Umrah in Ramadan Tips: Fasting During Umrah and What to Pack

Fasting in Makkah while you perform Umrah is one of the most rewarding things a Pakistani family can plan for, and also one of the most tiring. These Umrah in Ramadan tips cover what scholars say about fasting while travelling, how suhoor and iftar work in Makkah, when to perform your Umrah during a fasting day, and a practical Ramadan Umrah packing list, so you arrive prepared and keep your energy for worship.

Deen Diary sells the products mentioned below, so please read those mentions with that in mind. Religious points are paraphrased from the linked sources, and where scholars differ, we say so.

Umrah in Ramadan Tips: Before You Fly

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said that Umrah in Ramadan is equal to Hajj in reward (Sahih al-Bukhari 1863), which is why this is the busiest Umrah season. Ramadan 1448 is expected to begin around 8 or 9 February 2027, subject to moon sighting. See our posts on the Ramadan 2027 date in Pakistan and Umrah in Ramadan 2027 for dates, visas and choosing the right part of the month.

A few things are worth sorting out at home:

• Book through an attested operator. Pakistan's Ministry of Religious Affairs publishes a list of attested Umrah operators. Check yours before paying.
• Plan your Umrah permit. Umrah at Masjid al-Haram needs a permit issued through the official Nusuk platform. Check the current rules close to your travel date.
• See your doctor. If you take regular medicine, for example for diabetes or blood pressure, ask about fasting and medicine timings. The Quran allows the sick to make up fasts later (Surah al-Baqarah 2:184).
• Talk to your scholar. Decide before you leave how you will handle fasting on travel days.

Fasting While Travelling for Umrah: What Scholars Say

The traveller's concession

Allah says that whoever is ill or travelling may fast an equal number of other days instead, and that He intends ease, not hardship (Surah al-Baqarah 2:185). When Hamzah ibn Amr al-Aslami asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) whether he should fast while travelling, he replied that he could fast if he wished or not fast if he wished (Sahih al-Bukhari 1943). Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said that on their travels with the Prophet, those who fasted did not criticise those who did not, and those who did not fast did not criticise those who did (Sahih al-Bukhari 1947).

So a pilgrim who counts as a traveller may fast or make the days up later. IslamQA explains that fasting is better for someone who finds it easy, and not fasting is better for someone who finds it hard. The Hanafi scholars at Jamia Uloom-ul-Islamia Banuri Town say the same in substance: if fasting while travelling is easy, keeping the fast is better, and if the hardship is severe, it is better not to fast and to make it up later.

Leaving home on a fasting day

Scholars differ here. The Banuri Town fatwa says the concession applies to someone who is already a traveller before dawn. If you are still inside your city when suhoor time ends, you must keep that day's fast, even if your flight leaves later in the day. IslamQA, following one of the views of Imam Ahmad, allows a person who started fasting and then travels during the day to break the fast once he has left his city. Many Pakistani families follow the Hanafi school, but ask your local scholar which applies to you.

Once you are in Makkah

How long you remain a traveller after arriving is also a point of difference. In the Hanafi school, as the Banuri Town fatwa explains, you stay a traveller unless you intend to stay in one place for fifteen days or more, and once you make that intention you must fast. IslamQA quotes the view of the majority of scholars that someone who has firmly decided to stay more than four days should fast and pray in full. Many packages split the stay between Makkah and Madinah, so ask your local scholar how this applies to your itinerary.

Can I break my fast to perform Umrah?

IslamQA says a pilgrim who is still a traveller and arrives in Makkah exhausted may break the fast so that he can perform Umrah with energy, rather than force himself through it while drained. Other scholars encourage fasting where there is no real hardship, as above. Many pilgrims simply do their Umrah after iftar. Either way, make up any missed days after Ramadan.

Fasting on the Flight to Jeddah

Most flights from Pakistan to Jeddah fly west, so the day gets longer, and the sun may still be up in the sky when it has already set at home. IslamQA explains that a fasting passenger breaks the fast when the sun sets where the plane is, not by the timetable of a city on the ground.

Many flights cross the Miqat in the air, so wear your ihram before boarding or early in the flight. Our Complete Umrah Guide explains the steps from niyyah to halq, and our post on ihram restrictions lists what to avoid once you are in ihram, including scented products.

Suhoor and Iftar in Makkah

Suhoor

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Take suhoor, for there is blessing in it" (Sahih al-Bukhari 1923). Zaid ibn Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him) said they ate suhoor with him and then stood for prayer, with about the time it takes to recite fifty verses in between (Sahih al-Bukhari 1921), which shows it was eaten late in the night.

Many Makkah hotels serve suhoor in the early hours. Eat something filling but not heavy, and set an alarm, because Fajr prayer areas fill early. Follow the local Makkah timetable, not Pakistani times.

Iftar

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said that people will remain upon good as long as they hasten to break the fast (Sahih al-Bukhari 1957). Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said he broke his fast before praying, with fresh dates, or dry dates if there were none, or a few sips of water (Sunan Abi Dawud 2356, graded hasan sahih by al-Albani).

When he broke his fast, he would say (Sunan Abi Dawud 2357, graded hasan by al-Albani):

ذَهَبَ الظَّمَأُ وَابْتَلَّتِ الْعُرُوقُ وَثَبَتَ الأَجْرُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ

Dhahaba al-zama', wabtallat al-'uruq, wa thabata al-ajr, in sha Allah.

"Thirst has gone, the arteries are moist, and the reward is sure, if Allah wills."

The well-known wording "Allahumma laka sumtu wa 'ala rizqika aftartu" is also reported (Sunan Abi Dawud 2358), though al-Albani graded it da'if (weak).

Iftar inside the Haram

Iftar is served every evening at designated places in Masjid al-Haram and its courtyards by charities and donors working under permits from the General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques, which the Saudi Press Agency reported opening for applications ahead of Ramadan 1447. Expect simple food such as dates, water and Zamzam. Arrive early, follow the staff's instructions about where to sit and what to bring in, and clear your place after eating.

When to Perform Umrah During a Fasting Day

Tawaf and sa'i involve a lot of walking, so many fasting pilgrims choose one of these times:

• After iftar and Maghrib. You have eaten and had water, and the evening is cooler.
• Late at night after Taraweeh. Crowds thin out in the early hours, especially in the first part of the month.

With elderly parents or children, rest after Fajr and plan short walks. The last ten nights are the most crowded, so read our tips for Umrah in the last ashra of Ramadan if your dates fall then. Keep Umrah Guide Cards with you, with the steps and duas in Urdu and English.

Ramadan Umrah Packing List

Our full Umrah packing list covers documents, clothes and medicines. For a Ramadan trip, these items matter most:

• A water bottle you can carry. You will be drinking between iftar and suhoor, often far from your room. A Silicone Folding Water Bottle folds flat when empty and clips onto a bag with its carabiner, so it is easy to refill with Zamzam for the walk back.
• Unscented toiletries. Fragrance is not allowed in ihram, and you will wash often in the heat. The Tahara Kit has a fragrance-free shampoo, body wash and hand wash.
• A secure place for your passport and phone. An Ihram Belt Bag sits flat at the waist with zipped pockets for cash, ID and phone, which helps in crowded prayer areas.
• An ihram that stays in place. The Tubular Ihram lower sheet is made in a tube style without stitching, so it does not slip during long tawaf.
• One bundle for the basics. The Hajj & Umrah Essentials Bundle includes an ihram, a travel prayer mat, a neck bag, a shoe and prayer mat bag, an ihram belt and a 7 beads tawaf tasbeeh.
• Dates for the flight and your medicines in hand luggage with the prescription.

Staying Healthy While Fasting in Makkah

• Drink water in small amounts through the night.
• Avoid very oily or salty food at suhoor.
• Stay in the shade during the day and rest when you can.
• If you feel dizzy or very weak, stop and get help.
• Agree on a fixed meeting point outside a numbered gate.

Final Thoughts

These Umrah in Ramadan tips come down to a few simple steps: settle your fasting plan with your scholar before you fly, keep the Sunnah of suhoor and iftar, perform Umrah at a time when you have energy, and pack light but well. When you are ready, our Hajj & Umrah collection has the essentials in one place. May Allah accept your fasts and your Umrah.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I skip fasting while travelling for Umrah?

Yes. The Quran allows a traveller to make up missed fasts later (2:185), and the Prophet gave travellers the choice. When the concession starts and ends depends on your school of thought, so ask your local scholar.

Is it better to fast or not fast on the way to Makkah?

Scholars generally say fasting is better if it is easy for you, and not fasting is better if it causes real hardship. Hanafi scholars add that if you are still in your city when suhoor time ends, you must keep that day's fast.

How many days in Makkah make me a resident for fasting?

In the Hanafi school, you remain a traveller unless you intend to stay fifteen days or more in one place. The majority of other scholars use an intended stay of more than four days. Ask your local scholar about your itinerary.

When do I break my fast on the plane?

Break it when the sun has set where the plane is, not by the time in Pakistan or Jeddah. Flights to Jeddah fly west, so the day is longer than usual.

What is the authentic iftar dua?

A well-known wording reported in Sunan Abi Dawud and graded hasan by al-Albani is "Dhahaba al-zama', wabtallat al-'uruq, wa thabata al-ajr, in sha Allah," meaning "thirst has gone, the arteries are moist, and the reward is sure, if Allah wills." Our Ramadan dua list covers both iftar wordings, with their sources and Urdu meaning.

Can I eat iftar inside Masjid al-Haram?

Yes, iftar of simple items such as dates, water and Zamzam is served at designated places in the Haram by permitted providers. Arrive early and follow the staff's instructions.