Ramadan is one of the most important and spiritual months for Muslims. This is why they make sure to spend every day and even every hour in it in a way that brings them closer to God. During this month, mosques are visited more often, the frequency of communication between parents and friends increases, and those who fast in them tend to worship, pray, and read the Koran.
This month, the pace of religious tourism is increasing. There are religious sites in Muslim countries that Muslims like to visit during this month. They take advantage of this religious tourism to pray in the most important Islamic mosques and perform Umrah in their holiest places, but this does not prevent them from doing things that are considered entertainment, such as visiting popular markets in the countries they visit, visiting Islamic museums, or doing some activities that make them integrate with local communities.
What is the importance of traveling during Ramadan?
The month of Ramadan changes the lifestyle of fasting people. After spending 11 months in the repetitive routine of my life, this blessed month comes to break these restrictions and to free a person from many of the shackles of life that used to restrict him. This is what makes this month also a space for solitude, reflection, achieving peace and tranquility, and moving away from the traditional places where a person lives most of the time.
As an example of the above, some Muslims choose to travel to some holy places to be next to one of the major mosques. The days of Ramadan are spent in prayer, dhikr groups, reading the Quran, and volunteering to feed the fasting people or help the poor and needy. A whole month on this course is enough to make a change in the human spirit and fill it with positivity, impulse, and energy.
These things can be done next to the Kaaba in Mecca, next to the Prophet’s mosque, or even next to places of worship and prayer in Cairo, Istanbul, Islamabad, and many other countries of Islam.
Committing to these things for a whole month will make a person pray his prayers at the right time and will make him more connected to mosques. It will make him get to know many good and righteous Muslims in the places he will go.
The best tourist destinations during Ramadan
There are many destinations to go to during this holy month, as the Islamic countries are vast and extend over large areas of the globe, and they are rich in distinctive and beautiful heritage monuments. And what we will mention in this article are some of these destinations:
– Mecca Al-Mukarramah
There is nothing like visiting Mecca and having the honor of visiting the Kaaba. Have you ever seen some visitors to the Kaaba from some Islamic countries and how their tears begin to fall when they first see the Holy House of Allah?! This may also happen to you when you visit the Kaaba, especially for the first time. The Kaaba is a very majestic sight, and nothing else is comparable to it among Muslims. And visiting this place in the month of Ramadan will double the impact of this place on you. While fasting, you will be present at the cradle of the Islamic call and at the place where the Holy Prophet, his companions, and the first Muslims circumambulated 1400 years ago.
– Madinah Al-Munawwarah
Medinah is the second-most important place after Mecca; it receives millions of visitors every year. The Prophet’s Mosque is one of the largest mosques in the world and can accommodate tens of thousands of worshippers. The Prophet’s mosque welcomes you with its magnificent green dome, majestic minarets, and very large courtyards. The Prophet’s mosque is adjacent to a large selection of hotels, including 5-star hotels to make you have a comfortable and wonderful stay, and they are so close that you can reach the Haram on foot every day. During the month of Ramadan, hotels offer a lot of terrible accommodation offers, and they compete to receive visitors to the Prophet’s sanctuary every year.
– Cairo
We cannot lose sight of Cairo when talking about tourist destinations during the month of Ramadan. Cairo is an ancient Islamic city. Because Cairo is a historical crossroads of civilizations, it is full of ancient heritage monuments, including Islamic monuments.
And walking around the streets of Cairo during Ramadan, especially the Old Ones, is a real pleasure. It is a custom of the famous streets and the Old Main neighborhoods, which are teeming with markets, to be illuminated with lanterns. The lantern (Fanoos) is the symbol of Ramadan in the main cities and streets of Cairo.
Mosques are spread all over Cairo; there are more than 2,450 mosques. This means that if you stay in any hotel, you will find a mosque nearby where you will perform your duties. The most important mosque in Cairo is the Al-Azhar mosque, an ancient mosque that extends over a wide area and includes one of the most prestigious universities in the Islamic world, and by the world, I mean Al-Azhar University.
– Dubai
For any occasion or any month, even if it is Ramadan, Dubai is a city that welcomes you with spaciousness and sets the best atmosphere for a relaxing and happy vacation. Dubai welcomes you in the month of Ramadan because it is the best-equipped city in the region and the world. During the month of Ramadan, Dubai offers to welcome visitors to it. Take advantage of these offers and enjoy a unique stay in a city that offers you everything you need in the month of Ramadan, combined with comfort and superior services. And don’t worry about the availability of mosques and chapels in Dubai, as the city offers more than 2,000 of them. Among them is the Jumeirah Mosque, which can accommodate about 1,500 worshipers.
Dubai is a city of markets and malls, where during Ramadan you will have the most beautiful shopping experience ever. Going out to the famous malls and markets of Dubai is a real pleasure after Iftar, where you will find them teeming with people from different countries. Dubai is worth a visit during Ramadan, so don’t miss it.
– Abu Dhabi
Ramadan in Abu Dhabi has a different taste; this city is full of energy during this holy month. Its streets and markets are decorated to celebrate his arrival. This month, her kind people have participated in a lot of activities and events, volunteering to feed the fasting people and help the poor wherever they are.
The emirate of Abu Dhabi has more than 2,300 mosques spread over different regions. They are beautifully equipped mosques and will be your main destination during your stay in this rising city.
The markets in Abu Dhabi offer the best deals during Ramadan, and shopping becomes a unique pleasure, especially in the evening. Famous restaurants are distributed in the most important areas of Abu Dhabi, especially in the heart of the city, and you can eat delicious food at the Iftar and Suhoor.
– Riyadh
The city of Riyadh comes alive during the month of Ramadan, especially during the evening period after people eat after sunset. The month of Ramadan is an opportunity to discover this city, get to know its people, integrate with their activities and events, and touch their generosity and kindness.
Riyadh’s markets and streets are decorated with special decorations during this holy month. Because you are in the land of the Two Holy Mosques, it is one of the people’s old customs and traditions to serve breakfast on the streets for fasting people heading home after they have finished their work.
Riyadh is a city with more than 17,500 mosques, which means that you will find a mosque where you can pray during Ramadan wherever you go.
In Riyadh, you will also have a unique gastronomic experience. Riyadh has some of the best restaurants in the region and the world. Everything that comes to mind, from international cuisine to cuisine with unique combinations, you will find available in this beautiful and large city. Riyadh in Ramadan is different, and it is worth visiting in this blessed month.