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umrah with bayan

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Join Dr. Jihad Saafir and Ustadh Abdullah al Mamun on a
profound spiritual and historical journey

With a $500 Deposit

4 NIGHTS IN MADINAH   |   4 NIGHTS IN MAKKAH

4 NIGHTS IN MADINAH   |   4 NIGHTS IN MAKKAH

4 NIGHTS IN MADINAH   |   4 NIGHTS IN MAKKAH

SPACE IS LIMITED. 

NOVEMBER 14 or 15-25, 2023

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Join Bayan’s 5-star Umrah journey offered with AQRA Travel and led by Bayan's Dr. Jihad Saafir and Abdullah Al Mamun, both of whom are experienced hajj/umrah leaders. In addition to fulfilling the rites of the minor pilgrimage, participants will visit important historical sites in the Holy Cities and the Hijaz. Departures on Emirates Airlines from LAX, SFO and ORD on Nov. 14 (with one night in Dubai included), and from JFK and DFW on Nov. 15. Participants will gather in Dubai for a group flight on Nov. 16 to Madinah and depart Jeddah on Nov. 24 via Dubai, reaching their US origin city on Nov. 25.

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Dr. Saafir earned a Master of Arts in Islamic Studies and Leadership from Bayan at Claremont School of Theology (CST) in 2014, and then completed his Ph.D. at CST in Practical Theology. He is the resident Imam and the Founding Executive Director for Islah Academy, a K-8 Islamic private school based in Los Angeles. He is a former chaplain of The California Institute for Women and the former Imam of Masjid At-Taqwa in Altadena, CA. In 2018, Imam Jihad was awarded with the prestigious KCET Local Hero’s Award. More recently, South Coast Interfaith Council recognized Dr. Saafir as its “2022 Faith Leader of the Year.” Through Dr. Jihad Saafir’s leadership, Islah LA has spawned a new wave of civic engagement within the Muslim American community. At Bayan, he teaches courses in Muslim adolescent identity formation, leadership development, and Islamic education.

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Ustadh Abdullah al Mamun is the Senior Director of Advancement at Bayan.  a role in which he works on organizational development, fundraising, and student recruitment. He is an activist, public speaker, entrepreneur, advisor to boards, and is a nationally recognized director with experience in professional leadership and management experience in both nonprofit and for-profit sectors. This includes his work in broadcast television and corporate America for over eight years, then he ran his own marketing consulting firm for four years. He later served as the Deputy Executive Director for a nationally recognized Muslim nonprofit for eight years prior to joining Bayan in January 2021. Abdullah has completed his undergraduate studies at Fordham University and then completed his graduate studies from New York University. He now lives in Dallas, TX with his wife and their three sons.

With a $500 Deposit

air & land package

 

                                             Early-Bird by Aug. 21            Standard

Quad Occupancy              $2,895 per person                       $3,195 per person

Triple Occupancy             $2,995 per person                        $3,295 per person

Double Occupancy           $3,195 per person                        $3,495 per person

 

Youth travelers (age 12-17): $195 discount off total

Child travelers (under 12): $395 discount off total

(will be reflected on invoice)

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Package Inclusions

  • Roundtrip airfare from various US cities on Emirates Airlines via Dubai on group reservation only (2 checked bags per person permitted)

  • Accommodations in 5-star Movenpick Anwar Hotel (Madinah) and Swissotel or Zamzam Hotel (Makkah)

  • Daily open buffet breakfast at hotels

  • One grand outdoor dinner at Madinah or Makkah

  • Ground transportation and airport meet & assist

  • Train ticket from Madinah to Makkah with cargo truck for luggage

  • Pray jum’ah in Madinah and Makkah

  • Guided tours in Madinah and Makkah

  • Virtual information session prior to departure

  • Umrah lectures and khatirahs on site by program leaders

  • Saudi Tourist visa (US nationals do not need a separate umrah visa, but nationals of other countries may need it, at additional 

 

exclusions

  • Lunches and most Dinners

  • Hotel incidental charges, hotel porters and other individualized services

  • Covid-19 testing, treatment and/or quarantine costs (if applicable)

  • Urgent care, medical treatment and testing, related expenses

  • Travel insurance (recommended)

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Booking Your Flights

Bayan’s Umrah tour (Air and Land Package) has reserved economy-class seats on Emirates Airlines, departing from the following cities on the indicated date. When you are completely registered for this tour, you’ll be booked on group flights departing from and returning to your preferred gateway city.

 

Departing Tuesday, Nov. 14, with a complimentary overnight in Dubai:

  • Los Angeles (LAX)

  • San Francisco (SFO)

  • Chicago (ORD)

 

Departing Wednesday, Nov. 15:

  • Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW)

  • New York (JFK)

 

All travelers will join a group flight from Dubai to Madinah on Thursday, Nov. 16. All travelers will depart Jeddah at various times and return via Dubai to the US on Saturday, Nov. 25.

 

(Departure from other gateway cities is possible. Upgraded seating may be available. Inquire with Aqra Travel and indicate you plan to be part of the Bayan group).

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REGISTRATION PROCESS

Complete the initial AQRA registration form by clicking “Book Now” on their webpage and enter your contact information as the first traveler in your party. Indicate the room type your party will need, and your US gateway airport (or other). Then you will need to enter the names and birth dates of the other members of your party. You can upload scans of the passport pages for your members, or submit the form without the scans at this time. You will then reach the payment screen to make the deposit with your credit card. An AQRA representative will follow up with you. Your passport scan is needed so that the necessary visa arrangements and in-country bookings can be made.

 

Once you have registered and paid your deposit, you will also receive periodic communications from Bayan personnel to help prepare you for the program.

Bayan does not handle flight arrangements. If you would like to request seat upgrades, extend your visit, or use alternative flights, please contact Aqra Travel. They can assist with any travel modifications and associated pricing adjustments. Once you obtain the necessary information, complete the registration form to be included in the group.

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Tel: 1-855-2-MAKKAH (1-855-262-5524)
Email: info@aqratravel.com. (subject: Bayan Umrah)

With a $500 Deposit

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  • Who is leading the tour?
    Bayan’s vice president and professor Munir Shaikh will be the faculty escort for the tour. He holds an M.A. in Islamic Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles, with a specialization in the history of Islamic Iberia (Al-Andalus), and certificates from academic programs in Morocco, Egypt and Spain. He has lived for periods of time in Spain (and Morocco), and is conversant in Spanish. He has taught academic courses on Islamic Spain, Middle Eastern history, Islam, and world history, and led world heritage tours in various countries, including seven previous excursions in Southern Spain.
  • What is the expected group size?
    Bayan’s tours are focused on providing a well-rounded experience featuring scholarly knowledge, cultural exposure, recreational activities, and free time. Most tour groups are multi-generational and diverse in nature. In addition to historical and contemporary sites of interest, the itinerary includes visits to mosques and other places of worship to accommodate the religious needs of group members. Our group size tends to be in the range of 30-40 participants from North America and beyond. Participants are able to get to know one another and develop bonds of friendship and camaraderie that can last a lifetime. By participating in a tour, you are helping sustain and advance Bayan’s mission as a non-profit educational institution.
  • When is the registration deadline?
    We are accepting registrations for the tour until March 31, in order to reserve seats on a train, book sufficient hotel rooms, procure entrance tickets to monuments, and ensure other details. You must pay a refundable deposit of $500 per traveler. The deposit is refundable until April 30 (after which it may be applied to a future Bayan tour but not refunded). After payment of the deposit, you will receive an invoice for the remaining balance for your party, reflecting any applicable discounts. The balance payment is due by April 30.
  • Is a visa required for U.S. citizens to enter Spain?
    Bayan’s tours are open to participants who wish to join from anywhere in the world. However, the majority of participants tend to be from the United States. US passport holders do not need to obtain a visa to enter Spain for tourism. This is true for nationals of many other countries as well. However, non-US passport holders are encouraged to check requirements for their nationality and obtain a visa if required.
  • How physically demanding is the tour?
    Our group will be transported from city to city in a luxury air-conditioned tourist bus. However, in each city, since we will be in the historical centers where buses can't go, we will use the metro or other local public transportation, and occasional taxis, to get around. Even so, there will be a significant amount of walking on most days, on slight inclines and steps. The streets at times will have cobblestones. The walking distances involved at any given time can range from 1/4 to 1/2 mile between rest points. The guides will take into account the differing abilities and health conditions of group members and regulate the pace and intensity of the tour accordingly. Nonetheless, participants should expect to walk roughly 12,000 steps each day (about 6 miles in aggregate) during the first few days of the program, and perhaps 8,000 steps per day during the latter portion of the itinerary. This tour may not be suitable for those with knee, hip or foot pain that could be aggravated by the amount of walking involved. Ideally, all participants should prepare for the tour by walking at least 5,000 steps per day in the weeks leading up to the tour.
  • What type of food will we have on the tour?
    Spain’s food is a mix of Mediterranean and local traditions. Some dishes, such as paella, reveal their roots in Arab/Muslim cuisines. While the types of vegetarian options have grown in recent years in Spain, most local meat dishes feature pork (we will be sure to avoid any foods prepared with pork or alcohol). During the tour, we will dine at restaurants that serve zabiha halal foods, or at places that offer seafood and vegetarian options. You can expect meals to include Middle Eastern, Turkish and Moroccan dishes at restaurants run by local Muslims, and Italian and other types of dishes more generally. You’ll have the option of sampling various suitable tapas (small dishes) that are routinely consumed in neighborhood establishments..
  • Will you provide more information about the daily schedule and other details?
    Yes, all participants who have completed their full payment will receive a detailed information packet that includes descriptions of the cities and sites to be visited, the daily schedule, currency exchange, local prayer times, electrical adapters, weather, what to pack, and more.
  • What precautions are you taking with regard to COVID-19?
    We encourage participants to be fully vaccinated with at least one booster shot for all who are eligible to receive these shots. Travelers may visit Spain for tourism, but must provide either a certificate proving full vaccination, a negative test (PCR or rapid antigen), or a certificate of recovery. Travelers can enter using the EU Digital Covid Certificate or its equivalents. We do not expect to mandate masking during the tour, but we encourage masking whenever possible and according to each individual’s comfort level. For example, when shopping in crowded areas, it would be best to wear a mask. General sanitary practices should be maintained at all times, such as washing hands with soap, using sanitizing gels and wipes, and maintaining a reasonable distance between individuals.
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