Hajj and Umrah Tips & Tricks - Sight-seeing

• DO be careful about taking pictures and bringing cameras.They don't let cameras into either of the Harams and they'll check your bags too.
  
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• DO agree on prices for cab rides, camel rides and any other service in between beforehand. A note about the camel rides. They will immediately go and take polaroids of you on the camel/horse and then force you to buy them. Tell them beforehand NO PICTURES please. (One guy cursed our group and made dua that Allah never answer our duas b/c someone refused to buy the pics !!)
  
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• BEGGARS - There are beggars everywhere. On the streets of Makkah, at historical sites like Uhud, Arafat etc. They'll even come up to you (to sisters too!) and tell you stories about how they lost all their luggage and possessions and need to get back to Jeddah/Makkah/Madinah. It's hard to figure out who is faking and who isn't. I would suggest deciding on an amount you would like to give as Sadaqah beforehandand. Then give that to a reputable Islamic relief agency or relatives you have in poor countries or even friends/ppl traveling back to their home countries.They would know better who is truly in need.
  
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• MAKE SURE to go sight-seeing. Ziyara is visiting the local historical sites in Makkah or Madina. Visiting these places will give you a feeling and understanding of how Islam began in this place.
  
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• Don't go there thinking it's part of any worship practices. Many people do go to those sites and commit strange innovative practices (you'll see all the Saudi signs in Arabic, English, French, Urdu and Turkish!! telling ppl not to). This is where learning some Seerah (study of the life of Muhammad (saw) and the early Muslims) is extremely important before you go so you can actually feel where you are visiting. Just take one day after fajr and have some cab driver take you out to the different places.
  
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• Time - Go immediately AFTER Fajr at the haram, come back BEFORE dhuhr, pray dhuhr at the haram and then rest at the hotel for awhile.