, and Hajj trips are about 16 to 19 days long.
USA Hajj Mission
732-801-1283
Al-Mu’adhdhan Hajj Group, based in Philadelphia, has operated Hajj pilgrimages for 17 years. About 50 to 85 a year Muslims participate in these religious trips. There is an option of a side trip to Jerusalem, where the Al Aqsa Mosque is located.
Al-Mu’adhdhan Hajj Group
215-457-8006
Hajj (photo courtesy of Dar El Salam)
Dar El Salam is based in New York and has offices in Texas, Los Angeles and Canada. Operating for 25 years, Dar El Salam offers Hajj and Umrah trips. About 4,000 to 5,000 pilgrims participate in these trips every year. A sample hajj trip can be 11 nights or 18 nights and include the cities of Mecca and Medina. A sample package for Umrah would include 13 nights in Mecca and Medina. There is an option of adding a trip to Cairo, Egypt, which is home to several mosques including the Mohammed Ali Mosque.
Dar El Salam
866-327-7252
Illume, based in Boston, has been in operation for at least 30 years. One of their programs is the inter-faith journey where Christians, Jews and Muslims come together and explore the relationship and links between the three religions. About 400 people a year participate in this program. The program visits countries with ties to all three religions including Israel/ Palestine and Turkey.
Illume
617-367-6757
All Seasons Tours specializes in leisure tours to Egypt, with such attractions as the pyramids in Egypt and Luxor. Muslim travelers can combine a leisure trip and stop in one of many Cairo mosques including the Mohammed Ali Mosque. All Seasons Tours is based in Elmwood, NJ, and has been in operation 14 years.
All Seasons Tours
(201) 791 - 4777
Blue Mosque (photo courtesy of Travel Shop Turkey)
Travel Shop Turkey was established in 2006 in Istanbul. About 5,000 customers travel worldwide with Travel Shop Turkey, and 500 to 600 of these travelers participate in Muslim tours. The “Islamic Istanbul City Tour” is offered daily. One of the destinations is Topkapi Palace, which belonged to the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries. Within the palace are relics of the prophet Mohammed. Sultanahmet Imperial Mosque, more commonly known as Blue Mosque, due to its blue tiles, was built in the 16th century. Other Istanbul mosques include the Eyup Sultan Mosque and the Fatih Mosque.
Travel Shop Turkey
9 0 212 529 77 08
Muslims can choose from an interesting selection of tour operators for their religious pilgrimages. While most trips go to Hajj and Umrah, other religious destinations are offered as well.
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