Umrah gifts fall into two lists. For someone about to travel, the best gifts are things they can use in ihram and inside the Haram: unscented soap, a thin folding prayer mat, a tasbih counter, a small waist pouch, broken-in sandals, a dua card and a contribution towards their trip. For someone who has returned, the gifts they bring back are Zamzam water, Ajwa dates from Madinah, prayer beads, attar and prayer mats. What you should not give a man before he goes is anything perfumed, because ihram forbids it. The rest of this guide covers each list, that restriction, Zamzam, and what to say.
What are the best Umrah gifts for someone about to go?
The best gift for someone about to go on Umrah is something they will use during the rites, which means it must be allowed in ihram and practical in a crowd. A man in ihram wears two unstitched sheets and may not use perfume; a woman wears ordinary modest clothing under the same no-perfume rule.
- Unscented soap, shampoo and lip balm. Washing is allowed in ihram; fragrance is not, and unscented versions are hard to find in a hurry.
- A thin folding prayer mat. The courtyards are hot marble; a mat that fits in a pocket is used ten times a day.
- A tasbih counter ring or clicker. Losing count in Tawaf or Sa’i is the most common slip.
- A small waist pouch or neck wallet. Men in ihram have no pockets.
- Broken-in sandals. Nothing that covers the ankle for men, and not new ones.
- A dua card. A card with the Talbiyah and the Safa verse beats a thick book.
- A power bank and plug adapter. Nusuk permits, bookings and family calls all run on the phone.
- Money towards the trip. Among Pakistani and British families the most common gift, and the most useful.
Everything else they need is in our Umrah packing list; these are the items people are glad to receive rather than buy.
What are the best gifts to bring back from Makkah and Madinah?
The best gifts to bring back are the ones that only come from the two cities: Zamzam water, Ajwa dates, attar in small bottles, prayer beads and prayer mats.
- Zamzam water. The gift every family hopes for. It travels sealed under airline rules, covered below.
- Ajwa dates. Grown in Madinah and sold near the Prophet’s Mosque in gift boxes; Sukkari, Safawi and Mabroom cost less.
- Attar (oil-based perfume). Oud, musk and rose from the shops around both mosques, for men who have finished their Umrah.
- Prayer beads and counter rings. Wooden, olive-seed or stone, sold in sets.
- Prayer mats and prayer clothing. Thin travel mats, or a prayer dress for a woman.
- A copy of the Quran. From pocket editions to large print for older relatives.
Set a gift budget before leaving home and buy on the last day so nothing is carried between the cities.
Which Umrah gift suits which person?
Match the gift to whether the person is going or returning, and to who they are.
| Recipient | Before they go | After they return |
|---|---|---|
| A man | Unscented toiletries, waist pouch, sandals, tasbih ring | Attar, a cap or shemagh, Ajwa dates, miswak |
| A woman | Prayer dress or abaya, unscented toiletries, dua card | Attar, a prayer mat, dates, a scarf from the markets |
| Parents or elderly relatives | A folding stool or seat cane, a power bank, money towards the package | Zamzam, Ajwa dates, prayer beads, a large prayer mat |
| Children | A small backpack, a picture dua card, a wristband with the hotel number | Dates, a children’s story book, a small prayer mat |
| A girl or young woman | A prayer dress, a tasbih counter, a pocket dua book | A scarf, a small attar bottle, prayer beads, a bracelet from the markets |
| A whole family | A shared contribution to their package | A box of Ajwa dates, a large Zamzam container, a set of prayer mats |
What should you not give someone going on Umrah?
Do not give a man who is about to go anything perfumed, and do not give him sewn clothing to wear during the rites, because ihram forbids both. When a man asked the Prophet what a person in ihram should wear, the answer in Sahih al-Bukhari 1542 listed what he should not wear: a shirt, a turban, trousers, a hooded cloak or leather socks, “and he should not wear clothes which are scented with saffron or wars”. Wars is a scented plant dye, and the ruling covers perfume on the body and clothing once ihram has begun.
That rules out three popular gifts for a man before he travels:
- Attar or cologne. He cannot apply it from entering ihram until he cuts his hair. Give it to a man who has returned, or say it is for after the rites.
- Scented soap, wipes and shampoo in a travel kit. The items most gift packs contain and the ones that stay in the bag.
- A new thobe or shalwar kameez “for the Haram”. Fine for the days after Umrah, but it cannot be worn during the rites. The full list is in our guide to ihram for men.
For women the perfume restriction applies in the same way. The restrictions end when the hair is cut at the end of the rites, as set out in our guide to how to perform Umrah; from then on attar, scented gifts and ordinary clothing are all welcome.
How do you carry Zamzam home as a gift?
Zamzam is carried home in a sealed container, and the amount you may bring is set by your airline rather than by a single Saudi rule, so check your airline’s baggage page before you buy. Carrying it home is itself a sunnah: Aishah reported that she used to carry Zamzam water and said “Indeed the Messenger of Allah would carry it”, recorded in Jami at-Tirmidhi 963.
- Buy it sealed and keep it sealed. Zamzam for travel is sold in factory-sealed containers; an opened or decanted one can be refused at check-in.
- It goes in the hold. Cabin liquid limits apply, so it travels as checked baggage.
- Each airline publishes its own allowance. Airlines differ on whether Zamzam is carried free, counted against your baggage weight or sold as an add-on, so read your airline’s page rather than a figure from a blog.
- Buy it on the last day. Carrying it between the cities on the train uses up the one large bag the train allows.
How do you congratulate someone going on Umrah?
Say “Umrah Mubarak” and, to follow the sunnah, add the farewell dua the Prophet said to travellers. Ibn Umar described how the Prophet saw him off, and the words, in Sunan Abi Dawud 2600, graded sahih, are:
Astawdi’ullaha dinaka wa amanataka wa khawatima ‘amalik. I entrust to Allah your religion, what you are responsible for, and your final deeds.
That is the dua for someone going on Umrah. It is said to the traveller, not by them, so it belongs on a card or in a message.
- Before departure: “Umrah Mubarak. May Allah accept your Umrah and bring you home safely,” then the dua above.
- On return: “Umrah Mubarak. May Allah accept it from you,” and an invitation to hear about the trip, which returning pilgrims value more than any card.
- In Urdu: “Umrah Mubarak ho, Allah qubool farmaye.”
Can you gift an Umrah package?
Yes, and for parents or an older relative it outweighs everything else on this page. Our Umrah packages are priced per person in your own currency, with the visa, hotels near the Haram, transfers and support included, so a family can share the cost of one package and present it as one gift. Choose the tier by how close to the Haram you want them to stay, and we handle the arrangements from there.
If you would rather send words than a gift, what to say for Umrah Mubarak has the narrated duas for seeing someone off and welcoming them home.
Frequently Asked Questions
What to give after Umrah?
After Umrah, the traditional gifts are the ones pilgrims bring back: Zamzam shared in small sealed bottles, Ajwa or other Madinah dates, attar, prayer beads, prayer mats and miswak. If you are giving a gift to someone who has just returned, a small attar bottle or a prayer mat is the customary choice, along with a visit to hear about the trip.
What are some good Umrah gift ideas for girls?
For a girl or young woman about to go, give a prayer dress, a tasbih counter, a pocket dua book and unscented toiletries, since perfume is not allowed in ihram. For one who has returned, or as a gift brought back for her, choose a scarf from the Makkah or Madinah markets, a small bottle of attar, prayer beads or a bracelet.
Where can I find Umrah gift packs?
Ready-made Umrah gift packs are sold by Islamic shops in Pakistan and the UK and by online sellers, usually containing a prayer mat, tasbih, dua book and toiletries. Check that the toiletries are unscented, because scented ones cannot be used in ihram. Building your own pack from this guide costs about the same and matches it to the person.
What are some good Umrah Mubarak family gifts?
For a family who has returned, a large box of Ajwa dates, a set of prayer mats and a container of Zamzam to share cover everyone at once. For a family about to go, the most useful gift is a shared contribution towards their package, followed by items each person will use in the Haram: prayer mats, tasbih counters and a hotel wristband for each child.
What is the best gift from Makkah?
Zamzam water is the best gift from Makkah, because it can only be brought from the Haram and because carrying it home follows the Prophet’s own practice as reported by Aishah in Jami at-Tirmidhi 963. After Zamzam, attar from the shops around the mosque, prayer beads and a prayer mat are what most people hope to receive.
