How to Make the Most of Your Stay in Makkah & Madinah

• Arrive early at the Haram for prayer

  Aim to reach the Haram well before each prayer to secure a spot and make sure you perform all obligatory prayers in congregation. The Haram in Makkah can be especially busy and hard to access at peak times.

• Make dhikr after every salah

  Get into the habit of reciting the Sunnah adhkar after each prayer.

• Pray all janazah (funeral) prayers

  Join the janazah prayers in the Haram whenever they are offered. These are great opportunities for reward.

• Recite the Qur'an

  Set yourself a daily target for Qur'an recitation and stay consistent. Take every opportunity to engage with the Qur'an, whether you're in your hotel, waiting for something or on a bus journey. You could also stay in the Haram between Maghrib and Isha and use this time to complete your daily recitation.

• Pray Al-Duha

  Stay in the Haram after Fajr until after the sun rises, then offer two rak'ahs of prayer. This earns the reward of Hajj.

• Recite the morning and evening adhkar

  Make it a daily practice to recite your morning adhkar after Fajr and your evening adhkar after Asr.

• Arrive early for tahajjud and du'a

  Aim to be in the Haram at least one hour before the Fajr adhan to pray tahajjud and make heartfelt du'a. This is a time when supplications are especially accepted.

• Give charity daily

  Make a habit of giving charity every day, even if it's a small amount. Look out for official donation booths in malls and public areas.

• Drink Zamzam with intention

  Pair your drinking of Zamzam water with du'a. The Prophet ﷺ said: "The water of Zamzam is for whatever it is drunk for."

• Be a person of good character

  Whether it's offering a smile, pouring water for someone, helping someone elderly or simply moving over to make space, these small acts can carry enormous rewards.

• Make time for reflection

  Take a few moments every day to sit and reflect, and talk to Allah sincerely. This is a blessed time for realigning yourself, and it can be the beginning of a new chapter.

• Perform optional tawaf daily

  Try to perform an extra (nafl) tawaf each day if your health permits. This is a unique act of worship exclusive to Makkah, so make the most of it. Optional tawafs can only be done on the upper floors of the Haram.

If you are in Makkah before Hajj, be careful not to overexert yourself, as you will need to preserve your energy for Hajj.

• Send salams to the Prophet ﷺ, Abu Bakr and Umar

  Visit the Prophet's Mosque and send your salutations to the Prophet ﷺ and his noble companions.

• Visit Masjid Quba

  Don't miss the chance to visit Masjid Quba and offer two rak'ahs there. The reward is equivalent to performing an Umrah.

• Pray in the Rawdah

  Offer prayers in the Rawdah, a garden from the gardens of Paradise. A booking needs to be made for this.

• Take part in a burial (men only)

  Follow a janazah to Al-Baqi and take part in the burial.

You are not just a visitor to Makkah and Madinah. You are a guest of Allah. Out of all His servants, He chose you to walk these sacred paths, to stand before the Ka'bah and to visit the City of His Prophet ﷺ. It is a personal calling, and a chance to reset your soul.

Let this journey be a turning point in your life. Use every moment to draw closer to Allah and build habits that will stay with you long after you return home.

May Allah accept your efforts, forgive your past and bless your future.