Visit Places of Great Significance with Umrah in December

by Safeena Rahman Travel Addict

Generally, the climate of Saudi Arabia is extremely hot and it becomes nearly unbearable for those who are not used to such climatic conditions during the summer season. The temperatures during this time of the year are often over the level of 40-Degree Celsius during daytime and it may drop to about 30-Degree Celsius at night. Winters are relatively pleasant with temperatures ranging from 18-Degree Celsius to 30-Degree Celsius during the day. This is the reason why many of the Muslims choose this time of the year to perform their Umrah. They are mostly the ones living in countries with freezing temperatures during winters.

An Umrah in December is preferred by pilgrims from such countries as this is the time when the weather in the holy city of Makkah would be extremely pleasant for them. It not only allows them to escape the freezing temperatures of their home country but also gives them the opportunity to fulfil their dream of performing this pilgrimage. Umrah is Prophet Muhammad's (peace be upon him) Sunnah and Muslims performing it greatly benefit from the spiritual rewards that it offers them. However, being lesser in importance when compared to the major pilgrimage of Hajj, it is often called the 'lesser pilgrimage' or the 'minor pilgrimage'.

The pleasant climate of Makkah during December would also make it convenient for them to visit the important Islamic sites in the holy city. One of them is Jabal al-Noor, which is a sacred mountain located in Saudi Arabia's Hejazi region. The name translates as 'Mountain of Light'. It houses the renowned 'Cave of Hira' where Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had spent a significant amount of time in deep contemplation. This cave is also the place where he received his first revelation of the Holy Quran from Archangel Jibreel (A.S). This is the reason why this mountain is of tremendous importance for Muslims around the world.

Located in Makkah's eastern frontier is yet another sacred mountain, called Abu Qubais. It is believed to have been called 'Al Amin' during the times when this region was inhabited by pagan Arabs. According to popular legends, the mountain was believed to have been the very first place on earth where the first of men lived and were buried after death. Islamic traditions also mention this place as the one where Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had shown the miracle of the 'splitting of the moon' to the pagans.

During their time spent in Makkah, the pilgrims can also visit Jabal al-Rahmah. The name means 'Mountain of Mercy' and this refers to the event when The Almighty Allah had forgiven the first prophet Adam (peace be upon him) for his sin. In recent times, the exact spot where this event took place has been shown by a pillar. According to the Islamic traditions, this is also the place where Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had delivered his famous farewell sermon towards the end of his life to the ones who had accompanied him.