How to Cope Up with Fatigue During Umrah

Umrah is one of the most spiritually rewarding journeys any Muslim can take and goes beyond the borders of physical travel. It immerses the pilgrim in a profound, holy experience. However, It, being a journey of prayers, devotion, and divine awakening comes with a lesser-known challenge, which is fatigue. Therefore, pilgrims who are going to Saudi Arabia on a Umrah Package must learn about this key hurdle in advance and prepare for it. Pilgrimage fatigue is real and often overlooked during or before Umrah. This article will discuss in detail what this fatigue is, how it affects the pilgrims, and what steps can be taken to cope with it to fulfill the journey without being hindered by physical exhaustion.

What is Pilgrimage Fatigue?

Pilgrims focus on the spiritual side of the Umrah while planning for this holy trip. This holy travel can be physically and mentally tiring for those who are going for the first time. They must know that it is not just the lack of rest that accounts for pilgrimage fatigue, but a combination of various factors like rituals, environment, and emotional stress can also add to the overall fatigue. Getting tired during Umrah is a normal thing because it demands great physical effort from you. However, ignoring it can affect the whole experience. It can make you sick and lazy. That is why, recognizing it and addressing it instantly is the key to having a peaceful journey free of fatigue.

Factors That Can Cause Fatigue

The Physical Demands

The primary contributor to pilgrimage fatigue is continuous walking and performing rituals. As Umrah is an intense holy experience, it also requires a high level of physical stamina that can become hard. For the first-timers, it can be a real challenge to match the pace and demand of the Umrah rituals.

• Tawaf: Circumambulation or Tawaf is circling the Ka’aaba seven times during this ritual. At first, it might seem easy to circle Ka’aba only, but practically, it is difficult. Dense crowds, intense heat, suffocation, and the distance one has to pass can be overwhelming. Those who are not used to walking will tire themselves in the first ritual.
• Sai: Sai is walking between the hills of Safa and Marwah seven times. The passage between the two hills is bumpy, demanding extra walking efforts from pilgrims. This experience becomes exhausting for adults as well as elders.

When these rituals combine with the hot and humid air of Mecca and Medina, they tire out the pilgrim. They may not realize it at that time but it can drain their energy in the start leading to difficulty in praying later on.

Emotional and Mental Fatigue

Umrah can be an emotional rollercoaster ride for many. Often, this aspect is not much discussed but it also leads to fatigue.

• Spiritual Hassle: Every pilgrim wants to carry out the rituals in the right way without the fear of missing out on any. He wants to have a perfect Umrah experience by completing all the rituals on time and with purity. So, he tries to abstain from worldly pleasures as much as he can and hence, also tires himself mentally.
• Crowd Management: The large number of crowds in the sacred cities can also drain the pilgrim mentally. He will have to make his way through them to touch Hajr e Aswad or be in the first row to offer the prayer. Many times, he may need to wait for quite a long period to pray at a sacred site. This long wait can also tire him.

Environmental Factors

When it comes to fatigue, the environmental factors of Mecca and Medina are often ignored. The temperature in Mecca remains above 40 degrees Celsius on average. Whereas, in Medina, which is a bit cooler than Mecca, it remains hot and humid most of the time.

• Dehydration: As the weather is hot in the holy cities, intense heat soaks up the minerals from the body, hence causing dehydration. This, in turn, causes headaches, fatigue, and dizziness that divert the focus of the pilgrims from the worship.
• Lack of Sleep: Pilgrims have to wake up early in the morning to catch the morning prayer and continue their prayers throughout the day. They also offer late-night prayers afterward to increase supplication. They do not get enough time to sleep and rest. This lack of sleep piles up to cause fatigue for them.

Practical Tips for the Pilgrims to Cope Up with Fatigue

After knowing the factors and causes of fatigue, addressing them becomes easy. Although Umrah is a hard and demanding journey, with a few tips and precautions, it can become peaceful, smooth, and relaxing. These are;

• Staying Hydrated: By keeping your body’s water levels always moderate and salts in control, you can overcome fatigue. Prioritize to drink water regularly after every short interval. Add nutritious meals to the diet as it also helps to strengthen the body.
• Book a Nearby Hotel: It is easy to go to and fro from mosques to the hotel if it’s near. Therefore, book a nearby hotel to take a rest after worshipping. Pilgrims can also take a nap in the noon to refresh their minds and bodies and come back with a charged soul. These moments of rest help in recovering the energy and prevent the pilgrim from fading out due to tiredness.
• Maintain a Normal Pace: Instead of rushing to complete every ritual, slow down your pace. Take rest during rituals; do not just rush to complete one after the other. Take short steps and catch your breath when needed.

Conclusion

It is common to feel fatigued while doing Umrah but it must not be overlooked. Listen to your body when it needs rest and recharge it by taking a nap, drinking a lot of water, and eating nutritious food. As the weather is hot and humid in the holy land, try to remain in shady areas. It also lessens the fatigue. As you now know the lesser-known challenge and learn the ways to tackle it, book a cheap Family Umrah Package and start your spiritual journey.