Hajj is the essential obligation of Islam and is the 5th pillar. This journey is full of spiritual blessings in which Muslims travel to Makah and present themselves in the court of Allah SWT. Visiting the house of Allah SWT staying at Mina and spending a full day at Arafat is just a soul purity exercise especially when Muslims throw stones at Devil and then perform Halq and sacrifice. In short, Hajj is full of an emotional and spiritual journey in the way of Allah SWT in which a pilgrim asks for Allah SWT’s mercy and seeks forgiveness of their past sins. In past, it was quite difficult to go on this blessed journey due to a lack of facilities and less management drive, but now with the passage of time, many organizers are working in this field to provide maximum facilities for the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages. Many Hajj and Umrah packages, such as Ramadan Umrah Packages and complete Hajj packages are available for the convenience of the pilgrims.

How Is The Cost Of Hajj Determined?

Hajj is performed in the special month of the Islamic calendar Dhul Hajj specifically dated, starts from the 8th to the 13th of Dhul hajj. Pilgrims start to arrive at Makah well before the Hajj dates, many reach 15-30 days earlier than the Hajj dates and return back accordingly. Some pilgrims come to perform Hajj and spend time at Makah as just required to perform hajj. The cost of Hajj is based on the different types of packages as some packages include a longer stay, and some include animal sacrifice costs also in the package. Primarily Hajj cost is based on the following aspects, which make the total cost of Hajj on average £6000 to £11000.

1. The package cost
2. Visa Processing Cost
3. The Hajj and Zabihah (Animal Sacrifice) Cost

1-The Package Cost in the UK:

This cost includes the cost of hoteling; return flight local transportation, etc. These cost range from £3500 to £6000. You can select your own package in which time duration can be changed from 9 to 19 days package. Choice of hoteling can vary your cost a lot as selecting a nearby hotel to Haram costs high, and if you move a bit above 200 meters, then the cost of the hotel will start to be diminishing. Flight options also have a direct impact on selecting a package for Hajj travel if you chose a flight in business class it will charge you high charges while economy class flights can save you huge money. These all facilities clubs in the packages cost of Hajj.

2-Hajj Visa Processing Cost:

Hajj visa can be processed through any operator, which is authorized by the Air Travel Organizers’ Licensing (ATOL) and registered under the Hajj and Umrah Ministry of Saudi Arabia. As per Saudi Government, they do not charge any fee for a Hajj visa, and it's totally free, but the local organizer charges a minor amount for the facility given to you at the home door. The processing fee can range up to £1000. This fee includes all your documentation process, verification, duplicate copies, and other management processing.

3-The Hajj and Zabihah (Animal Sacrifice) Cost:

This is the last major contribution to hajj cost as most pilgrims prefer to arrange the animal sacrifice cost in their package. The travel organizers already book an animal in your name in Saudi Arabia. When you get free from Hajj, and lastly perform Zahihah you don’t have to pay this cost. This cost range from £300 to £500. If you don’t want to include this cost in your package you can pay this cost by yourself at the time of animal sacrifice to the local department.

How Can the Cost of Hajj be reduced?

Pilgrims save money for their whole life to visit the house of Allah SWT. No doubt it costs a heavy amount, and it’s difficult to manage this cost from your routine income. As mentioned above hajj cost, the minimal cost is a must to bear to travel for the spiritual journey but the extra cost can be reduced by choosing the proper packages and limiting the facilities, which will not directly hit the necessities to perform the Hajj. There are many ways through which we can save this huge cost some of them are described below.

1. Select the package carefully and compare it with others in the market. You can take the help of an online comparison of these packages. And select which provides the best facilities at the lowest rates.
2. Customize your package if possible because availing the facilities according to your need will help you to gain maximum benefits at a low cost.
3. Normally it has been noticed that travel organizers make such packages in which one facility is given at a normal rate but the other charges too high to gain maximum profit. Analyze your packages with complete information and then choose the right one.
4. Standard distance hotel arrangements, economy flights, non-luxurious hotel arrangements, and regular food can save a lot of money for you and give you all basic facilities at a stumpy cost to perform Hajj, which is the focal obligation.
5. Do not spend huge money and waste time on shopping, perform the hajj rituals in the best way, and at other times perform other supplications and prayers because this time is very precious and sanctified.

Conclusion:

Allah SWT calls only his loved ones to his sacred house the Kaaba. The cost we pay in order to travel for Hajj is nothing against the blessing which we receive in this divine journey. It is a lifetime journey that should not be missed in any case. Hajj not only clears our past sins as a newborn baby but also guides us in the future life direction according to the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad SAW. We spend a lot of money in other ways like food, entertainment, and many unnecessary extravagant things. Hajj comes only once a year, and it is compulsory only one time so there should be no excuse for saving money for this journey. Offering Hajj and Umrah by availing of packages like Umrah Packages 2023 can revolutionize our life into success in this temporal life and in eternal life.