The spiritual renewal of Umrah is a spiritual retreat that any Muslim wishing to revise their character should take. It is one of the most rewarding forms of worship. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) had repeated this act of worship in his life because of its high rewards. This demonstrates the outstanding spiritual importance of the pilgrimage. This also leaves people wondering how it can change their character by doing Umrah.
Umrah is also a lesson in a lot of moral teachings besides restoring your faith. You will know how significant such virtues as humility, faith, perseverance, trust in the Almighty, and equality are. Through the pilgrimage, every year, millions of Muslims, including thousands from the UK, come to Saudi Arabia to have a combination of character building and spiritual experience. If you are also looking for an Umrah package from Manchester, here is what you must know about Umrah transforming your character.
Cultivates Humility and Equality
Humility is one of the most prominent lessons of Umrah. As soon as pilgrims wear the simple Ihram garment, they forget about their worldly ranks and statuses. No one can recognise or differentiate the rich from the poor when they are in the state of Ihram. This is the only true purpose of the pilgrimage and the state of Ihram: equality and simplicity. It reminds us that everyone is equal in the eyes of the Almighty.
Through Ihram, you also learn about the true meaning of compassion, simplicity, and modesty. These lessons go beyond the pilgrimage. You will instill these values in yourself even after your pilgrimage, which plays a significant role in transforming your character during the journey.
Develops Patience and Self-Control
Umrah rituals require you to be very patient. You will have to navigate extensive crowds and stand in long queues. Patience and calmness during such scenarios is highly crucial, but it usually annoys the majority of individuals. It is in this journey that you get to know the real meaning and purpose of self-discipline. It is not only because this field will help you have a smoother pilgrimage, but also because it will increase your capacity to deal with the challenges of life with faith and grace.
According to the Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (SAW):
“Whoever performs Umrah, Allah removes his sins just as the bellows remove impurities from iron.”
The first thing that may occur to your mind is that this Hadith is merely referring to the cleansing of forgiveness of sins, but there is something behind it. Umrah is also a way to cleanse yourself of such vices as arrogance, anger, and pride, and teaches you to be patient and self-contained.
Strengthens Gratitude and Mindfulness
All the pilgrimage ceremony and spiritual encounters that you undergo in the pilgrimage are reminders that there are myriad blessings of the Almighty. It is a lesson in itself to get a chance to be the guest of Allah Almighty and to see the Kaaba and Zamzam water. It also reminds you that Allah has blessed you with things that you do not even need.
The gratitude and mindfulness that you learn during this journey change your outlook on life. You will find yourself getting satisfied with what you are blessed with rather than seeking something new in life. According to Pilgrims, they come back to the journey with a new sense of appreciation of the things that they have daily, the endless blessing, their family, health and wealth.
Revives Empathy and Brotherhood
Muslims all over the world are present in pilgrimage crowds. It will have people of all races, backgrounds, and languages. It makes you realize the significance of brotherhood in the Islamic religion and the universal principles of compassion. It is through this brotherhood that you will know of empathy and tolerance.
The Islam religion teaches us to treat people kindly and discusses the real sense of community and the Muslim Ummah. You revive all these Islamic values and feelings with the assistance of Umrah, which will definitely reshape your character and make you a better human being. You will see how this pilgrimage will change you and instill these values in you without you having to make any significant effort.
Inspires Spiritual Focus
We cannot miss the ultimate lesson you get through the pilgrimage, spiritual focus. You perform all the Umrah rituals and acts of worship in a disciplined way during the pilgrimage. It teaches you that even in your chaotic life, your spiritual focus should be strong. You must never skip your prayers or become diverted while performing dhikr, istighfar, or any act of worship that will reward you immensely.
Through the organisation of the pilgrimage, you will know how to manage time and become more organised. It assists you in establishing your spiritual objectives and puts them first on a list of things, as compared to all the worldly commotion and distractions. Learn to concentrate your efforts on what is really important.
Encourages Forgiveness and Letting Go
Pilgrimage is the process of forgiving your sins in the past and getting a new life. You will also need to forgive as you repent or seek forgiveness. You will discover the importance of forgiving others. If you want Allah to forgive you, it is impossible when you want to hold grudges against other people.
Many pilgrims, to be at peace with their hearts, forgive themselves and forgive others as they repent their sins. You would definitely go home with a clean heart and would be more humble and forgiving of others. It is something inherent in the personality change that you will experience during the pilgrimage.
Final Words
Umrah transforms the soul and character. It might look like a set of physical rituals, but it is truly much more than that. You will feel your heart getting cleansed from arrogance, resentment, and grudges as you embark on this journey. It truly purifies your soul and teaches you the true purpose of life.
