The decision to go to Makkah or Madinah first depends on your preferences. If you want to start your journey with the challenge of rituals, then going to Makkah is the best option for you, but if you want to travel with ease, a calm and peaceful environment, and personal comfort then going to Madinah first is good for you. In this blog, we’ll help you decide which city to go to first is better for you based on your interests and benefits.
As for Muslims, both of these cities are quite special and hold immense spiritual and religious significance. Makkah is famous for Masjid Al-Haram, which is built around the Ka’abah and where most of the important rituals are performed. Madinah is well-known for being the most peaceful place in the world, and it is a city where our Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) is buried. When planning for the Umrah or the Hajj trip, you should definitely think of which place you are going to first to get the best experience of your journey.
What are the Main Reasons for Visiting Makkah and Medinah?
Muslims feel blessed to get a chance to visit Makkah and Medina because of important rituals linked to the Hajj and Umrah. These are the most important trips for Muslims, and Hajj is an obligatory act for all Muslims who are able to perform it do it once in a lifetime. Umrah is not mandatory but still provides huge rewards. It has a lot of rituals, like stopping at Arafat and performing a Tawaf around the Ka’abah seven times. Pilgrims perform Umrah or Hajj to get close to Allah SWT and to seek forgiveness.
The most important place in Makkah is Masjid al-Haram, and it is a place where most of the rituals need to be performed. Masjid al-Haram is the biggest mosque in the world, and it is built around the Ka’abah.
The most important place in Madinah is Masjid al-Nabwi, also known as Prophet’s Mosque. It is a place to pray and think. It is the second biggest mosque after the one which is in Makkah. The tomb of the Holy Prophet (Peace be Upon Him) is also located in this mosque.
How can you go to Makkah or Madina?
Planning in advance will affect your decision whether to visit Makkah or Madinah first. To make the best plan, you should know how to get to these places, as there is no airport in Makkah and no direct flights to Madinah, so the best place for you to land is King Abdul Aziz International Airport, situated in Jeddah.
From Jeddah airport, you can book a cab to Makkah or Medinah, wherever you want to go. There are many flight options from big cities like London to Jeddah, and the best ones will be direct flights as they are the most convenient and fastest, flights with layovers can take a little longer, and flights with stops can take more than 10 hours.
Direct Flights to Madinah:
If you want to go to Madinah airport, there are no direct flights from the UK to Medinah, so you can take other flights with one or two stops, but they’ll end up taking much of your time. To check out the best flight update, visit the official site of an airline, as it will help you a lot in your planning.
How does your Physical Condition Impact your Choice?
Your health will also affect where to go first, People often say that going to Makkah is physically demanding as you have to Tawaf the Ka’abah. It is not that hard but when you travel for around 8 to 10 hours to go to Makkah you are already tired and going to Makkah will make you more tired so after that when you visit Madinah, you’ll not enjoy the experience it offers.
So, to cope with this, many people decide to go to Madinah first to pray in a calm and peaceful atmosphere and get some rest before going to Makkah to perform rituals. Remember there is no need to exceed your physical limits if you feel tired after long haul travels visit the Madinah first and then visit Makkah to perform Umrah or Hajj ceremonies with focus and devotion.
Feedback from Experienced Pilgrims
Many experienced pilgrims say that you should go to Madinah first before going to Makkah. A lot of people think that starting your pilgrimage journey from Madinah is the best way to make it peaceful and more devoted. You can visit important places in Madinah which will enhance your faith and belief. In this way, you can get the utmost Umrah or Hajj experience.
Conclusion
To summarize the blog, the answer to the question of which is the best city to go to first, Makkah or Madinah, depends on your personal opinions and the options you have. It is recommended to go to Madinah first to avoid performing physically demanding acts in Makkah. You can enjoy a peaceful environment in Madinah and then start your journey from there and go to Makkah after that. Finally, pick what you think is best for you.
Source: https://www.labbaikhajjumrah.co.uk/go-to-makkah-or-madinah-first/