Alhamdulillah. My First Blog of 2025

Alhamdulillah, as I begin this new year, I reflect on the incredible journey I’ve had in 2024. With over 300 blog posts written, my focus was largely on DIY Umrah. Topics ranged from visa applications, flight bookings, hotel arrangements, and tours to Umrah Plus destinations like Sarajevo, UAE, Egypt, and Turkey. I also covered local travel destinations, travel essentials, book reviews, mosque features under TheMosques series, and bookkeeping tips via Aara Bookkeeping.

I ended 2024 by posting engaging video quizzes and true-or-false questions about Umrah on TikTok. My journey into TikTok began with one of my favorite Surahs, Surah Ad-Dhuha (The Morning Hours), which has deeply inspired me in life. Sharing its meaning and reflections on the platform was a meaningful way to connect with others.

Surah Ad-Dhuha (The Morning Hours)

Continuing the Journey

InsyaAllah, in 2025, I aim to continue writing about DIY Umrah. My intention is for these efforts to benefit others. Many of my blogs have been inspired by questions and posts shared in the Facebook group “Umrah DIY.”  Today, I’m writing about an intriguing topic inspired by a post from a member, Sdra Shahruddin Shukur, dated 01-01-2025.

Lessons from a Revert’s DIY Umrah Journey

Sdra Shahruddin shared a beautiful conversation he had with a revert while returning from Umrah. The revert’s perspective on DIY Umrah brought fresh insights:

1.  Freedom and Cost Efficiency:

• Sdra Shahruddin shared that DIY Umrah offers the freedom to move without needing permission from an agent and is typically cheaper.

2.  Spiritual Priorities in Travel:

• The revert highlighted that the journey to Umrah begins with booking the flight. Many travelers prioritize ticket prices but overlook salah timing during transit.
• By DIY-ing, he ensures proper planning for jama’ qasar prayers, making it possible to pray standing, facing the qiblah, and with proper wudu. This intentional planning aligns spiritual priorities with practical travel arrangements.

3.  A Key Reminder:

• The revert’s profound advice was, “Don’t let one act of worship jeopardize another. If Umrah deserves 100% effort, salah deserves the same.” This statement serves as a powerful reminder for all travelers.

Enhancing Flight Booking for DIY Umrah

While I’ve previously written about why DIY Umrah is a great choice (see links below):

1. Agency vs DIY Umrah: Choosing the Right Path for Your Pilgrimage (10-12-2024)
2. Mengapa Umrah DIY Adalah Pilihan Yang Baik: Fleksibiliti, Penyesuaian dan Kepuasan (30-10-2024)

I realize I haven’t emphasized enough how to use flight search and booking platforms like Aviasales and Trip.com to ensure both budget and salah considerations are met.

About Aviasales

• Benefits:
  • Offers cheap flight tickets with no extra fees or markups.
  • Innovative search can suggest alternate dates for even lower costs.
  • Subscription notifications alert users to price drops.
  • Smart filters help customize search results, such as prioritizing daytime flights without airport changes.

About Trip.com

• Features:
  • One-stop travel booking service available in 20 languages.
  • Extensive hotel and flight networks, covering over 1.2 million hotels and 2 million flight routes globally.
  • 24/7 English customer service for seamless travel planning.

A Disclaimer

While platforms like Aviasales and Trip.com are great tools, it’s advisable to confirm your booking directly on the airline’s official website once you’ve decided. This ensures accuracy and avoids any third-party complications.

Final Reflections

DIY Umrah is more than just a cost-saving endeavor. It’s an opportunity to align our spiritual priorities with every aspect of the journey. May this year bring us closer to Allah and make our intentions and actions a means of earning His pleasure. Let’s continue to share knowledge and inspire each other in this beautiful journey of life and faith.

Stay tuned for more blogs and TikTok updates, insyaAllah!