SĪRAH CARAVAN AND ʿUMRAH
| LAND PACKAGE (excluding airfare) |
|
| QUAD | 1150 |
| TRIPLE | 1450 |
| DOUBLE | 1700 |
| SINGLE | 1950 |
Early registration has now ended and the adjusted package prices above shall remain in effect until we reach capacity. Click Join the Caravan below to tread with us the sacred lands of revelation, or Sponsor a Student to quench the yearning of a sincere soul in your stead.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
VISION AND PRINCIPLE
Among the greatest of the companions of the Prophet ﷺ are those who would coil into themselves on the ground to quell the pangs of hunger, those who would turn back from the Prophet ﷺ in tears because they could not afford the arms to join him in war, those who could not afford their own burial shrouds and left nothing as legacy save the verses of the Qur’an they had taught their families. Those companions, today, would never be able to afford ʿumrah or ḥajj, though their circumstances mirror that of the overwhelming majority of the ummah of the Prophet ﷺ today.
Reaching the house of Allah and the presence of His Messenger ﷺ has become egregiously cost-prohibitive, obstructing the hope of sincere souls the world over. An alternative model must be forged for the spiritual migration of those yearning most to embark but lack the means.
Lanturna purposes to facilitate the response of the ummah to the call of Ibrāhīm عليه السلام while resisting the global onslaught of Western multinational corporations on our sacred lands. We forsake luxury, settling on comfort. Thus, we will be staying at locally-owned, 4-star accommodations that are comfortable as opposed to extravagant and glamorous 5-star hotels owned by foreign entities.
We have also resolved to arrange our own logistical itinerary to minimize the costs of every line item associated with our travel and sojourn. We will furthermore pull resources to undertake one local community service initiative in gratitude for all that we continue to receive.
لبيك اللهم لبيك لبيك إله الحق لبيك
labbayka l-lāhumma labbayk · labbayka ilāha l-ḥaqqi labbayk
At Your behest, Allah, at Your behest! At Your behest, God of Truth, at Your behest!
VISA AND TRAVEL
Our Sīrah Caravan excludes the cost for obtaining a visa and airfare. Read closely the instructions below to obtain your visa and to ensure that your arrival and return timings coincide with our scheduled shuttle buses.
VISA
You may obtain your “Tourist Visa” at the airport in Jeddah upon arrival. Please do not apply for a ʿumrah visa online because it has several requirements and restrictions that will prevent you from joining Lanturna throughout your stay in Mecca and Medina.
TRAVEL
Arrival at Jeddah: Plan your travel such that you arrive at Jeddah airport (JED) before 4 pm on Saturday, October 18. Our shuttle bus will leave the airport at 6 pm. We will coordinate your transportation to the hotel should you arrive after 4 pm or otherwise miss the shuttle bus.
Return from Medina: Book your return flight from Medina airport (MED) anytime on Sunday, October 26 or after should you decide to extend your stay in Medina. Our first shuttle bus is scheduled to leave the hotel at noon and our second shuttle bus is scheduled to leave the hotel at 4 pm. You may also arrange your own transportation via taxi or Uber to the airport should these timings conflict with your itinerary.
NOTE: Be certain that your passport does not expire within 6 months of your return date.
HOTELS AND MEALS
When traveling to Muslim lands, we realize that we tread hallowed ground, and so we tread lightly. Though we are visitors, we seek to experience these lands through the eyes of the locals, and not as mere tourists. We forsake luxury, but settle on comfort. We support local businesses and local artisans, especially under the global onslaught of Western multinational corporations. We also pull resources to support one local nonprofit initiative whenever abroad in gratitude for all that we receive.
Our hotel selections reflect this ethic, and so we will be staying in accommodations that are comfortable as opposed to extravagant and glamorous to remind ourselves of the trials that afflicted the blessed life of our noble Prophet ﷺ and his family and companions. That said, our hotels are rated at 4-stars with considerably positive reviews from previous guests. Buffet breakfast is included in both hotels.
We will share hotel details during our orientation session one month before our caravan embarks.
SCHEDULE
The following is our daily itinerary in Mecca and Medina. Be sure to keep a browser open with this schedule and check it several times each day, as modifications to our itinerary will be updated here and not on our WhatsApp group. All meeting points, whether physical or virtual, are hyperlinked, which will be especially useful to those who may happen to miss our bus timings and need to catch up to the group via taxi. Take special note of the timings in red to ensure there are no delays.
| MECCA | |
| SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18 |
|
| ~ 1600 | Arrival at Jeddah airport (JED) & dinner at airport restaurant |
| 1800 | Shuttle leaves airport |
| 1930 | Arrival and check-in to Al Ebaa Hotel, Mecca |
| 2015 – 2030 | maghrib/ʿishā’ in hotel room |
| 2030 | Meet in hotel lobby for ʿumrah |
| 2045 | Leave hotel for ʿumrah |
| 2100 – 1145 | ʿumrah and birthplace of the Prophet ﷺ, home of the Prophet ﷺ and Khadījah رضي الله عنها, and home of al-Arqam b. Abī al-Arqam رضي الله عنه |
| 1145 | Return to hotel, cut hair, ghusl and bask in the forgiveness of your Lord |
| SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19 | |
| 0430 | Wudu‘ |
| 0500 | Leave hotel for ṣubḥ prayer |
| 0830 – 1000 | Breakfast (service ends at 1000) |
| 1000 – 1030 | Recitation of ḥizb |
| 1200 | Leave hotel for ẓuhr |
| 1300 – 1500 | Lunch & rest |
| 1515 | Leave hotel for ʿaṣr |
| 1530 – 1800 | Personal devotional time in the ḥaram |
| 1800 | Maghrib |
| 1845 – 1915 | Recitation of ḥizb |
| 1930 | ʿIshā‘ |
| 2000 – 2100 | Dinner |
| MONDAY, OCTOBER 20 | |
| 0430 | Wudu‘ |
| 0500 | Leave hotel for ṣubḥ prayer |
| 0730 – 0900 | Breakfast (service ends at 1000) |
| 0930 | Caravan embarks (be sure to be in a state of wudu’) |
| 1000 – 1100 | Jabal al-Nur |
| 1100 – 1130 | Caravan embarks |
| 1130 – 1245 | Jabal Thawr & ẓuhr |
| 1245 | Caravan embarks (lunch en route) |
| 1315 – 1345 | Masjid al-ʿAqabah |
| 1345 – 1500 | Caravan embarks |
| 1500 – 1600 | Jabal al-Raḥmah & ʿaṣr |
| 1600 – 1630 | Return to hotel |
| 1800 | Maghrib |
| 1845 – 1915 | Recitation of ḥizb |
| 1930 | ʿIshā‘ & al-mulk |
| 2000 – 2100 | Dinner |
| TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21 | |
| 0430 | Wudu‘ |
| 0500 | Leave hotel for ṣubḥ prayer |
| 0730 – 0900 | Breakfast (service ends at 1000) |
| 0930 | Caravan embarks (be sure to be in a state of wudu’) |
| 1000 – 1015 | Lady Khadījah |
| 1015 | Caravan embarks |
| 1100 – 1230 | Masjid Ḥudaybiyyah & ẓuhr |
| 1245 | Caravan embarks |
| 1315 – 1345 | Lady Maymūnah |
| 1345 – 1415 | Return to hotel |
| 1430 – 1515 | Lunch |
| 1530 – 1600 | ʿAṣr |
| 1800 | Maghrib |
| 1845 – 1915 | Recitation of ḥizb |
| 1930 | ʿIshā‘ & al-mulk |
| 2000 – 2100 | Dinner |
| WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22 | |
| 0430 | Wudu‘ |
| 0500 | Leave hotel for ṣubḥ prayer |
| 0730 – 0900 | Breakfast (service ends at 1000) |
| 0930 | Caravan embarks (be sure to be in a state of wudu’) |
| 1030 – 1200 | Masjid al-kūʿ and the garden of ʿAddās رضي الله عنه |
| 1200 | Caravan embarks |
| 1215 – 1330 | Masjid ʿAbd Allāh b. ʿAbbās & ẓuhr/ʿaṣr |
| 1330 – 1415 | Lunch |
| 1430 | Caravan embarks |
| 1930 | Arrival and check-in to Al Ritz hotel, Medina |
| 2015 – 2030 | maghrib/ʿishā’ |
| 2030 – 2130 | Dinner |
| THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23 | |
| 0430 | Wudu‘ |
| 0500 | Leave hotel for ṣubḥ prayer |
| 0530 – 0615 | Recitation of ḥizb |
| 0730 – 0930 | Breakfast (service ends at 1000) |
| 0945 | Caravan embarks (be sure to be in a state of wudu’) |
| 1015 – 1115 | Dār al-Madīnah exhibit (bring a few hundred dollars or riyal equivalent for gifts and relics from gift shop) |
| 1130 | Caravan embarks |
| 1200 – 1315 | Masjid Qubā’ & ẓuhr |
| 1315 | Caravan embarks |
| 1330 – 1400 | Masjid al-Jumuʿah |
| 1415 | Return to hotel |
| 1430 – 1530 | Lunch |
| 1530 | ʿAṣr |
| 1800 | Maghrib |
| 1830 – 1915 | Recitation of ḥizb |
| 1930 | ʿIshā |
| 2030 – 2130 | Dinner |
| FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24 | |
| 0430 | Wudu‘ |
| 0500 | Leave hotel for ṣubḥ prayer |
| 0530 – 0615 | Recitation of ḥizb |
| 0630 – 0715 | al-Baqiʿ Cemetery |
| 0730 – 0930 | Breakfast (service ends at 1000) |
| 1200 – 1245 | Jumuʿah prayer |
| 1300 – 1400 | Lunch |
| 1530 – 1545 | ʿAṣr |
| 1600 – 1730 | First walking tour of the masjid |
| 1800 | Maghrib |
| 1830 – 1915 | Recitation of ḥizb |
| 1930 | ʿIshā’ |
| 2030 – 2130 | Dinner |
| SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25 | |
| 0430 | Wudu‘ |
| 0500 | Leave hotel for ṣubḥ prayer |
| 0530 – 0615 | Recitation of ḥizb |
| 0730 – 0930 | Breakfast (service ends at 1000) |
| 0945 | Caravan embarks (be sure to be in a state of wudu’) |
| 1015 – 1115 | Site of Battle of Uḥud |
| 1130 | Caravan embarks |
| 1200 – 1315 | Site of Battle of Khandaq & ẓuhr |
| 1315 | Caravan embarks |
| 1330 – 1400 | Orchard of Salmān al-Fārisī |
| 1415 | Return to hotel |
| 1430 – 1530 | Lunch |
| 1530 | ʿAṣr |
| 1600 – 1730 | Second walking tour of the masjid |
| 1800 | Maghrib |
| 1830 – 1915 | Circle of Light |
| 1930 | ʿIshā |
| 2000 – 2030 | Recitation of ḥizb |
| 2030 – 2130 | Dinner |
| SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26 | |
| 0430 | Wudu‘ |
| 0500 | Leave hotel for ṣubḥ prayer |
| 0530 – 0615 | Recitation of ḥizb |
| 0730 – 0930 | Breakfast (service ends at 1000) |
| 1200 | Check out of hotel |
OVERVIEW
Six of our eight days will be spent traveling to the blessed milestones of the Prophet’s life ﷺ in and around Medina and Mecca and we will only spend our evenings in the sacred mosques. Our spiritual itinerary includes the following touchstones on our path of ascent—may Allah grant us rank above rank:
MECCA
MEDINA
DAILY ITINERARY
Our daily itinerary will be shared soon.
DESCRIPTION
We welcome you to our sīrah caravan, wherein we seek to tread the path of our Prophet ﷺ throughout some of the pivotal milestones of his life. Allah has graced us with eight full days in Mecca and Medina, to draw closer unto Him while journeying through the sacred lands that hosted the Message and the Messenger ﷺ. From all corners of Earth, our travels begin with our arrival at Mecca, home to the Prophet’s paternal ancestors, and onwards to Medina, home to the Prophet’s maternal ancestors. Though Mecca was home, our migration to Medina is homecoming.
And so we advance toward Mecca with the promise of Allah in His majestic Book إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ فَمَنْ حَجَّ الْبَيْتَ أَوِ اعْتَمَرَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَن يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا ۚ وَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيمٌ “Verily, Ṣafā and Marwah are of the symbols of Allah, and he who makes the pilgrimage (ḥajj) unto the House or visits it (ʿumrah) shall not be to blame to lap betwixt the twain; and he who obeys his own impulse toward good: God requites and well knows” (al-baqarah 2:158). Behold, our Lord invites us into forgiveness as guests in His House.
And then we migrate to Allah and to the Beloved of Allah ﷺ, pressing toward Medina at the behest of our Lord وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ إِذ ظَّلَمُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ جَاءُوكَ فَاسْتَغْفَرُوا اللَّهَ وَاسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُمُ الرَّسُولُ لَوَجَدُوا اللَّهَ تَوَّابًا رَّحِيمًا “If only after they had sinned to their own hurt, they had come to thee asking pardon of Allah, and the Apostle had asked for their pardon, they would surely have found Allah relenting, compassionate” (al-nisāʾ 4:64). Behold, our Lord invites us into forgiveness in the presence of His Messenger ﷺ.
We gratefully respond to this bountiful invitation from our Lord to be forgiven in the sacred lands of revelation and to commit our lives and souls to bear the mantle of the Beloved of Allah ﷺ and his pure family and noble companions.
لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ لَبَّيْكَ إِلَهَ الْحَقِّ لَبَّيْك
labbayka l-lāhumma labbayk, labbayka ilāha l-ḥaqqi labbayk
At Your behest, Allah, at Your behest! At Your behest, God of Truth!
TESTIMONIALS
El-Hajj Hisham presented the class with so much love as if he was talking about a very close personal friend mā shāʾ Allāh. I was able to feel the love and pain that our Prophet ﷺ went through. He made me realize how I can draw from our beloved Prophet’s ﷺ personality and attitude in times of trials and tribulations and in times of joy, providing insight into our own life issues and concerns. My three kids enjoyed this class too.
—Maimoona Rashid
The Lanturna Sīrah Retreat was such a beautiful gathering. The insights gained have changed my perceptive about how I relate to the sīrah. I feel a deep connection to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Weeks after the event I still continue some of the beautiful sunnahs we practiced.
—Khadeeja Abdullah
Lanturna’s “Years of the Beloved” Retreat was a wonderful experience for my family. El-Hajj Hisham brought the sīrah to life and helped us view the life of our dear Prophet ﷺ in an entirely different light. I’ve read multiple sīrah books before, but have never felt this close to the Prophet ﷺ. I deeply admire El-Hajj Hisham’s vision for the Muslim community in the United States. His warm, practical approach allows us to truly live the sīrah every moment of our lives. May Allah put barakah in Lanturna and allow El-Hajj Hisham’s wisdom to reach every home.
—Lena Khan
